Lately, quite a few PW members have made book recommendations
to me. It started with Stephanie Christenson. In the
last issue of Back to Nature, I printed "The
Starfish Story," but I didn't know who was the
original author. Well, Stephanie did. It turns out that
Dr. Loren Eiseley, an archaeologist, anthropologist,
naturalist, and philosopher wrote the original version
in his final book, The Star Thrower. Thank you,
Stephanie, for your recommendation. I look forward to
reading more of Dr. Eiseley's essays and books.
Soon after Stephanie's letter, I received an email
from Joni Ciarletta from the Duck Team. She wrote, "I
just finished reading a book written by a rehabber up
in Canada. It was called The Avian Ark: Tales from
a Wild-Bird Hospital, written by Kit Chubb. It was
filled with wonderful rehab stories and was quite insightful."
The book is out of print, but Joni says you can find
it used at amazon.com or on remainder racks at bookstores.
She found hers at Barnes and Noble.
These recommendations were
just the beginning! I put
out a request for other
titles and authors and was
soon flooded with information.
Due to deadlines and space
constraints, I won't list
all of the suggested reading.
If you're interested in
more, I will have the regularly
updated list available
by mail or email. If you'd
like a copy, call me at (858) 866-0555. Please let me
know if you have any books
that you think other PW members
would enjoy. We are particularly
interested in books for kids.
Now, on to the list:
Mind of the Raven by Bernd Heinrich. Documents
the raven's extraordinary intelligence.
Red Tails in Love: A Wildlife Drama in Central Park
by Marie Winn. Story about hawks who make New York City
their home.
The Life of Birds by David Attenborough. Great
color photographs and insightful text outlining the
various stages of a bird's life. Also a great video.
Into the Forest by Jean Hegland. Nothing to
do with rehabilitation, but a highly recommended book
about two sisters who live through a cataclysmic disaster
and must learn how to simplify their lives to survive.
Bats in Your Belfry by the Fund for Animals.
22 pages of information on coping with urban wildlife.
Animals as Teachers and Healers by Susan Chernak
McElroy. A New York Times Bestseller.
Living with Wildlife - How to Cope with and Protect
North America's Wild Creatures Around Your Home and
Theirs. A Sierra Club Book by the California Center
for Wildlife.
The Souls of Animals by Gary Kowalski. About
animal spirituality/our humanity.
Circles of Compassion - A Collection of Humane Words
and Work edited by Elaine Sichel. Deals primarily
with domestic animals. Warning: does contain some heartbreaking
stories of abuse and neglect.
Twilight Hunters - Wolves, Coyotes and Foxes
by Gary Turbak. Also contains great photos.
Raccoons by Virginia Holmgren. Charming book
full of information about raccoons in history, folklore
and today's backyards.
Muir Among the Animals - The Wildlife Writings of
John Muir by John Muir. Says Leslie Polinsky of
the Education Team, "Anything by Muir about animals
is good. Thank goodness he came to California when he
did."
When Elephants Weep. About the emotions of animals.
Handbook of North American Birds Volume 4 (Diurnal
Raptors) and Volume 5 from Yale University. Leslie
Polinsky considers these books to contain the most comprehensive
information on raptors she's found anywhere.
Raptors - the Birds of Prey, an Almanac by Scott
Weidensaul. Says Leslie Polinsky, "...fantastic
book loaded - and I mean loaded - with information,
pictures, many facts and figures. Any rehabber or raptor
lover must have this book."
Saving the Peregrine Falcon, by Caroline Arnold.
This book describes the plight of this protected bird.
For Ages 7 - 10.
Urban Roosts, by Barbara Bash. This book describes
a wide variety of birds, their perches & nesting
places in cities. Ages 6-10.
About Birds (A Guide for Children), by Carolyn
Sill. A great book with simple language, accurate info.,
and an afterward for teachers of questions kids are
certain to ask. For ages 4 - 6.
Baby Deer, by Donna Bailey & Christine Butterworth.
Children will enjoy following the progress of the fawn
as he stands up and begins to explore. For ages 6 -
8.
Kitty the Raccoon, by Jamie Stamper. True story
about how the author found an orphaned raccoon &
tries to domesticate it, while learning that wild animals
belong in the wild. Ages 9 - 12.
Chronicle Junior Nature Series: Wildlife California,
from Chronicle Books. Provides an understanding of our
ecologically rich state with lively photographs and
text. Ages 8 - 12.
