The Curious Naturalist Author:National Geographic Society "Curiosity is the only real talent a naturalist needs," writes wildlife biologist Douglas Chadwick. Following a tradition that goes back to Aristotle and earlier, naturalists explore habitats with a keen eye, observing and identifying lifeforms and discovering the connections that bind them. The Curious Naturalist encourages the practicing ama... more »teur to become an expert in the natural world. In tours of nine North American ecosystems ranging from backyards to woodlands, grasslands to sandy shores, a diverse group of experienced naturalists and field photographers show readers how to approach nature with a trained eye.
The book includes some 300 photographs illustrating such topics as the gradual metamorphosis of a butterfly and the tiny ecosystem found inside an acorn. More than 30 specially commissioned watercolor paintings show the hidden life of a vegetable garden, the interior of a beaver lodge, and the creatures that exist on the thin film at a pond's surface. By following the book's detailed instructions, aspiring naturalists will learn how to make a home barometer and a ond viewer, where to find fossils, and how to create a cast of an animal track. An extensive bibliography and index enhance the book's reference value.
The Curious Naturalist offers exciting strategies for exploring the mysteries of nature - the rich array of plants and animals and their exquisite adaptations to the world we share with them.« less