Suggests locales for finding specimens of the over 300 species of birds residing in this region.

As you travel along the Blue Ridge Parkway or Skyline Drive visiting state and national parks or hike the Appalachian Trail, you will encounter an incredible variety of landscapes and one of the most diverse collections of flora and fauna found in temperate forests anywhere in the world. Full of rich detail, this beautifully illustrated, full-color guide to the region was written and designed for ease of use. Whether you're a first time visitor looking to enjoy and gain an understanding of the Parkway's spectacular views or a geology and nature enthusiast, this guide will be an invaluable companion.--

More than 200 photographs of wildflowers organized by color, shape and blooming season. Clearly written descriptions include tips on identification and notes on plant usage by Native Americansand early settlers. Includes tour guide to 75 of the best sites for viewing wildflowers in spring, summer and fall.

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. Stories of the animals and plants of the Southern Appalachians are intertwined with descriptions of the seasons, giving readers a glimpse into the interlinked rhythms of nature, from daily and yearly cycles to long-term geological changes. Residents and visitors to Great Smoky Mountains or Shenandoah National Parks, the Blue Ridge Parkway, or any of the national forests or other natural attractions within the region will welcome this appealing introduction to its ecological wonders.

The stunning wildlife along the Blue Ridge Parkway attracts more than 14 million annual visitors from near and far for viewing and photographing opportunities. This information-packed, pocket-size field guide features more than 200 species of mammals, birds, insects, fish, wildflowers, mushrooms and more in a convenient, portable package. Including full-color photos and easy-to-understand descriptions, species are arranged by family to aid in quick identification. This book also includes ecosystem and geology information about the park as well as suggested nature hikes. This is the perfect nature guide for your next trip to the Blue Ridge Parkway.

This field guide dedicated to wildflowers of the Blue Ridge Parkway is an information-packed, pocket-sized book that introduces park visitors to the vibrant wildflower habitats along the Blue Ridge Parkway in a colorful and portable package. Including full-color photos and easy-to-understand descriptions, the wildflowers are arranged by color and family to aid in quick identification. With full cooperation from the park association, this book will appeal to the 16 million visitors who travel the Blue Ridge Parkway every year.

A popular destination for bird-watchers from across the country, the coastal region of North Carolina is a seasonal home to approximately 400 species of birds, some of which are found more easily here than anywhere else in the United States. A Birder's Guide to Coastal North Carolina is the first guide to the prime bird-watching spots of the Tar Heel coast and nearby areas--including national seashores, national forests and wildlife refuges, state parks and game lands, and other public areas. Written for both casual and serious birders, the book features detailed site guides to the entire coastal region, including the Outer Banks. John Fussell provides an annotated checklist, habitat information, and bar graphs indicating seasonal abundance for all regularly occurring species. The book also includes a chapter on the 140 most sought-after species on the coast. Fussell describes the best places and conditions--seasonal, weather, and tidal--for finding these popular varieties. Detailed maps of most of the major birding sites complement the text.

The definitive book on birds found in the Carolina Piedmont. Birds of the Central Carolinas is more than just a bird book. It is an invaluable tool for anyone who wants to discover the fascinating history of birds in the region and to understand their status and distribution today. Vastly more informative than a field guide, this work presents historical material previously unpublished in any book and deftly incorporates firsthand accounts by Piedmont birders. Birds of the Central Carolinas establishes a benchmark for birders to build upon throughout the remainder of the twenty-first century. ¿Covers almost 400 species of birds documented in the Piedmont of both North and South Carolina¿Provides detailed analysis of all records for the Central Carolinas, an area that lies at the core of the Carolina Piedmont and also at the center of the Piedmont Ecoregion--as mapped by The Nature Conservancy¿Incorporates the results of the Mecklenburg County Breeding Bird Atlas--the first county-level atlas project in the Carolinas¿Shares firsthand accounts of bird observations over the past 150 years¿¿a book that is both beautifully crafted and an invaluable resource for ornithology and conservation in the Carolinas.¿ ¿Dr. R.O. Bierregaard, ornithologist, Research Associate at Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University¿[Birds of the Central Carolinas] tells a story we need to pay attention to.¿ ¿Jim Garges, Director, Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation Department¿Birds¿ futures and fortunes are inextricably twined with those of humankind. Seriff knows intimately how the inhabitants of Piedmont skies are changing.¿ ¿Amber Ververka, writer, Keepingwatch.org, UNC Charlotte