Florida Historical Society Stetson Kennedy Award A portrait of a species on the brink The only bird species that lives exclusively in Florida, the Florida scrub-jay was once common across the peninsula. But as development over the last 100 years reduced the habitat on which the bird depends from 39 counties to three, the species became endangered. With a writer’s eye and an explorer’s spirit, Mark Walters travels the state to report on the natural history and current predicament of Florida’s flagship bird. Tracing the millions of years of evolution and migration that led to the development of songbirds and this unique species of jay, Walters describes the Florida bird’s long, graceful tail, its hues that blend from one to the next, and its notoriously friendly manner. He then focuses on the massive land-reclamation and canal-building projects of the twentieth century that ate away at the ancient oak scrub heartlands where the bird was abundant, reducing its population by 90 percent. Walters also investigates conservation efforts taking place today. On a series of field excursions, he introduces the people who are leading the charge to save the bird from extinction—those who gather for annual counts of the species in fragmented and overlooked areas of scrub; those who relocate populations of scrub-jays out of harm’s way; those who survey and purchase land to create wildlife refuges; and those who advocate for the prescribed fires that keep scrub ecosystems inhabitable for the species. A loving portrayal of a very special bird, Florida Scrub-Jay is also a thoughtful reflection on the ethical and emotional weight of protecting a species in an age of catastrophe. Now is the time to act, says Walters, or we will lose the scrub-jay forever.

This completely revised second edition of the definitive South Florida guidebook offers coverage of Tampa, the Gulf Coast, South Beach, Miami, and the Keys. In diverse, exciting South Florida you might catch a glimpse of an endangered Florida panther in a nature preserve in the morning and visit a four-star restaurant and world-class nightclub that evening. This rich destination welcomes visitors from all over the world with its vibrant arts communities and multicultural historic sites, luxurious seaside resorts and lush forests, and some of the best fishing and diving in the United States. With cattle ranches and citrus groves all the way down to the mighty swamps of the Everglades and Big Cypress there are endless opportunities for exploration and discovery for singles, couples, and families. From eco-friendly establishments and environmental information about the region to its trendy nightlife, out-of-the-way attractions, and best beach hotels, Explorer’s Guide South Florida is a thorough introduction to an alluring place that tourists as well as locals simply shouldn’t miss. Detailed maps, an index, an alphabetical “What’s Where” subject guide, and helpful icons that highlight places that offer special value, are pet-, gay-, and family-friendly, and are wheelchair accessible round out this incredible resource, your perfect travel companion.

"South Florida is a unique and spectacular environment for both birding and gardening, and this is a thorough and enjoyable guide."--Carl Lewis, director, Fairchild Tropical Gardens "A step-by-step guide on how to create a garden that not only benefits birds but increases your enjoyment of your yard, patio, or balconies. No space is too small for helping birds, and this book tells you how to do it."--Stephen D. Pearson, director, University of Miami's John G. Gifford Arboretum "For all South Floridians concerned about vanishing stopover habitat and hoping to contribute to the re-greening of Florida in their own backyards, Attracting Birds to South Florida Gardens is essential reading."--Brian Rapoza, author of Birding Florida Lush and warm, South Florida is a gardener's dream and a birder's delight. James Kushlan and Kirsten Hines draw on their years of experience to provide practical, ecologically sound advice for creating landscapes that will appeal to the many birds that can be found in the region. Aimed primarily at backyard gardeners and birders, but applicable for commercial landscapers as well, their precepts can be applied to a broad range of outdoor spaces, from balconies to suburban yards to rural estates. The authors identify plants that provide food or shelter and explain how each can attract specific bird species. They also explain what plants work well together, offer advice on simplifying garden maintenance, and provide tips on how other elements can make an area avian-friendly. Filled with brilliant photographs, Attracting Birds to South Florida Gardens addresses a conspicuous void in the literature on two of America's most popular activities.

There's more to Florida than Orlando! The Everything Family Guide to Coastal Florida is your perfect guide to the rest of Florida—from the panhandle to the Gulf Coast, and from Key West to Jacksonville. Filled with family-friendly advice on the best restaurants and hotels for every budget, this book is an extensive resource for activities, sports, shopping, spas, and—most importantly—Florida's beautiful beaches. Loaded with tips and ideas for exploring, water sports, and beach fun, The Everything Family Guide to Coastal Florida is all you need to plan a Florida vacation the whole family will enjoy!

The Rough Guide to Florida is the ultimate travel guide with clear maps and detailed coverage of all the best attractions Florida has to offer. Discover the dynamic regions of Florida from the countless theme parks of Disney World, EPCOT, Universal Studios and SeaWorld, to the canals and beaches of Fort Lauderdale, Art deco sites of South Beach and Florida’s expanding Downtown region. Packed with practical advice on what to see and do in Florida this guide provides reliable, up-to-date descriptions of the best hotels in Florida, recommended restaurants and bars in Florida with detailed coverage on a full range of attractions; from day trips to Dry Tortugas Islands to discovering the historic Stranahan House. You’ll find expert tips on exploring Florida’s amazing fishing and boating activities, golf and adventure sports, Florida’s sensational art galleries and museums, all within walking distance of each other, including the Kennedy Space Centre, as well as cultural attractions, shopping and entertainment for all budgets. Navigate all corners of Florida with the clearest maps of any guide. Make the most of your holiday with The Rough Guide to Florida.

This completely revised second edition of the definitive South Florida guidebook offers coverage of Tampa, the Gulf Coast, South Beach, Miami, and the Keys. In diverse, exciting South Florida you might catch a glimpse of an endangered Florida panther in a nature preserve in the morning and visit a four-star restaurant and world-class nightclub that evening. This rich destination welcomes visitors from all over the world with its vibrant arts communities and multicultural historic sites, luxurious seaside resorts and lush forests, and some of the best fishing and diving in the United States. With cattle ranches and citrus groves all the way down to the mighty swamps of the Everglades and Big Cypress there are endless opportunities for exploration and discovery for singles, couples, and families. From eco-friendly establishments and environmental information about the region to its trendy nightlife, out-of-the-way attractions, and best beach hotels, Explorer’s Guide South Florida is a thorough introduction to an alluring place that tourists as well as locals simply shouldn’t miss. Detailed maps, an index, an alphabetical “What’s Where” subject guide, and helpful icons that highlight places that offer special value, are pet-, gay-, and family-friendly, and are wheelchair accessible round out this incredible resource, your perfect travel companion.

"This fully illustrated book is a comprehensive, yet convenient and easy-to-understand guide to Florida's endangered and threatened animals and the habitats that support them. Chris Scott covers all 71 species, subspecies, or populations of mammals, birds, reptiles, fish, crustaceans, insects, corals, and mollusks. His species accounts describe each animal's listed status, identifying characteristics, historical and current distribution, biology, current threats, and conservation efforts.

What is happening to Florida's "protected" wetlands? "This is an exhaustive, timely, and devastating account of the destruction of Florida's wetlands, and the disgraceful collusion of government at all levels. It's an important book that should be read by every voter, every taxpayer, every parent, every Floridian who cares about saving what's left of this precious place."--Carl Hiaasen "Pittman and Waite pulled the lid off federal and state wetlands regulation in Florida and peered deep into the cauldron of 'mitigation,' 'no net loss,' 'banking,' and the rest of the regulatory stew. For anyone interested in wetlands generally, and in Florida environmental issues in particular, this is an eye-opening, must-read book."--J. B. Ruhl Since 1990, every president has pledged to protect wetlands, and Florida possesses more than any state except Alaska. And yet, since that time Florida has lost more than 84,000 acres of wetlands that help replenish the water supply and protect against flooding. How and why the state's wetlands are continuing to disappear is the subject of Paving Paradise. Journalists Craig Pittman and Matthew Waite spent nearly four years investigating the political expedience, corruption, and negligence on the part of federal and state agencies that led to a failure to enforce regulations on developers. They traveled throughout the state, interviewed hundreds of people, dug through thousands of documents, and analyzed satellite imagery to identify former wetlands that were now houses, stores, and parking lots. The result was an award-winning series, "Vanishing Wetlands," of more than twenty stories in the St. Petersburg Times, exposing the unseen environmental consequences of rampant sprawl. Expanding their work into book form in the tradition of Michael Grunwald's The Swamp, Pittman and Waite explain how wetland protection has become a taxpayer-funded program that creates the illusion of environmental protection while doing little to stem the tide of destruction.

A Garden & Gun Best Book of 2020 “Witty and passionate.” —Lauren Groff “Craig Pittman has a remarkable talent for telling stories set in the Sunshine State that never fail to fascinate and entertain.”—Gilbert King “The definitive book on one of America’s least understood apex predators. The story of how Florida’s panthers were saved from extinction is one that both deserves and needs to be told.” —Dane Huckelbridge The captivating tale of the Florida panther, its survival and rescue from extinction With novelistic detail and an eye for the absurd, Craig Pittman recounts the extraordinary story of the people who brought the panther back from the brink of extinction, the ones who nearly pushed the species over the edge, and the cats that were caught in the middle. This being Florida, there's more than a little weirdness, too. An engrossing narrative of wry humor, sharp writing and exhaustive reportage, Cat Tale shows what it takes to bring one species back and what unexpected costs such a decision brings.