From Blue Ridge to Barrier Islands

The 436-page book has something for everyone-birders, hikers, hunters, green activists, and local historians included... A handy introduction to some of the genre's luminaries-... Rachel Carson, Annie Dillard, Roger Tory Peterson, John Burroughs, Tom Horton, William Warner... If you're a local outdoors lover, you can't help but take pride in knowing that these nature-writing aces have done some of their finest reporting on this region... Read their selections and you'll not only be entertained, you'll have a clearer idea of the natural assets of this region-how they've been savored and squandered and rejuvenated and protected. -- Kevin McManus Washington Post This region of ours is a jewel. If there be any doubt, read these authors. Their voices will fuel not only many future journeys but also explorations of the mind... The readings brim with lyrical prose and memorable lines. -- Stan Shetler Audubon Naturalist News An extraordinary book that looks through time and space-and through changing perceptions-at the nature of the mid-Atlantic region... The book makes accessible a tremendous and eclectic range of fine regional writing-not only selections from lesser-known authors, but also lesser-known pieces of the many famous writers included. Baltimore Sun

J. Kent Minichiello, a retired professor of mathematics, directs the Natural History Field Studies Program, a joint project of the U.S. Department of Agriculture Graduate School and the Audubon Naturalist Society. Anthony W. White is a retired naval officer and former president of both the Maryland Ornithological Society and the Audubon Naturalist Society of the Central Atlantic States.

Preface and Acknowledgments Chapter 1. Introduction Chapter 2. Design for Nature Writing Chapter 3. A Map of Virginia Chapter 4. The First Bison! The Last Bison! Chapter 5. The First Expedition to the Blue Ridge Mountains Chapter 6. The Natural History of the New World - Three Views Chapter 7. Notes on the State of Virginia Chapter 8. Ant-Hill Town Chapter 9. Annalostan Island and The Great Falls of the Potomac Chapter 10. Views of the Blue Ridge and the Shenandoah Valley Chapter 11. The Blackwater Chronicle Chapter 12. Crossing the Cumberland Mountains Chapter 13. Spring at the Capital Chapter 14. The White House by Moonlight, Birds Migrating at Midnight, and By Broad Potomac's Shore Chapter 15. Pine Woods Chapter 16. Picturesque America: The Chickahominy and Weyer's Cave Chapter 17. Where Now Will You Look For Birds? And Avifauna Columbiana Chapter 18. Season of "Eclipse" in Zoo Fuck Pond and Our Doorstep Sparrow Chapter 19. Cobb's Island Chapter 20. The Life Worth Living Chapter 21. Outdoors and Indoors Chapter 22. A Trip to the Dismal Swamp Chapter 23. Birds and Magnolia Bogs Chapter 24. Color in Virginia and The National Forests Chapter 25. Revels Island Chapter 26. Fernald's Ecstasy! Fernald's Chagrin! Chapter 27. The Barbarians Chapter 28. Flood Tide and Chincoteague: A National Wildlife Refuge Chapter 29. Spring in Washington Chapter 30. The Chesapeake Marshes Chapter 31. May at Monticello Chapter 32. C&O Canal Chapter 33. City in the Woods Chapter 34. Fire Tower Chapter 35. Down the Coast to Assateague Chapter 36. Heaven and Earth in Jest and The Present Chapter 37. The Search for Betula Uber Chapter 38. Beautiful Swimmer Chapter 39. Barrier Island Birds Chapter 40. The Passion of Eels and Potomac: The Nation's Sewage Plant Chapter 41. Then and Now: Thirty-Five Years in Suburbia Chapter 42. Make Room and They Will Come and Leaving Earth to Save It Permissions Index