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Michigan

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

USA

USA bird books

Warblers in Your Pocket: A Guide to the Wood-Warblers of the Upper Midwest

Dana Gardner, Holly Carver

University of Iowa Press

2016

"This newest addition to Iowa's popular series of laminated guides – the twenty-eighth in the series – illustrates the thirty-eight species of warblers that occur in the Upper Midwest states of Minnesota, Illinois, Nebraska, Kansas, North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin. For each species, artist Dana Gardner provides length, range, and habitat; he illustrates male, female, and immature birds where plumage varies; and he includes birds similar to warblers such as kinglets and vireos."

The Kirtland's Warbler: The Story of a Bird's Fight Against Extinction and the People Who Saved It

William Rappai

2013

"In The Kirtland's Warbler, William Rapai explores the bird's fascinating natural history as well as the complex and evolving relationships between the warbler, its environment, its human protectors, and state and federal policies that today threaten to eradicate decades of work done on the species' behalf. Beginning with an account of the warbler's discovery in the mid-nineteenth century and ornithologists' desperate hunt for information on the elusive new species, the book goes on to examine the dramatic events that quickly led to the warbler's precarious status and its eventual emergence as a lightning rod for controversy. The Kirtland's warbler is often described as a "bird of fire" for its preference for nesting in areas cleared by wildfire. But it also warrants the name for the passion it ignites in humans. Both tragic and uplifting, the story of this intriguing bird is a stirring example of how strong leadership, vision, commitment, sustained effort, and cooperation can come together to protect our natural world."

Midwestern Birds: Backyard Guide

Bill Thompson III

2013

"Written by Bill Thompson III, the editor and co-publisher of Bird Watcher's Digest, this portable 5"x8" book contains the same variety of entertaining and informative entries that make Bird Watcher's Digest the nation's most popular birding magazine. Inside, you'll find profiles of the 55 most common birds in the Midwest, 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 Minnesota, Wisconsin, North and South Dakota, Iowa, Michigan, Illinois, Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, Arkansas, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Nebraska."

The Changing Environment of Northern Michigan: A Century of Science and Nature at the University of Michigan Biological Station

Editor: Knute J. Nadelhoffer, Alan J. Hogg, Jr., and Brian A. Hazlett

2009

"Northern Michigan is undergoing unprecedented changes in land use, climate, resource extraction, and species distributions. For the last hundred years, the University of Michigan Biological Station has monitored these environmental transformations. Stretching 10,000 acres along Burt and Douglas Lakes in the northern Lower Peninsula and 3,200 acres on Sugar Island near Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, the station has played host to nearly 10,000 students and a steady stream of top scientists in the fields of biology, ecology, geology, archeology, and climatology. The Changing Environment of Northern Michigan collects essays by some of these scientists, who lead readers on virtual field trips exploring the history of people and science at the station itself, the relations of indigenous people to the land, the geophysical history of the region, characteristics of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, key groups of organisms and their relations to local habitats, and perspectives on critical environmental challenges of today and their effects on the region. Accompanying the chapters are color illustrations and photographs that bring the station's pristine setting to life."

Of Woods and Water: A Photographic Journey Across Michigan

Ron Leonetti and Christopher Jordan

2009

"Celebrated photographers Ron Leonetti and Christopher Jordan explore the diversity of Michigan landscapes in their latest collection of photographs. Forests, prairies, savannas, wetlands, the shorelines of four Great Lakes, and the variety of terrain that crosses the Upper Peninsula are featured in more than 100 colour images. "Of Woods and Water" conveys the natural allure and hidden treasures that exist in Michigan - scattered, isolated, and generally small in size, their protection and preservation are paramount. At present, these beautiful landscapes thrive, untouched by the urban sprawl that sweeps our country's land, but a greater awareness for and involvement in the preservation of our threatened natural communities are greatly needed."

Michigan: Our Land, Our Water, Our Heritage

Editor: John Knott

2008

"Michigan was once covered with vast, unbroken forests of pine and hemlock mixed with birch and poplar, and oak savannas marched as far as the eye could see. But in the process of settling the state and exploiting its natural resources, we have drained wetlands, dammed rivers, and cut all but a few remnants of the virgin forests, leaving that untouched Michigan hard to imagine now. Yet important steps are being taken to protect Michigan's natural beauty, and the fact that we are able to enjoy our state today depends on the work of The Nature Conservancy and the various land conservancies and agencies with which it collaborates. The engaging essays in this book illustrate the range of ecosystems that The Nature Conservancy has protected. Included are essays by nine acclaimed Michigan authors; numerous quotes from leading figures in Michigan; and full-color photographs by well-known Michigan photographers of the land, water, and shorelines of the Great Lakes state. Proceeds from this publication support conservation in Michigan and the Great Lakes."

Waterfowl in Your Pocket: A Guide to Water Birds of the Midwest

Dana Gardner

2008

"A welcome aid to identifying the many colorful and intriguing water birds of the midwestern states, from the Great Lakes west to the Dakotas, east to Ohio, and south to Kansas and Missouri. Illustrator Dana Gardner has created fourteen panels showing fifty-one species of ducks, geese, swans, grebes, pelicans, coots, cormorants, moorhens, and loons swimming and flying with complete plumage variations - dark phases, light phases, and juvenile and adult male and female forms in summer and winter. The text also includes length, common and scientific names, and frequency and distribution. Whether flying high overhead in the fall or swimming in a nearby lake in the summer, waterfowl are notoriously difficult to identify, and Gardner has worked hard to make this guide useful for beginning birders as well as those more experienced in the field."

Fifty Uncommon Birds of the Upper Midwest

Dana Gardner and Nancy Overcott

University of Iowa Press

2007

"Although the many common birds of the Upper Midwest are lovely to hear and see, there is no doubt that the uncommon birds attract more attention. In this gorgeously illustrated companion to their "Fifty Common Birds of the Upper Midwest", which provided a new appreciation of the not-so-ordinary beauty and lifeways of familiar birds, illustrator Dana Gardner and writer Nancy Overcott celebrate the rarer birds of the Upper Midwest. Gardner and Overcott selected species that are uncommon because of dwindling populations, species that may be common elsewhere but not in the Upper Midwest, species that may be abundant one year and absent the next, and species that are usually present but are seldom seen. Beginning with the surf scoter with its multicolored bill and ending with the gregarious evening grosbeak, which resembles a giant goldfinch, they pair watercolors of each species with text that portrays its life cycle, its vocalizations and appearance, and its habitat, food, and foraging methods as well as migration patterns and distribution."

Field Guide to Birds: Michigan

Editor: Jonathan Aderfer

2006

"Michigan provides the opportunity to view glorious birds of the northland and Great Lakes areas. The variety and beauty of the bird populations in these regions make them popular destinations for birding trips, but the success and enjoyment of a trip often depends on the quality of the birding guide. National Geographic Field Guide to Birds provides affordable, portable, reliable region specific information, perfect for the novice or experienced birder. Each guide features 150 specimens, grouped by family with quick-reference alphabetical and colour-coded indexes that provide easy ways to identify a bird quickly. Each entry has a vivid photograph showing the bird in its native habitat. On the facing page, a list of bulleted points confirms at a glance the bird's identity."

Fifty Common Birds of the Upper Midwest

Dana Gardner and Nancy Overcott

University of Iowa Press

2006

"In this gathering of essays and illustrations celebrating fifty of the most common birds of the Upper Midwest, illustrator Dana Gardner and writer Nancy Overcott encourage us to take a closer look at these familiar birds with renewed appreciation for their not-so-ordinary beauty and lifeways. Beginning with the garishly colored male and the more gently colored female wood duck, whose tree cavity nest serves as a launching pad for ducklings in the summer months, and ending on a bright yellow note with the American goldfinch, whose cheerful presence enlivens the midwestern landscape all year long, Overcott combines field observations drawn from her twenty-plus years of living and birding in Minnesota's Big Woods with anecdotes and data from other ornithologists to portray each species' life cycle, its vocalizations and appearance, and its habitat, food, and foraging methods as well as migration patterns and distribution."

Borne of the Wind: Michigan Sand Dunes

Dennis A. Albert

2006

"Sand dunes are among the most rugged and beautiful natural features of the Lake Michigan and Lake Superior shorelines. These dunes comprise the most extensive freshwater dunes in the world, so vast that they are visible to astronauts from outer space. The coastal dunes are also incredibly rich, supporting a vast variety of plants and animals. Borne of the Wind describes the environmental factors necessary for dune creation in an easy-to-understand format. Each of the distinct types of dunes encountered along the Great Lakes shoreline is explained and illustrated with color photographs and line drawings. Color photographs of the plants and animals found in duneland areas complement the story of the ever-changing landscapes."

Michigan Bird Watching: A Year-Round Guide

Bill Thompson III

2005

"100 birds are presented via full-color photographs for accurate identification."

A Birder's Guide to Michigan

Allen T. Chartier and Jerry Ziarno

American Birding Association

2004

"A Birder's Guide to Michigan describes over 200 sites, with details on each site's birds, best seasons, and driving directions, accompanied by 200-plus maps. Thoroughly researched bar graphs describe the seasonal status and abundance of the state's regularly occurring species, and an annotated list of specialties will guide birders to some of North America's most sought-after species. A bonus is an appendix listing the state's amphibians and reptiles, butterflies and dragonflies, mammals, and orchids - Michigan is home to a stunning and sometimes rare assortment of these gorgeous plants."

Birds of Michigan: Field Guide

Stan Tekiela

2nd edition

2004

"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."

Great Lakes Nature: An Outdoor Year

Mary Blocksman

University of Michigan Press

2004

"From blue moons to bald eagles, this new edition of Great Lakes Nature -now lavishly illustrated in color - is a guide to nature's everyday but often-overlooked gems. With an open-mind and the curiosity of an old-fashioned naturalist, author Mary Blocksma furnishes more than just ecological nomenclature; she unearths a treasure trove of tips, hints, and trivia. Blocksma set out to identify her Great Lakes environment just a name at a time, a few times a week, for a year. Coming upon a bird, tree, or natural phenomenon she doesn't recognize, the author takes us along on her process of learning. The result is a book that educates through the delight of serendipitous discovery as it transports the armchair explorer out of the living room and into the forests and wetlands of the Great Lakes region."

Birds of Michigan

Ted Black and Gregory Kennedy

2003

Along the Huron: The Natural Communities of the Huron River Corridor in Ann Arbor, Michigan

Natural Area Preservation Division, Department of Parks and Recreation, City of Ann Arbor

1999

"The natural areas along the Huron River Corridor in Ann Arbor offer the interested explorer an opportunity to see some of nature's finest works. Among the thirteen natural communities presented, one can see different ecosystems of marshes, meadows, prairies, old fields, shrublands, and various types of forests. Each of the ecosystems offers common, rare, and extremely rare plants to discover and fascinating animals to see. This readable and easily accessible guide to thirteen gems along the river presents comprehensive trail information and accurate descriptions of the 630 acres of undeveloped green space in Ann Arbor. Each ecosystem is explained in understandable language. Maps of each natural area offer precise and detailed information of what you will see and where you will find what you are looking for. Tables and charts provide concise and informative comparisons of the parks. Useful illustrations and accurate descriptions of the plants, animals, and locations help the explorer get the most pleasure from a visit to every natural community presented in the book."

A Birders Guide to the Chicago Region

Lynn Carpenter and Joel Greenberg

1999

"Identifying more than 250 top sites for birding within a 65-mile radius from downtown Chicago, this useful guide provides maps, directions, and other information essential for discovering the birds of the area in their natural habitats. The most thorough guide of its kind, it covers nineteen counties of the greater Chicago area. "A Birder's Guide to the Chicago Region" includes detailed descriptions of local habitats and maps that show where to find birds in nearby Wisconsin, Indiana, and Michigan, as well as Illinois. While providing a wealth of practical information, the guide is enriched with insightful accounts of the natural history and ecology of particular areas. An essential guide for either beginning or experienced birders, this book will appeal to anyone who appreciates nature and wants to learn more about the natural history, ecology, and especially the birds of the Chicago area."

The Smithsonian Guides to Natural America: The Great Lakes: Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin

Michele Strutin

1997

"Describes the natural wonders of the Great Lakes region, from national parks to wilderness preserves and private sanctuaries."

Seasonal Guide to the Natural Year: Minnesota, Michigan and Wisconsin

John Bates

1997

"This book attempts to direct the reader to the most spectacular natural events in the Upper Midwest, and where specifically to see them."

A Birder's Guide to Michigan

James Granlund

Consulting editor: Raymond A. Adams

Indiana University Press

1994

"The Birds of Michigan is a major publishing event. It is the first popular, comprehensive survey of Michigan's birds in over forty years. Some of the state's leading ornithologist-naturalists have provided species accounts for more than 400 birds seen in the state. These accounts cover current status, distribution, history, habitat, seasonal occurrence, and general North American (or worldwide) breeding and wintering ranges. All of the authors incorporate field observations from Michigan. The 200 species which nest in the state are depicted in 115 full-page color paintings produced especially for this volume by five of Michigan's best-known wildlife artists."

The Birds of Washtenaw County, Michigan

Michael A. Kielb, John M. Swales, and Richard A. Wolinski

1993

"The Birds of Washtenaw County, Michigan provides a comprehensive account of the birdlife in Washtenaw County. Situated to the west of Detroit in southeast Michigan, the county has an exceptionally rich history of ornithological study, fueled by the activities of numerous amateur birdwatchers and by the interests of two major universities. Frequency accounts of the 267 species recorded in the county during the last 15 years are framed by a discussion of the topographical history of the county. In addition, the authors present notes on another 30 species not seen in the county since 1976. A comprehensive site guide offers suggestions of the optimal locals and times to try to find the birds."

A Guide to Michigan's Endangered Wildlife

David C. Evers

1992

"A descriptive profile of Michigan's threatened and endangered wildlife."

A Guide to Michigan's Endangered Wildlife

Richard Brewer, Gail A. McPeek and Raymond J. Adams

1991

"Based on a five-year survey and the work of some 1,000 volunteers, this comprehensive volume describes the current status, distribution, and habitat of every nesting bird species in the State of Michigan. Detailed distribution maps and pen-and-ink drawings are included for each of the 215 species."

A Distributional Checklist Of The Birds Of Michigan

Robert B. Payne

University of Michigan

1983

From the introduction: "This checklist is a summary of the occurrence, breeding status, migration, and distribution of birds in Michigan. Used with one of the popular field guides to North American birds, the checklist should be helpful in identifying birds in the field most likely to be seen in Michigan. All species known to occur in the state and documented with specimens, photographs, or tape recordings are included in the checklist. I have accepted only the birds known in the past or at the present time from these permanent reference sources. Museum specimens are the primary sources of information about bird species, and they are the original reference material used in distributional works and field guides. In recent years the biology and distribution of birds have increasingly been determined with field observations, and museum collecting is done only under special circumstances. Most recent information on birds in Michigan is from field observations."

Kirtland's Warbler: The Natural History of an Endangered Species

Lawrence H. Walkinshaw

1983

Birds of Southeastern Michigan and Southwestern Ontario

Alice H. Kelley

1978

The Rough winged Swallow Stelgidopteryx ruficollis (Viellot): A Study Based on Its Breeding Biology in Michigan

William A.Lunk

1962

Nesting and Food Habits of the Long-Eared Owl in Michigan

William H. Armstrong

1958

Michigan Bird Life

Walter Bradford Barrows

Special Bulletin Of The Department Of Zoology And Physiology

Michigan Agricultural College

1912

From the preface:

The last general work on Michigan birds was prepared by Professor A. J. Cook and published in 1893 as Bulletin 94 of the Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station. It professed to be little more than a list of the birds of the state, with some indication of distribution and abundance, but without descriptions of plumage and with only occasional reference to habits. Limited as was its scope it was a welcome contribution to our bird literature, and since the supply was exhausted, in 1900, requests for another bulletin have been received in ever increasing numbers. The present work has been prepared in response to a demand not only for an authoritative list of Michigan birds but for such additional information about each species as would be useful and interesting. Perhaps it is too much to hope that this demand will be fully satisfied by the present volume, but an examination of its pages will show that an attempt has been made to give the main facts in the life history of each bird found in the state, although in many cases the material has been so abundant that much was necessarily omitted, and the remainder closely condensed. The primary aim has been to put this information in such form as to make it readily intelligible to the average citizen; not too technical to be readily understood by the layman, nor so elementary as to suggest the nature-study primer.

Annotated List Of The Birds Of Michigan

Morris Gibbs

1897

From the opening lines:

"This catalogue includes, with few exceptions, those species only which are well established as occurring in this State; among them being many of rare or casual appearance, or never before catalogued as birds of Michigan, the evidence of the capture of which in the State is presented. Although not to be regarded as complete, the list nevertheless gives upward of 300 species, among them being some sixty not heretofore accredited to Michigan."