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| Field Guide to the Natural World of New York City | 
| Author: Leslie Day
Creators: Michael R. Bloomberg, Mark A. Klingler
Publisher: The Johns Hopkins University Press
Category: Book
List Price: $24.95
Buy New: $14.48
You Save: $10.47 (42%)
New (33) from $14.48
Avg. Customer Rating:  7 reviews
Sales Rank: 212873
Media: Paperback
Edition: 1
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 356
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.4
Dimensions (in): 8.4 x 5.5 x 1.4
ISBN: 0801886821
Dewey Decimal Number: 917.470443
EAN: 9780801886829
ASIN: 0801886821
Publication Date: November 30, 2007
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Condition: Brand new item. Over 3.5 million customers served. Order now. Selling online since 1995. Order with confidence. Code: B20080718222140T
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Product Description
New York just might be the most biologically diverse city in temperate America. The five boroughs sit atop one of the most naturally rich sites in North America, directly under the Atlantic migratory flyway, at the mouth of a 300-mile-long river, and on three islands -- Manhattan, Staten, and Long. Leslie Day, a New York City naturalist, reveals this amazing world in her Field Guide to the Natural World of New York City. Combining the stunning paintings of Mark A. Klingler with a variety of photographs and maps, this book is a complete guide for the urban naturalist -- with tips on identifying the city's flora and fauna and maps showing the nearest subway stop. Here is your personal guide to the real wild side of America's largest city. Throw it in your backpack, hop on the subway, and explore.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 2 more reviews...
 Almost complete July 7, 2008
This book is a handsome, valuable addition to the library (or backpack) of NYC dwelling natural history lovers. Unfortunately, it is not "complete," as several reviews suggest. Missing, for example, is the red-eared slider(Trachemys scripta elegans), the most commonly seen turtle in Central Park. Migrant and occasional bird species, too, are not to be found. The wild turkey is now reestablished on parts of Manhattan, but does not find a place in Day's guide. There are many such oversights; generally, however, I recommend the book.
 NYC's amazing treasure trove of nature! May 20, 2008
"What a wonderful resource NYC has in Leslie Day. I purchased her recently released book (hardcover edition) Field Guide to the Natural World of New York City, and was so impressed by her knowledge and intense communion with nature. This book is a work of art! Illustrated by Mark A. Klingler and containing many photographs taken by Dr. Day herself, it is a piece to be treasured. It is so complete, comprehensive and beautifully edited. It is also amazingly user friendly. Thank you Leslie Day for your dedication to NYC and the enlightening of nature lovers everywhere."
Mourning Doves have blue eyes February 19, 2008
7 out of 7 found this review helpful
Leslie Day describes her book perfectly in the first chapter:
"Today the city is a complex ecosystem, the result of its tumultuous history. Hundreds of species of birds inhabit its streets, parks and waters. Insects, worms, crustaceans, fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds,mammals, trees, wildflowers, and mushrooms are within walking distance of virtually every apartment building, house, and hotel. The city has more than 500 miles of coastline, some fringed with saltwater marshes, such as the islands of Jamaica Bay in Queens. New York's 37,000 acres of parks contain hundreds of species waiting to be discovered, identified, and appreciated by the reader. This guide is designed to make the natural world of New York City accessible by revealing the living and diverse, and ancient geological treasures the city has to offer."
She describes it beautifully with the help of well done drawings by Mark A. Klingler and a number of color photographs. Day is a keen observer: we've fed dozens of mourning doves over the years, but I've never noticed the color of their eyes. As she told a "New York Times" reporter: "If you look closely in their eyes, they are blue. It's startlingly beautiful." (During the same interview walking around a single block, Day identified several trees and a lichen: Willow Oak, Honey Locust, Sophora Tree (aka "Eve's Necklace"), three Callery Pears, Mulberry (with two types of leaves: some egg-shaped, others lobed), London Plane, several Lindens, and, of course, a Gingko.)
Day writes in a simple, yet informed style. You'll understand why she is so effective teaching young people about nature and continuing to do so with adults. One of the best features: she maintains an interesting website devoted to the Guide, and posts short, informative, well illustrated updates on new developments in New York City. The last few entries included a Harp Seal at the Boat Basin on 79th Street (where she lives on a house boat), Winter Weeping Willows, and Canvas Back Ducks.
This is a very human view of one of our greenest cities.
Thank You Amazon for the Field Guide to Birds in NYC December 25, 2007
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
BTW, I was born Brooklyn in 1926. My family "emigrated" to Staten Island in the early 1930s. Having last lived on rural Lighthouse Hill on Staten Island in 1951 I am well-acquainted with Staten Island's flora and fauna.
The best endorsement I can give is the fact that I originally bought this book for a friend who is an avid birder in Connecticut. She was so impressed with it that I bought one for myself. Now I am a birder (albeit, an old bird!).
I Love New York! December 16, 2007
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
Leslie Day possesses an extraordinary, singular talent for inspiring enthusiasm and a life-long passion for learning and for the natural world around us. Dr. Day has been our children's science teacher since our now 17 year-old son was in her class in Kindergarten; and in order to be her students, our now 14 year-old twins commuted for six years, starting the day before 9/11, from the island of Manhattan across the Washington Bridge to the Elisabeth Morrow School in Englewood, New Jersey. Her Field Guide is a beautifully-written, gorgeously-illustrated and very smartly-organized celebration of big-city nature. A naturalist's version of "I Love New York", it provides pathways and subway directions to thousands of acres of magnificent parks and nature preserves that even most New Yorkers don't know. Now, in addition to knowing of Central Park, Broadway Theater, Carnegie Hall and our 157 museums, visitors and New Yorkers - including the Mayor (who wrote the introduction)- can always have a ready answer to that proverbial, weekend question, "what shall we do today?". This is a great read and a must-have.
Paul Tobias, New York City
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Wildlife, nature and the Environment
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