The Field Guide to the Birds of the Sierra Nevada Project
About the Project
The Field
Guide to Birds of the Sierra Nevada will be of interest to anyone who
appreciates the natural history of the Sierra Nevada, from the casual hiker
to the serious ornithologist and the avid conservationist. This book will
be published by the Yosemite Association, with partial funding being generously
provided by the David and
Lucile Packard Foundation. The authors are Edward C. (Ted) Beedy, David
Lukas, and Stephen L. Granholm; the artist is Keith Hansen.
Species Accounts: Accounts of 322 regularly occurring Sierran birds
will include: common and scientific names; the origins of these names, seasonal
distribution and habitat requirements, natural history, and conservation status.
All species accounts will be arranged taxonomically, according to the American
Ornithologists' Union's Check-list of North American Birds (7th Edition).
The intent of these accounts is to describe the species' habitats, behavior,
and foraging and nesting habits in an informative and readable style. The
"Featured Species," Common Loon, is a representative species account.
Color Plates: Keith Hansen is preparing 68 color plates that will illustrate all 322 species in full color. The plates will display male, female, and juvenile plumages of each described species as appropriate. As an identification guide, some groups (e.g., herons, egrets, waterfowl, shorebirds, woodpeckers, raptors) also will be pictured in typical flight postures. Most of the plates will group taxonomically-related birds together, but some also will include unrelated species that appear similar and are often confused in the field. Identification notes including size, plumage, and behavioral characteristics will be printed on the page facing each plate. Keith wants his art to evoke the true beauty of birds, and thereby to create a greater appreciation and knowledge of Sierran species and ultimately an increased desire to preserve them.
Geographical
Coverage: This book will describe birds and their habitats throughout
the Sierra Nevada, from Highway 36 (near Lake Almanor) in the north to Highway
58 (Tehachapi Pass) in the south. The western border will follow the lowest
elevation foothill-oak woodlands (about 500 feet elevation). The eastern border
will be defined by Highway 395 and will include several large, east-side lakes
that are immediately adjacent to the Sierra (e.g., Mono Lake, Topaz Lake,
and Honey Lake). These boundaries will be similar to the "core area"
used for the Sierra Nevada Ecosystem Project. Habitats described in the book
will correspond to the California Department of Fish and Game's Wildlife Habitat
Relationships classification system.
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