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Virginia

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

USA

USA bird books

Mid-Atlantic Birds: Backyard Guide

Bill Thompson III

2013

"Inside, you'll find profiles of the 55 most common birds in the Mid-Atlantic, 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 Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania."

Birds of Virginia

Todd Telander

Falcon Press

2012

Wildlife of the Mid-Atlantic: A Complete Reference Manual

John H. Rappole

2012: Paperback edition

2007: Hardback edition

"The Mid-Atlantic is a geographically and biologically diverse region, ranging from the sandy coastal beaches and blackwater swamps of southeastern Virginia to the boreal bogs and spruce-fir forests of northern Pennsylvania and the highest peaks of West Virginia's Appalachian Mountains. Scientists identify six distinct geologic provinces in the area, along with four climatic zones. As John H. Rappole explains, these varied landforms and climates create the environment for the variety of wildlife found in the region. This well-illustrated volume is the most comprehensive and up-to-date guide to the wildlife of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia. Approximately 550 species are described, including all birds, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians known to inhabit the area, excluding open ocean species. Each species is illustrated and a distribution map is included with every entry. The species accounts contain a physical description, data on habitat and distribution, habits, diet, reproduction, conservation status, and one or more key references. Sections cover the major habitat types in the region (including descriptions and photos), physical geography, climate, and conservation challenges. In addition, the book has a glossary of nearly 400 technical terms."

Paperback edition

Buy from amazon.co.uk

Hardback edition

Birdlife at Chincoteague and the Virginia Barrier Islands

Brooke Meanley

2010

"The seventy-mile chain of largely uninhabited islands along the Eastern shore of Virginia is one of the last remaining natural seashore areas of the Atlantic coast. These barrier islands and bordering marshlands exist today pretty much as they must have in pristine times. Because of its wilderness aspect, diversity, and location of the islands, this region has the richest assortment of bird life in the Middle Atlantic states. The Eastern Shore is known for its numerous nesting colonies of terns, skimmers, laughing gulls, herons, egrets, and ibises; large breeding clapper rail populations; large concentrations of migratory birds of various species and for its large segment of the Atlantic brant and greater snow goose populations that winter there. This book deals with the nearly 200 species of shorebirds, seabirds, and marsh birds that have attracted bird-watchers to the area since the late 1800s."

Mountain Nature: A Seasonal Natural History of the Southern Appalachians

Jennifer Frick-Ruppert

2010

"The Southern Appalachians are home to a breathtakingly diverse array of living things - from delicate orchids to carnivorous pitcher plants, from migrating butterflies to flying squirrels, and from brawny black bears to more species of salamander than anywhere else in the world. Mountain Nature is a lively and engaging account of the ecology of this remarkable region. It explores the animals and plants of the Southern Appalachians and the webs of interdependence that connect them. Within the region's roughly 35 million acres, extending from north Georgia through the Carolinas to northern Virginia, exists a mosaic of habitats, each fostering its own unique natural community."

America's Wetland: An Environmental and Cultural History of Tidewater Virginia and North Carolina

Roy T. Sawyer

2010

"In this engaging book, biologist and Tidewater native Roy T. Sawyer delivers an ecohistory of this unique waterland whose wind-driven tides cover a rich human and natural past. Jutting prominently into the Atlantic, this wetland is the final stop for the warmth of the Gulf Stream before it is deflected from the American mainland. At the top of a narrow, warm coastal strip, it provides an ideal home for a vast array of animal and plant life, including prodigious numbers of reptiles (such as the world's northernmost population of alligators) and overwintering waterfowl. It is also home to the oldest known living trees east of the Rocky Mountains. The climate and geography made the area a natural choice for very early human habitation - as far back as the last ice age, when the region was a rich oasis just south of a veritable tundra. In examining the impact of humans upon this environment, and vice versa, Sawyer reveals how our alarming short-sightedness has produced a fragile and endangered present. Although human manipulation started here as early as ten thousand years ago (coinciding with extinction of mammoths and other megafauna), the environment has been altered most radically over only the last one hundred years, particularly in regard to land drainage, deforestation, overfishing, and pollution. The author provides an authoritative overview of the human impact on these wetlands and suggests ways in which we might still salvage them. In so doing, he explores the effects of hurricanes, droughts, forest fires, and ice ages of the past - and anticipates, in this age of global warming, natural events that may be still to come."

A Photographic Guide to the Birds of Wintergreen

Marshall Faintich

2009

"The Wintergreen area is the 15-mile long Rockfish River Valley and the surrounding mountains in Nelson County, Virginia, located about 30 miles southwest of Charlottesville. This area includes the Wintergreen Resort community and the Rockfish Valley Trail. The trail is part of the Thomas Jefferson Loop of the Virginia Birding and Wildlife Trail system. Reliable birders have documented more than 200 species of birds in the area, and this 336 page guide has photographs of almost all of them, along with details about when and where to look for them."

Chesapeake Bay: Nature of the Estuary: A Field Guide

Christopher P. White

2009

"hesapeake Bay Nature of the Estuary has become the definitive field guide to the Chesapeake. Flora and fauna descriptions are arranged according to the bays nine major habitats – from freshwater wetlands to saltwater marshes. The most important field marks of more than 500 species are shown in 350 superb pen-and-ink drawings, which make this benchmark work as beautiful as it is useful. Chesapeake Bay Nature of the Estuary is designed as a user-friendly introduction to the natural history of the Chesapeake Bay. Scientific jargon is kept to a minimum. Illustrations and text are paired to present an easy-to-use primer on the estuarine system. The book takes an ecological approach to life above and below the Chesapeakes surface."

Chesapeake Wildlife: Stories of Survival and Loss

Pat Vojtech

2009

"In Chesapeake Wildlife: Stories of Survival and Loss, author/photographer Pat Vojtech uses historical data to recreate the story of wildlife of the Chesapeake region and reveal how close mankind came to eliminating forever many of the beautiful wildlife species taken so much for granted today. She relates how hard the struggle was to bring some Chesapeake wildlife species back from the brink of extinction. While this is a history of wildlife in the Chesapeake watershed, it mirrors societys impact on wildlife throughout North America and around the world more than the past four hundred years. Illustrated with more than 150 colour photographs, this is a book any lover of wildlife or student of history will cherish."

Life Along the Inner Coast: A Naturalist's Guide to the Sounds, Inlets, Rivers, and Intracoastal Waterway from Norfolk to Key West

Robert L. Lippson and Alice Jane Lippson

2009

"This dense system of waterways contains an incredible range of salinity levels, from fresh to brackish to oceanic, and is host to flora and fauna that have adapted to both specific and broad ranges of ecological habitats. The Lippsons explore each habitat, from wooded wetlands, broad marshes, and sandy beaches, to the hundreds of piers and pilings thrusting into the waters, to the vast shallow waters rich in populations of fish, crabs, mollusks, and myriad other marine creatures. They describe more than 800 species that are beautifully illustrated with meticulous ink drawings and photographs and organized according to habitat type and geographic region. Ranging from the busy commercial harbor at Norfolk through vast expanses of marshlands of the mid-Atlantic to the tropical mangrove islands of Florida, "Life along the Inner Coast" offers readers a rich understanding of the relationships between organisms and where they live. It is a valuable resource for naturalists, students, and anyone who lives or vacations along the Atlantic Inner Coast."

Managing Land in the Piedmont of Virginia for the Benefit of Birds and Other Wildlife

Faren Wolter, Stephen Capel, David Pashley, Susan Heath

2nd edition

2008

A guide to creating and managing agricultural, grassland, shrubland, forests, savannas, wetlands and developed areas.

Birds of Augusta County, Virginia

Editor: YuLee Larner

3rd edition

2008

The Naturalist's Guide to the Atlantic Seashore: Beach Ecology from the Gulf of Maine to Cape Hatteras

Scott W. Shurnway

2008

"From the North Carolina's Outer Banks to Maine's rocky coast, this comprehensive guidebook covers the ecology, wildlife, plants and ocean creatures in full-colour photographs and vivid detail. No other book includes all of the plants, animals, and terrain along this stretch of coastline, making this a must-have for anyone who lives or recreates near the Atlantic. The diverse habitats of the seashore, from the Rocky Shores to Sandy Beaches, Estuaries, Tidal Flats, Salt Marshes, Seagrass Meadows, and the Open Ocean are explored in detail in this user-friendly guide and natural history. The easy-to-use layout, comprehensive index, water-resistant cover and guaranteed binding make this a beautiful volume of natural history and biodiversity."

Birds of Shenandoah National Park, Blue Ridge Parkway, and Great Smoky Mountains: A Field Guide

Ernest Preston Edwards

2007

"This is a compact, current, easy-to-use field guide that identifies 336 species of birds that have been reported from in and near the Blue Ridge in North Carolina and Virginia and the Great Smoky Mountains of North Carolina and Tennessee. The guide applies to one of the most beautiful and biologically rich regions of eastern North America, it includes only those species of birds that will be found in the region, and it can be used with comfort, confidence, and pleasure by casual and beginning observers as well as those with more extensive experience."

Virginia's Birdlife: An Annotated Checklist

Stephen C. Rottenborn and Edward S. Brinkley

Virginia Society of Ornithology

4th edition

2006

"This edition includes 459 species on the regular list. Each species account includes the English and scientific name, an overview, breeding status and records."

Compact Guide to Virginia Birds

Curtis Smalling and Gregory Kennedy

2006

"This fascinating fact-filled book is an excellent introduction to the avian populations of Virginia. Over 80 species of birds are featured with two pages devoted to each species. A full-color illustration of each bird includes key identifiers. You'll also find information on each bird's common and scientific name, its size and voice, a range map, a photograph of the bird's egg, along with information on nesting, size of the egg and incubation period. Each account also includes illustrations of similar species."

Life in the Chesapeake Bay

An Illustrated Guide to the Fishes, Invertebrates, Plants, Birds and other Animals of Bays and Inlets from Cape Cod to Cape Hatteras

Alice J. Lippson and Robert L. Lippson

3rd edition

2006

"Life in the Chesapeake Bay is the most important book ever published on America's largest estuary. Since publication of the first edition in 1984, tens of thousands of naturalists, boaters, fishermen, and conservationists have relied on the book's descriptions of the Bay's plants, animals, and diverse habitats. Superbly illustrated and clearly written, this acclaimed guide describes hundreds of plants and animals and their habitats, from diamondback terrapins to blue crabs to hornshell snails. Now in its third edition, the book has been updated with a new gallery of thirty-nine color photographs and dozens of new species descriptions and illustrations. The new edition retains the charm of an engaging classic while adding a decade of new research."

A Naturalist's Guide to the Virginia Coast

Curtis J. Badger

2004

"A Naturalist's Guide to the Virginia Coast will indeed incite an enthusiastic interest in that special place where the land meets the sea. Among Badger's goals is to draw the observer beyond the armchair and reading lamp, the museum and classroom, and outdoors onto the beaches and tidal flats of the Virginia coast to experience its rich natural diversity firsthand. And first foot: Feel the mud between your toes on the tidal flats at Chincoteague; walk the sandy beach at Back Bay; pedal a bike along the Cape Henry Trail at First Landing/Seashore State Park. Informative as a guidebook - complete with sections on Virginia's primary coastal wilderness areas and appendices listing where to go and what to look for - A Naturalist's Guide also serves as a natural history primer, offering clear and concise chapters on the ecological, historical, and botanical background of the region Badger explores."

The History of Ornithology in Virginia

Denis W. Johnston

2003

"Host to a large and diverse bird population as well as a long human history, Virginia is arguably the birthplace of ornithology in North America. The result of over a decade of research, this work addresses this element of the state's natural history."

Wildlife of Virginia and Maryland and Washington, D.C.

Charles Fergus

2003

"Details the animals found in the remarkably diverse habitats throughout Virginia and Maryland: their life in the wild, what they look like, what and how they eat, and how they raise their young. Intended for a general audience with any level of knowledge, the material presented serves as an informative companion to a wide range of field guides. The introduction provides general information about the various types of landscape in these Mid-Atlantic states, and how they support wildlife populations."

Birds of the Mid-Atlantic Region and Where to Find Them

John H. Rappole

2002

"With its dramatic range of habitats, from the beaches of the Atlantic to the wetlands of the Chesapeake Bay and the alpine forests of the Appalachians, the Mid-Atlantic region is home to 346 species of birds. For amateur and experienced birders alike, few areas offer so many opportunities to see such a rich variety of avian life. Birds of the Mid-Atlantic Region and Where to Find Them is the only comprehensive field guide to bird life in the area (Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia) that also directs readers to public sites where each species can be found. Noted ornithologist John H. Rappole provides extensive information about every species: description, identification details for distinguishing similar species, habitat preference, vocalization, range, and Mid-Atlantic seasonal occurrence, abundance, and distribution. Each entry is accompanied by a color photograph, making identification easy for amateur bird watchers, and by a range of maps. A helpful guide to sites lists the best places to spot specific birds, from common species to rarities, and how to reach the sites by car."

Birds Of The Virginia Cumberlands: An Annotated Checklist And Site Guide

Richard H. Peake

Chesapeake Wildlife: Stories of Survival and Loss

Pat Vojtech

2001

"In this book, author/photographer Pat Vojtech uses historical data to recreate the story of wildlife of the Chesapeake region and reveal how close mankind came to eliminating forever many of the beautiful wildlife species taken so much for granted today. She relates how hard the struggle was to bring some Chesapeake wildlife species back from the brink of extinction. While this is a history of wildlife in the Chesapeake watershed, it mirrors society’s impact on wildlife throughout North America and around the world more than the past four hundred years. Illustrated with more than 150 color photographs, this is a book any lover of wildlife or student of history will cherish."

Mountain Lake Region And Its Bird Life: A Century Of Bird Studies

David W. Johnston

2000

The Birds of Smyth County, Virginia: An Annotated Checklist

Tony Decker

Annotated checklist with status and distribution information.

A Birder's Guide to Virginia

David W. Johnston

American Birding Association

1997

A guide to over 70 birdwatching sites in the state.

Birds of the Chesapeake Bay: Paintings by John W. Taylor

John W. Taylor

1992

"Birds of the Chesapeake Bay" collects 40 of Taylor's recent paintings. Reproduced in full colour, they depict many of the Chesapeake's most important and best-loved birds. One of the world's largest and richest estuaries, the Chesapeake Bay attracts millions of birds to its marshes and waterways. For 30 years, the artist John Taylor has lived and worked along its shores - walking the woods and beaches, looking for birds, and recording the extraordinary life of the Chesapeake in his paintings, drawings, and journals. Some of his subjects - the Canada goose, laughing gull, and osprey - are familiar sights to those who live near the Bay. Others - the snowy egret, sora rail, and peregrine falcon - are more rarely seen. All are rendered with exceptional attention to physical detail and subtlety of form, whether treated in portraits or landscapes. This book looks at the Bay's wildlife and habitat through the eyes of a talented artist and experienced naturalist. Accompanying each painting is an account of the bird's natural history, including details of its life in the Chesapeake region and how that life has changed because of increasing development and more energetic conservation efforts."

Birds of the Blue Ridge Mountains

Marcus B. Simpson

1992

A Guide for the Blue Ridge Parkway, Great Smoky Mountains, Shenandoah National Park, and Neighboring Areas.

Seasonal Guide to the Natural Year: Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware, Virginia, West Virginia and Washington, D.C

Scott Weidensaul

1992

"These comprehensive guides offer a unique approach to travel for naturalists of all stripes, providing information on where to go and when to go. Month-by-month listings enable nature lovers to explore and behold the spectacular natural events that occur in these regions through the seasons. Whether birder, photographer, wildflower buff, or eco-traveler, you will find the Seasonal Guides essential resources for viewing nature's best shows."

Chesapeake Bay Nature of the Estuary: A Field Guide

Christopher P. White

Schiffer Publishing

1989

"This book has become the definitive field guide to the Chesapeake. Flora and fauna descriptions are arranged according to the bay’s nine major habitats—from freshwater wetlands to saltwater marshes. The most important field marks of more than 500 species are shown in 350 superb pen-and-ink drawings, which make this benchmark work as beautiful as it is useful.The book is designed as a user-friendly introduction to the natural history of the Chesapeake Bay. Scientific jargon is kept to a minimum. Illustrations and text are paired to present an easy-to-use primer on the estuarine system. The book takes an ecological approach to life above and below the Chesapeake’s surface. Wetland and aquatic communities are emphasized."

Waterfowl of the Chesapeake Bay Country

Brooke Meanley

1982

Birds and Marshes of the Chesapeake Bay Country

Brooke Meanley

1975