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"Birds of the Middle San Pedro Valley of Southeast Arizona" offers a fresh and unique view of bird life that is both personal and engaging. Not long after retiring from his practice as a medical doctor, Michael Whitt desired to publish a book on the birds that he and his wife, Barbara, had photographed on their property along the San Pedro River in southeast Arizona. With a sharp eye, excellent observational skills, and a keen intellect characteristic of those in his profession, Whitt gives us an intimate portrait of avian life backed by more than eighty years of wisdom and decades of close, astute observations in the outdoors. The beautifully eloquent lines of poetry that complement the text reveal an author with the insights of a true naturalist and a genuine passion for the birds and the wild lands that they require to survive.
"The multiple, vivid colors of scarlet macaws and their ability to mimic human speech are key reasons they were and are significant to the Native peoples of the southwestern U.S. and northwest New Mexico. Although the birds' natural habitat is the tropical forests of Mexico and Central America, they were present at multiple archaeological sites in the region. Leading experts in southwestern archaeology explore the reasons why"--
Woody wetlands constitute a relatively small but extremely important part of the landscape in the southwestern United States. These riparian habitats support more than one-third of the regionÕs vascular plant species, are home to a variety of wildlife, and provide essential havens for dozens of migratory animals. Because of their limited size and disproportionately high biological value, the goal of protecting wetland environments frequently takes priority over nearly all other habitat types. In The Ribbon of Green, hydrologists Robert H. Webb, and Stanley A. Leake and botanist Raymond M. Turner examine the factors that affect the stability of woody riparian vegetation, one of the largest components of riparian areas. Such factors include the diversion of surface water, flood control, and the excessive use of groundwater. Combining repeat photography with historical context and information on species composition, they document more than 140 years of change. Contrary to the common assumption of widespread losses of this type of ecosystem, the authors show that vegetation has increased on many river reaches as a result of flood control, favorable climatic conditions, and large winter floods that encourage ecosystem disturbance, germination, and the establishment of species in newly generated openings. Bringing well-documented and accessible insights to the ecological study of wetlands, this book will influence our perception of change in riparian ecosystems and how riparian restoration is practiced in the Southwest, and it will serve as an important reference in courses on plant ecology, riparian ecology, and ecosystem management.
"Birds of the Middle San Pedro Valley of Southeast Arizona" offers a fresh and unique view of bird life that is both personal and engaging. Not long after retiring from his practice as a medical doctor, Michael Whitt desired to publish a book on the birds that he and his wife, Barbara, had photographed on their property along the San Pedro River in southeast Arizona. With a sharp eye, excellent observational skills, and a keen intellect characteristic of those in his profession, Whitt gives us an intimate portrait of avian life backed by more than eighty years of wisdom and decades of close, astute observations in the outdoors. The beautifully eloquent lines of poetry that complement the text reveal an author with the insights of a true naturalist and a genuine passion for the birds and the wild lands that they require to survive.
The rare treasure of a desert river rises in Sonora, Mexico to flow into the state of Arizona. Known as the San Pedro, its story is phenomenal. The river and its watershed have become a Mecca for birdwatchers from all over the globe. The forests lining the river's banks and the mountains that flank its valleys are home to an astounding array of unique plants and animals. Within these pages, the land and its life are unveiled in a very uncommon way-through the eyes of an acclaimed naturalist whose knowledge has come directly from thousands of miles of walking in the American West and a lifelong study of the natural world. "The Life of the San Pedro" reveals an incredible landscape, a part of North America that is beyond comparison.
The San Pedro River in southeastern Arizona not only features some of the richest wildlife habitat in the Southwest, it also is home to more kinds of animals than anywhere else in the contiguous United States. Here you'll find 82 species of mammals, dozens of different reptiles and amphibians, and nearly 400 species of birds—more than half of those recorded in the entire country. In addition, the river supports one of the largest cottonwood-willow forest canopies remaining in Arizona. It's little wonder that the San Pedro was named by the Nature Conservancy as one of the Last Great Places in the Northern Hemisphere, and by the American Bird Conservancy as its first Important Bird Area in the United States. Roseann Hanson has spent much of her life exploring the San Pedro and its environs and has written a book that is both a personal celebration of and a definitive guide to this, the last undammed and unchanneled river in the Southwest. Taking you from the San Pedro's entry into the U.S. at the Mexican border to its confluence with the Gila River about a hundred miles north, she devotes a separate chapter to each of seven sections of river. Each chapter contains an eloquent essay on natural and cultural history, laced with Hanson's own experiences, plus an exploration guide brimming with useful information: how to get to the river, finding hiking trails, camping and other accommodations, birdwatching tips, access to biking and horseback riding, and nearby historic sites. Maps are included for each stretch of river, and the text is illustrated throughout with drawings from Roseann's copious field notebooks. Along the 40 miles of the San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area, a sanctuary protected by the Bureau of Land Management since 1988, Hanson shows how the elimination of cattle and off-road vehicles has restored the river corridor to a more natural condition. She tells of the impact of humans on the San Pedro, from Clovis hunters to American settlers to Washington bureaucrats, and shows how, as the river winds its way north, it is increasingly threatened by groundwater pumping and urbanization. In addition to the "discovery" sections of each chapter, Hanson has included species checklists for habitats and plants, birds, mammals, and reptiles and amphibians to make this a perfect companion for anyone exploring the area, whether as occasional tourist or frequent visitor. The book's blending of graceful prose and practical information shows that a river is the sum of many parts. Roseann Hanson will give you a special understanding—and perhaps a sense of stewardship—of this wild place.
Describes over 400 species. Includes background on the natural history of the region, records of sightings, and distribution maps. Many illustrations.