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Alabama

The books are arranged by publication date with the most recent at the top of the page.

USA

USA bird books

Southern Wonder: Alabama's Surprising Biodiversity

R. Scott Duncan

University of Alabama Press

2013

"Southern Wonder explores Alabama's amazing biological diversity, the reasons for the large number of species in the state, and the importance of their preservation. Although Alabama is teeming with life, the state's prominence as a refuge for plants and animals is poorly appreciated. Even among Alabama's citizens, few outside a small circle of biologists, advocates, and other naturalists understand the special quality of the state's natural heritage. R. Scot Duncan rectifies this situation in Southern Wonder by providing a well-written, comprehensive overview that the general public, policy makers, and teachers can understand and use. Readers are taken on an exploratory journey of the state's varied landscapes – from the Tennessee River Valley to the coastal dunes – and are introduced to remarkable species, such as the cave salamander and the beach mouse. By interweaving the disciplines of ecology, evolution, meteorology, and geology into an accessible whole, Duncan explains clearly why Alabama is so biotically rich and champions efforts for its careful preservation."

Southern Birds: Backyard Guide

Bill Thompson III

2013

"Inside, you'll find profiles of the 55 most common birds in the South, complete with large color photos, gender-specific physical descriptions, nesting and feeding information, bird call particulars, and interesting stories about each species. Thompson also introduces the reader to the basics of bird watching: essential gear, bird-friendly food and plantings, housing tips, and observational techniques. This guide covers North and South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama, Tennessee, and eastern Texas."

Nature Journal

L.J. Davenport

2013

"Nature Journal is an innovative presentation of the best columns and photographs from L. J. Davenport's popular column in Alabama Heritage magazine. Readers of the magazine have come to relish his artful and often witty descriptions of common species encountered in the Alabama outdoors. But Nature Journal is designed to be much more than a mere collection of entertaining essays; it is also an educational tool – a means of instructing and encouraging readers in the art of keeping a nature journal for themselves. Each of the 25 chapters is a self-contained lesson in close observation of species morphology, behavior, and habitat; research in the literature; nondestructive capture of the subject by photography or drawing; and written description of the total observed natural phenomenon. At the end of each account, stimulating questions and gentle directives guide the reader into making his or her own observations and recordings."

A Field Guide to the Southeast Coast & Gulf of Mexico: Coastal Habitats, Seabirds, Marine Mammals, Fish, & Other Wildlife

Noble S. Proctor & Patrick J. Lynch

2011

"This superb book, with its unique focus on the entire marine coastal environment, is the most comprehensive and up-to-date field guide available on the southeastern Atlantic Coast and the Gulf Coast. Not just for beachgoers, the book is essential for birders, whale watchers, fishers, boaters, scuba divers and snorkelers, and shoreline visitors. Features of the guide include: entries on 619 coastal and ocean species; more than 1,100 color illustrations; 450 up-to-date range maps; and overviews of key ecological communities, including mangroves, salt marshes, beaches, sand dunes, and coral reefs; special attention to threatened and endangered species; and discussions of environmental issues, including such catastrophic events as Hurricane Katrina and the Deepwater Horizon blowout."

A Guide to the Birds of the South-eastern States: Florida, Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi

John H. Rappole

2006

"No other region in America offers such a stunning abundance of birdlife (including an overwhelming number of exotic species) as the southeastern United States. "A Guide to the Birds of the Southeastern States" is the only single-source reference to this area's fascinating variety of birds, and if you want to find these feathered friends, veteran birdlife researcher John Rappole reveals the best places to look - from the tropical hammocks and cypress bays of the Everglades to the rugged peaks of the north Georgia Appalachians and the Gulf Coast beaches of Alabama and Mississippi. More than 190 sites are covered, including national parks, wildlife refuges, nature centers, and public access sites. Specific information is provided for 376 individual species, all accompanied by a species photograph and distribution map, as well as information on the bird's appearance, voice, habits, habitat, regional abundance and distribution, and its world range. Rappole rounds out the coverage by explaining issues surrounding climate, physiology, and habitat, and provides photographs of all major habitats, including more than 30 of the most intriguing natural areas in the Southeast."

Birds of Alabama: Field Guide

Stan Tekiela

2006

"Learn about and identify birds using Stan Tekiela's state-by-state field guides. The full-page, color photos are incomparable and include insets of winter plumage, color morphs and more. Plus, with the easy-to-use format, you don't need to know a bird's name or classification in order to easily find it in the book. Using this field guide is a real pleasure. It's a great way for anyone to learn about the birds in your state."

Alabama Bird Watching: A Year-Round Guide

Bill Thompson III and The Staff of Bird Watcher's Digest

2004

"The birds that frequent the backyards of Alabama differ from the birds that frequent the backyards of Tennessee. In addition to unique descriptions, each bird profile includes a range map to identify the each bird's North American distribution. One hundred birds are profiled, each with a color photograph, to ensure accurate identification. A seasonal section informs the reader of: migrating birds that can be seen during that season; the foods and plants that can attract those birds; and where to go to view year-round and migrating birds."

Alabama Wildlife, Volume 1: A Checklist of Vertebrates and Selected Invertebrates

Editor: Ralph E. Mirachi

2004

"A field guide to aquatic mollusks, fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals found within the state. It provides brief descriptions of each species, including scientific and common names, range, habitat, and level of conservation concern. Color photographs are included for many species."

Alabama Wildlife, Volume 3: Imperiled Amphibians, Reptiles, Birds, and Mammals

Editor: Ralph E. Mirarchi, Mark A. Bailey, Thomas M. Haggerty and Troy L Best

2004

"Provides a closer a closer focus on individual species of threatened amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals. Each species entry presents common and scientific names, a detailed morphological description, full colour identification photographs and distribution maps, habitats used, life history and ecological information, and the basis for each species' level of conservation concern."

A Birder's Guide to Alabama

Editor: John F. Porter Jr.

2001

"Alabama plays host to a great number and variety of birds. The combination of its diverse natural habitats-from the Gulf coastline to Appalachian piedmont to the Tennessee River Valley-and its location in the eastern migratory flyway make it a wonderful place to observe birds in all seasons. Nearly 400 species have been positively identified in state records-almost half the total species recognized by the American Birding Association for the entire continental U.S. With the publication of A Birder's Guide to Alabama, that amazing diversity has been made more accessible for the casual birder as well as the avid "life-lister." A first of its kind for Alabama, this guide covers the best birding spots throughout the state, dividing them into four distinct geographic sections. Each section is covered by expert birders from that region and includes a general description of the area, access, the "hot spots" for viewing, the species expected to be seen and when, and details on the closest accommodations. The guide includes over 50 maps, as well as line drawings and photographs of different bird species. Spiral-bound for convenience in the field, it also offers helpful bar charts describing the frequency and distribution for all the bird species recognized for Alabama."

Birds of the Gulf Coast

Photographs: Brian K. Miller

Text: William R. Fontenot

2001

"The moist, sultry northern coast of the Gulf of Mexico hosts a remarkably diverse bird community of more then three hundred species. Waders and seabirds, waterfowl, hummingbirds, warblers, grosbeaks, tanagers, larks, blackbirds, sparrows, and finches all thrive in the various ecosystems of the Gulf Coast and swirl in and out with the seasons. Featuring 170 color photographs by nature photographer Brian K. Miller and essays by natural history expert William R. Fontenot, Birds of the Gulf Coast depicts the mystery and majesty of these beautiful creatures and highlights the importance of the region to the bird's conservation. Fontenot introduces the conditions peculiar to each season on the temperate Gulf Coast, and Miller's images are arranged by the calendar. The waterfowl, raptors, and seabirds of winter; the songbirds and shorebirds of spring and fall; and the wading birds of summer - their numbers peak and wane on schedule, and the chapters vividly reflect the dramatic variation in the bird population throughout the year. Miller captures sights that thrill human eyes - the stately gaze of a bald Eagle; the splendor of an Osprey in full flight; the quiet concentration of a Sora studying his reflection in the marsh. His vibrant portraits illustrate the brilliant hues of nature: the dazzling pinks and reds of the Roseate Spoonbill, the rainbow plumage of the Painted Bunting, the bright splash of the Yellow-throated Warbler."

All About Alabama Birds

Fred J. Alsop

1997

Reprint 2003

"Ramble through the varied habitats and remarkable scenery of Alabama and Mississippi with this terrific birding location guide. Here are all the features you need in a bird-finding guide: plenty of location maps, explicit driving directions, detailed site descriptions, and generous listings of the resident, migrant, and rare birds found in every region of each state in any season."

Birder's Guide to Alabama & Mississippi

Ray Vaughan

1994

"Ramble through the varied habitats and remarkable scenery of Alabama and Mississippi with this terrific birding location guide. Here are all the features you need in a bird-finding guide: plenty of location maps, explicit driving directions, detailed site descriptions, and generous listings of the resident, migrant, and rare birds found in every region of each state in any season."

Alabama Birds

Thomas A. Imhof

University Alabama Press

2nd edition

1976