Birds Of The Lahontan Valley: A Guide To Nevada'S Wetland Oasis [Paperback]

Graham Chisholm (Author), Larry A. Neel (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1, 2001

Deep in the arid vastness of the harsh Great Basin desert, in one of the warmest and driest basins in northern Nevada, lies a wetland oasis that is home to more than 290 species of resident and migratory birds. The Lahontan Valley wetlands, including Stillwater Marsh and Carson Lake, contain the remnants of a vast Pleistocene lake that once covered much of western and northern Nevada. Today, shrunken to fewer than 100,000 acres and precariously vulnerable to the vagaries of the Great Basin's scanty rainfall and to competing demands for water from neighboring agriculturists and northern Nevada's booming urban development, the Lahontan Valley wetlands persist as one of the most important birding sites on the Pacific Flyway. Birds of the Lahontan Valley is a major contribution to the study of natural history in the Great Basin. Authors Graham Chisholm and Larry A. Neel provide a comprehensive discussion of the geologic history of the area; the intricate relationships between climate, soil, vegetation, and local fauna; and the impact of humankind, from the ancient Paiute people to the farmers and ranchers of today. The book's greatest significance, however, lies in its detailed account of the bird species sighted in the Lahontan Valley, a listing that will be invaluable to scientists and casual birders alike. Enhanced by 56 line drawings by ornithological artist Mimi Hoppe Wolf, maps, color photographs of habitats and their related bird species, and directions to bird-viewing sites, Birds of the Lahontan Valley is an essential resource for birders, naturalists, conservationists, and anyone interested in the outdoors. The Lahontan Valley wetlands are one of the Great Basin's most precious and least-known natural wonders. Birds of the Lahontan Valley reveals the rich complexity of this fragile ecological treasure and will help readers appreciate its value for present and future generations.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Graham Chisholm is executive director for the Nature Conservancy of California. Co-founder of the Great Basin Bird Observatory, he has been active in conserving the wetlands of the Lahontan Valley since 1992. He previously worked in the U. S. Senate on natural resource issues. Larry A. Neel is the nongame biologist for the Western Region of the Nevada Department of Wildlife, stationed in Fallon, Nevada. In this position, he has been involved in a diverse array of avian conservation projects including serving as chief editor of the Nevada Partners in Flight Bird Conservation Plan that outlines an interagency approach to the conservation of Nevada's bird life through 2010.

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: University of Nevada Press (November 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0874174791
• ISBN-13: 978-0874174793
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.7 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,456,735 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #92 in Books > Science & Math > Nature & Ecology > Ecosystems > Wetlands

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