New Guide to the Natural History of the Santa Barbara Region

We’re using a new book for Walking Biology this year!  Published just recently is the natural history guide just for us – all about Santa Barbara and its surrounding area.  It is written by long-time resident and natural historian, Joan Lentz, who has also written field guides on Southern California birds (and led many local birdwatching classes).  It is available from Heyday Books (the publisher) and other retailers.

Read more about author Joan Lentz on her website: http://joaneastonlentz.com/

And if you'd like to read reviews of this book from our local press, here is an article from the SB Independent, and one from noozhawk.com

Joan Easton Lentz. 2013. A Naturalist’s Guide to the Santa Barbara Region.  Heyday Books, Berkeley, CA

Field Notes on Science and Nature

You all might enjoy this book (published in 2011 by Harvard Univ Press), which compiles accounts by notable natural historians writing about their experiences in recording their observations in the field.  This is a celebration of the field notebook, and includes examples of some amazing journals and illustrations.  The book is edited by Michael Canfield, who writes, “The tradition of field notes that grew into its own genre over the past three centuries is still relevant to anyone who studies nature... Although the diversification of field pursuits and the complexity of their studies have expanded the scope and methods for field documentation, the basic role and importance of field notes are unchanged."

Several nice reviews are here: Betsy Mason (Wired.com) and John Anderson (Natural HistoryNetwork).

A few good books

Of course the point of this class is to get you away from your books, away from the lecture hall, and into the splendid natural habitats around us. At the same time, a good book is extremely valuable for learning more about the places, plants, and animals you will be visiting. In addition to the book recommended for this class, Elna Baker’s “An Island Called California”, an excellent source of information about the wide variety of natural communities in our state is “A Natural History of California”, by Allan Schoenherr.

There are also nice field guides and natural history guides for specific communities, such as the recently published, “Introduction to California Chaparral” by Ronald Quinn and Sterling Keeley.