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From the bald eagle to the pileolated woodpecker, the varied and abundant birdlife of the northwestern national parks is as impressive as the parks' dramatic scenery. To help both beginning and advanced birders make the most of their visits to these parks, Roland Wauer has written this finding guide, which introduces the most common birds and the most likely places to see them.
The book opens with practical advice on getting started in birding-choosing binoculars, bird identification, proper field techniques, etc. Then after a concise discussion of the national parks as "islands" of bird habitat, the succeeding chapters fully describe each park, including its plant and animal communities and the facilities and interpretive activities available to visitors. Wauer takes readers on "walks" through each park's most popular and accessible places, where he explains the identification and behavior of the birds that visitors are most likely to see. He closes each account with a review of the park's bird life and a list of key species. Pen-and-ink drawings illustrate many of the birds.
List of contents
- Preface
- Acknowledgments
- Birds—What They Are and How to Find Them
- Birding for Fun
- Field Techniques
- Birding Ethics
- Parks as Islands
- Threats to the Parks
- Wildland Fires and Their Effects on Bird Life
- The Future
- What Is Being Done within the Parks
- The Value of National Parks
- The Northwestern National Parks
- Olympic National Park, Washington
- North Cascades National Park, Washington
- Mount Rainier National Park, Washington
- Crater Lake National Park, Oregon
- Oregon Caves National Monument, Oregon
- Lava Beds National Monument, California
- Lassen Volcanic National Park, California
- References
- Index
About the author
Roland H. Wauer retired from the National Park Service in 1989, after a 32-year career as a park ranger at Crater Lake National Park (NP), Death Valley NP, Pinnacles NM, Zion NP, and Big Bend NP; Southwest Region Chief Scientist (1972-78), and Chief of Natural Resources in the Washington, DC Office (197 2-83). During the later period he coordinated two NPS State of the Parks reports, developed the Service-wide Natural Resource Management Trainee Program, and served as Chairman of the Interagency Grizzly Bear Steering Committee. His final two NPS assignment were at Great Smoky Mountains NP as Assistant Superintendent, where he coordinated the Interagency Biosphere Reserve Program, and in the Caribbean, working with the Virgin Islands Government to establish a Territorial Park System; the Salt River Bay Historical Park and Ecological Preserve evolved from that final assignment.
Since 1989, he has spent much time traveling and writing. He also served as a member of the National Academy of Science Committee on Science in the National Parks (1990-2001), a member of the Board of Trustees of the National Parks Association (1995-2001), and a member of the Board of Scientists of the Chihuahuan Desert Research Institute (1980-2000). In addition, he has written and published 27 books on the National Parks and birds and butterflies.
