As I, like so many other naturalists, have long kept a dated record of the natural events I witness occurring around me throughout the year, I was recently delighted to discover when and how the practice is able to be documented as beginning.
At last count, there are thirteen living species of otter on the planet. Many of us will no doubt be already familiar with the charismatically playful North American River Otter (Lontra canadensis), the wide-ranging Eurasian Otter (Lutra lutra), and dangerously adorable Sea Otter (Enhydra lutris). However of all thirteen, the largest – as well as one of the most in danger of someday lowering the total species count to twelve – is the enormous and very appropriately named Giant River Otter (Pteronura brasiliensis).
When the freshly printed copy of the new “Good Birders Still Don’t Wear White” arrived, I made a quick scan of the authors whose writings are collected in it. As it turns out, I know each one, which will make it a somewhat challenging book to review.
Of all the places I’ve yet to explore in my life, one near the top of my most desired list is the Mono Lake Basin of California’s eastern Sierra. So when I received news that Marie Read, one of the most accomplished photographers of this area, has a new book from Graphic Arts Books titled Sierra Wings; Birds of the Mono Lake Basin, needless to say, I was very interested indeed.