Common Dragonflies of California : A Beginner's Pocket Guide [Paperback]

Kathy Biggs (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0967793408 | ISBN-13: 978-0967793405 | Publication Date: April 5, 2000

Learn how to identify the dragonflies and damselflies you see in your yards and on your outings

- softbound (laminated cover), 96 pages

- fits in your pocket (5.75" X 4.5")

- dragonflies and damselflies included

- 77 species covered: 6 family pages with live scanned dragonflies; 58 species pages with photos; 2 pages with anatomical sketches; species paired by similarities

- sizes (including a a bold line the length of the dragonfly), descriptions, comparisons, habitats, flight periods, behavior, distribution

- includes a checklist of all CA species

- 119 color photos/scans, inc. some nymph

The book has a companion website showing ALL of California's Dragonflies with distribution maps, which are updated twice yearly. The website contains additional information on each speices and has links to CalOdes, the California dragonfly discussion group, sightings within the state, and updated flight periods as well as addtional photos of all species.

Editorial Reviews

Review

".... a nice little pocket-sized guide,.... photographs are clear.....I recommend this ...to anyone interested in Odonata, ... it's a bargain." -- Mark O'Brien - Williamsonia, Michigan Odonata Survey,
Vol. 4, No. 3, Summer, 2000

".... beautifully laid out, concise, informative, .... a little jewel, ...'good things come in small packages'." -- Ty Brown - Salazar Library, Sonoma State University

"...charming! ... perfect for carrying around in a pack.... much information in a very small space without ever appearing crowded." -- Lynn Monroe - Colorado author

"...clear, concise identification information ...stunning clear color photos.... a compact, affordable, accurate and fascinating 'must-have' for western nature lovers." -- Bob Lorenzen - Publisher, Bored Feet Press; author of the

"...fills niche that was begging to be occupied! Petite dimensions, light weight: should be carried by naturalists, hikers, bikers." -- Rich Stallcup, PRBO CA, author

"I'm sure it will be a great success" -- Doris Kretschmer, UCPress

"It's about time somebody put together a dragonfly guide. I'm looking forward to putting the names with the faces." -- Victoria Smith - an ordinary customer who sums it up nicely

"It's been much needed for a long time!" -- Wendy Dreskin - College of Marin

"The booklet is nice - a handy format and friendly approach." -- Roy J. Beckemeyer, Kansas Dragonfly Guides

Fills niche that was begging to be occupied! Petite dimensions, light weightt: should be carried by naturalists, hikers, bikers. -- Rich Stallcup, PRBO CA, author

From the Publisher

The ONLY guide for CA's dragonflies. Now in it's 2nd printing, this 96 page pocket guide shows you how to identify all the common dragonflies found in California and is also quite useful in all the western states.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 96 pages
• Publisher: Azalea Creek Pub (April 5, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0967793408
• ISBN-13: 978-0967793405
• Product Dimensions: 5.8 x 4.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,772,753 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #68 in Books > Science & Math > Nature & Ecology > Field Guides > Insects & Spiders
  • #69 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Science > Biological Sciences > Animals > Insects & Spiders

More About the Author

Kathy Biggs has been a nature lover all her life. As a child she traipsed through the fields and hills around her homes in the Bay Area, enjoyed camping outings, collected insects, and tried unsuccessfully to catch birds by shaking salt on their tails. After she married she and her husband became birders, first joining Mt. Diablo Audubon and then after they moved, Madrone Audubon in Santa Rosa. But it was when she and Dave built their wildlife garden pond using mostly native plants in Sebastopol, that the dragonflies arrived and became her passion.

When she discovered that there were no guides available for the dragonflies, she began collecting her own data which, as an educator, she decided to first "publish" on the Internet to share with others. The web site eventually evolved into her first book, Common Dragonflies of California, A Beginner's Pocket Guide (2000).

Kathy worked as an educator in her hometown of Sebastopol, CA in the Gravenstein School district for 18 years before becoming an author/publisher/dragonfly/wildlife pond spokesperson. She and Dave enjoy excursions to many areas both to see the dragonflies and to teach people about them and about wildlife ponds.

Kathy's second book, Common Dragonflies of the Southwest, A Beginner's Pocket Guide was published in 2004. This book includes the common dragonflies of the GREATER SW, inc. CA, NV, UT, CO, AZ and NM and not only includes more dragonfly species, but also expands the area where she and Dave can `teach' dragonflies.

In 2006 Kathy developed a dust jacket for her Southwest Dragonfly Guide which includes pictures of some of the endemic and rare California dragonflies. This dust-jacketed book now replaced the out-of-print Common Dragonflies of California (over 11,000 copies sold).

In 2007 Kathy and Tim Manolis (author of Dragonflies and Damselflies of California, UCPress) corroborated and produced the first ever dragonfly coloring book: Dragonflies of North America, A Color and Learn Book with Activities. This book is also available on a CD.

In 2009 Kathy totally revised and updated the out-of-print Common Dragonflies of California, A Beginner's Pocket Guide. The new revised edition has more species, better photos, and all updated accounts.

She hopes to turn you on to dragonflies and wildlife ponds too!

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Very Handy and Informative Book!, May 26, 2000

By 

"revgee" (California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Common Dragonflies of California : A Beginner's Pocket Guide (Paperback)

We have a pond in our yard, and this book has given us the opportunity to identify those beautiful visitors that we have been looking at! The pictures are clear, and the descriptions are very helpful when it comes to looking for markings that help distinguish between two similar species. There is a handy glossary at the back where one can find the meanings of any technical words. This is a put-it-in-your-pocket-when-you-go-hiking kind of book. It is presented at a level that is clear for adults or those budding naturalists you might have running around....

So happy to have it in my natural history collection!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Perfect Field Guide, November 2, 2001

By 

T. D. Butler (Millville, Ca USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Common Dragonflies of California : A Beginner's Pocket Guide (Paperback)

As a beginner in the study of these fascinating and beautiful creatures, I found this book clear, concise, and easy to understand and use. The text is simple and complete, and the illustrations are excellent. The small size of the volume makes it fit easily into your pocket for quick reference. Anyone interested in dragonflies will find the book an absolute MUST!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A valuable field guide. Easy to use. Great photographs., January 24, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Common Dragonflies of California : A Beginner's Pocket Guide (Paperback)

This is really nice field guide to have. The photographs are great. Each entry is succint and includes one or two photographs together with a bold line the length of the dragonfly and printed in one of the dominant colors of the dragonfly. There is a checklist in the back so that you can keep track of what you see, and the introductory information in the front of the book is well-written. Though I bought this book for myself, I think that it also would make a great field guide for a child since the book is small, easy to use, and the photos are clear and attractive. It is well worth the price.