Central Texas – Page 3 – Quick Reference Publishing Retail

Hummingbirds of North America

Hummingbirds of North America is a quick and easy to use, light-weight, durable, all-weather field guide to the smallest, and some of the most colorful, popular, mysterious and alluring birds in North America—Hummingbirds. Over 100 stunning digital photographs depict every hummingbird species ever recorded in the United States and Canada. And just as importantly, each species is represented by a variety of images that show precisely which field marks to look for and how each may appear in the field at differing lighting angles.

Organized by region (Widespread, Eastern, Pacific States, Rockies and Montane West, Desert Southwest, U.S./Mexican Borderland, etc.), the guide immediately sets users in the right direction by narrowing down the possibilities while answering the pivotal question: “Which hummingbirds occur in my region?” Designed to satisfy the needs of birders of all interest levels—but especially beginning and intermediate users trying to make sense of it all—this beautiful and amazingly informative six-fold guide will be an indispensable companion on all outings.

This affordable guide will conveniently fit into any daypack, pocket or glove-compartment, facilitating easy field identification—whether in a home garden, on a family vacation, or a serious trip visiting all the best hummingbird hot spots within the United States and Canada.

ISBN: 978-1-936913-42-8

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Greg Homel

Greg R. Homel is an ornithologist, award-winning international nature photojournalist, documentary film producer, birding tour leader and lecturer.

He lives and works from his home within the magnificent Los Padres National Forest, California, USA (home of the California Condor) and from his second homes at Río Lagartos, surrounded by the magnificent Ría Lagartos National Park and Biosphere Reserve at the north tip of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula and El Tuito, near Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico.

A birder-naturalist since childhood, Greg founded Natural Elements Productions in 1986 and Natural Encounters Birding Tours shortly thereafter. Now he travels the globe on a full-time basis in search of rare and little-known birds and other wildlife.

He shares his unbounded (and contagious) enthusiasm through excursions for small groups worldwide, and with a wider audience through state-of-the-art digital lectures, television, and wide variety of publications and video productions.

Throughout his life, but especially since the early 1990s, Greg has guided, educated, and inspired travelers in over 80 countries throughout the world. His travels on all seven continents, from the Arctic Circle to the Antarctic and points between, have allowed him to see more than half of the planet’s roughly 9,800+ bird species in their natural habitats.

His early work appeared regularly in books and magazines, including Wildbird Magazine, The Audubon Society Field Guides to Eastern Birds and The Audubon Society Field Guides to Western Birds, Time, Birder’s World, Tucson Lifestyle, and Texas Monthly magazines.

Since the “digital revolution,” Greg has moved into television, video production for conservation groups such as American Bird Conservancy, field guide writing and lecturing aboard expedition ships with the hope of “giving a voice to his truest love, which is the natural world and its inhabitants, especially birds!”

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Shorebirds of North America

Shorebirds of North America contains over 200 color photos of all the breeding and commonly occurring shorebird species found in North America. Species accounts show breeding and nonbreeding plumages when differences occur, as well as many immature and juvenile plumages. Some similar species are shown side by side to allow for easier ID comparison, such as the dowitchers, yellowlegs and willets.

Each featured species includes a short description of their physical and plumage features, body and wingspan measurements, and preferred habitats. The status of each species, including seasonal frequency, resident or migrant occurrence, and breeding location and habitats are also noted.

These guides differ from other similar products by the increased number of photos for each species, which allows readers to compare a variety of individuals on the same page. This laminated, waterproof, folding field guide is a must for anyone who wants to identify shorebirds anywhere in North America—and they fit in your back pocket when you complete your ID conclusion. You’ve tried the rest; now try the best quick reference guides for North American shorebirds.

ISBN: 978-1-936913-78-7

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Kevin Karlson

Kevin Karlson is an accomplished birder, professional tour leader and wildlife photographer who has published numerous articles on bird identification and natural history for an assortment of magazines, books, and journals.A former photo editor for North American Birds, he currently writes the Birder’s ID column for Wild Bird Magazine. Kevin is a co-author of The Shorebird Guide (Houghton Mifflin Co. 2006) and is currently completing a new book for the Roger Tory Peterson Reference series at Houghton Mifflin Co. called Birding by Impression. He is the author and photographer of a book titled The Birds of Cape May (Schiffer Publishing, 2010), which celebrates the birds of this special location through the four seasons, and just completed a new nature photography book called Visions: Earth’s Elements in Bird and Nature Photography, which will be released in June, 2012.

As the sole ornithologist for Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s DVD Birds of North America, Kevin prepared photos and wrote captions for over 2600 bird images, including over 800 of his own. He is a regular presence at numerous Bird and Nature festivals around North America, where he gives keynote presentations and workshops on bird identification and natural history, and leads field trips to a variety of locations. Kevin also leads a limited number of photography tours.

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Dragonflies of Texas

Dragonflies of Texas: People exploring nature in Southeast Texas can use this handy photographic field guide to identify common native dragonfly species.

The Dragonflies in the guide are grouped by color to make identification as easy as possible, and the accompanying text indicates size and type , and other characteristics of each Dragonfly.

The guide’s six double-sided panels fold up into a packet narrow enough to fit in a back pocket yet sturdy enough to stand up under repeated use. Lamination has also made the guide waterproof.

The Dragonflies identified in Texas grow in a large area that includes Houston, Galveston, Beaumont, Jasper, Lufkin, Huntsville, Bryan, Brenham, La Grange, and many other nearby places.

ISBN: 978-1-936913-08-4

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James Lasswell & Forest Mitchell

James’ fascination with nature led him to receive degrees in both Botany and Zoology.

He spent the majority of his professional career working at the Texas AgriLife Research Station in Stephenville, TX, much of that time working with Dr. Forrest Mitchell on problems related to insect transmitted diseases of plants.

An avid outdoorsman, James became interested in dragonflies while a graduate student at Texas A&M University and was able to further his fascination with these creatures while working on a wetlands research project with Dr. Mitchell. James and Forrest shared authorship on a number of journal articles, but enjoyed most being able to get a coffee-table type book on dragonflies published.

James is now retired, but continues to give presentations and guide nature tours in both Texas and New Mexico. James’ hobbies include landscape oil painting, golfing, fishing, and photography.

Forrest Mitchell’s childhood fascination with insects has translated into a career in Entomology.

He is the project leader for entomological research at the Texas AgriLife Research Station in Stephenville, TX and a Professor in the Department of Entomology at Texas A&M University. He has been interested in dragonflies even before he could spell the word.

A Texas native, he attended school at Texas A&M University and Louisiana State University before returning to Texas to work in Stephenville.

Though his primary work is on sustainable mitigation of insect transmitted diseases of plants, he was given the opportunity to work with dragonflies while conducting a wetlands research study.

He, along with James Lasswell, co-authored a popular coffee-table type book entitled “A Dazzle of Dragonflies” inspired by their work on the wetlands study. Dr. Mitchell’s hobbies include gardening, water gardening, woodworking and photography.

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Butterflies of Central Texas

Butterflies of Central Texas is a durable laminated folding guide, perfect for carrying in the field. The slender dimensions fit in a pocket or backpack. Covering 83 butterflies found throughout the Hill Country, from Waco to San Antonio to Fredericksburg, the layout allows for quick comparison between similar species. Typical wing positions at rest are shown (open vs. closed) for each species and many caterpillars are also included.

Informational text gives both common and Latin names, size, larval host plants, and flight seasons. Tips on finding butterflies and caterpillars are given and the life cycle of the Gulf Fritillary is illustrated. Nature enthusiasts of all ages will enjoy using this guide.

ISBN: 978-0-9824905-0-1

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Valerie Bugh

Valerie Bugh is a naturalist specializing in the arthropods of the Austin area, with interests in taxonomy and photography.

She runs the Fauna Project at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, leads insect discovery walks, provides insect/spider identifications, and gives talks to local organizations. Website: www.austinbug.com

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Shells of Texas

This colorful, educational guide is an excellent resource for identifying the shells, common sea beans and other coastal drift found in beach, bay and related coastal habitats. Great for all ages and is perfect for anyone who enjoys the coastal areas whether briefly visiting the beach to nature enthusiasts and beachcombers.

This conveniently sized guide features photographs grouped by color of some of Texas’ common, uncommon and highly sought shelled animals. Other aquatic coastal animals are also included, plus important information about the wrack line and the coastal drift treasures hidden there.

Common and scientific names, shell ranges, maximum sizes, and other features are described in this guide. Field identification assistance and educational tips are also presented. This pocket-sized, 12-panel, laminated, waterproof guide is great for outdoor coastal experiences.

ISBN: 978-1-936913-21-3

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Brian Lane & Jeanne Murphy

As a Florida native, Brian grew up on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico and earned his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Central Florida in Orlando.

During his childhood, he spent most of his spare time fishing along the beaches and bays of Florida’s west coast or roaming the woods looking for his next adventure.

After high school, he left Florida to become a Watercraft Operator for the US Army Reserves.

From early on, Brian was determined to find a profession that would satisfy his passion for wildlife and the outdoors. Being an environmental scientist and ecologist for the past 17 years has done just that.

With camera in tow, Brian eagerly treks through waist-high swamps, canoes around alligator tails and drives ATVs up steep banks excitedly awaiting his next nature adventure to unfurl.

Then, he brings his experiences back and shares them with others through environmental trainings, eco-tours and educational materials that he creates for his co-owned company, Sensing Nature®.

Jeanne Murphy, a professional wildlife biologist is happiest when teaching about nature through educational workshops/eco-tours, capturing moments in time through nature photography or just exploring nature at leisure.

After pursuing a bachelor degree in animal science and graduate courses in ichthyology, Jeanne has since spent years traveling and mapping wetland and upland habitats throughout the United States as well as working as a government wildlife biologist educating the public about the importance of natural systems and their inhabitants.

Now, Jeanne excitedly co-owns Sensing Nature® (a Florida environmental education, ecotourism and educational nature products company) with her husband Brian Lane.

As a certified instructor for the University of Florida’s Florida Master Naturalist Program and as an active community member, Jeanne believes that we can all make a positive difference in tomorrow’s environmental successes.

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