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The Illinois Raptor Center We would like to share book titles we have found to be helpful
and interesting. If you come across a book, magazine, website
or TV show that you think others might enjoy, email the information
to the Illinois Raptor Center. We will try to share as many as
we can. Good reading. Chris Young/Web site editor. The Birds of Illinois (was recently available at The Illinois State Museum Store) For the serious student, The Birds of Illinois is considered to be the definitive work on Illinois birds. Information about behavior, migration, nesting habits, diet and much more is collected here. Bohlen pulls together research conducted over the past century or more to provide historical context for his own observations. By combining his extensive field notes with the work of dozens of researchers, a complete picture emerges of the lives and behaviors of Illinois birds. Beautiful original paintings by William Zimmerman accompany the text.
Go Native! by Carolyn Harstad To order call: 800-842-6796 A valuable book. I give it the highest possible rating. Harstad's color photographs are also helpful for those trying to identify prairie plants and wildflowers. (I made all of the decisions for new plantings in my yard based on this book) A Sand County Almanac by Aldo Leopold This book is still widely available in bookstores. I found a softcover copy at Borders for $10.95, a bargain. Aldo Leopold is considered to be the father of modern conservation. I bought the book because every environmental writer quotes Leopold or refers to this book in his/her own work. By the time I reached the bottom of the first page I understood why it is considered a classic. A must-have for any student of the natural world. Song of the Meadowlark by James Eggert James Eggert is an economist who wants us to change the way we assign economic value to things. Alarmed because the Meadowlarks near his Wisconsin home were declining, Eggert decided that those Meadowlarks were of great value to him. Thus, he coined the term "Meadowlark Values," to describe those things of great value, even if we can't or won't assign monetary value to them. He also describes practices and behaviors that are "Meadowlark Values," such as repairing things instead of throwing them away. The book is a suprisingly quick read. Islands of Hope by Phillip Manning If you think a book about wildlife refuges has to be a boring academic exercise, think again. Manning visits a variety of sanctuaries from a coral reef to a pronghorn antelope refuge. Many of the refuges have had their ecosystems altered by man more than once. It is a thoughtful book about how intensely these places must be managed to remain faithful to pre-settlement times. I picked this book because of its title. I don't read doom and gloom environmental books because those people would rather say all is lost than actually roll up their sleeves and work. Manning shows what is going right with America's wildlife sanctuaries. This book will make a long car/train/plane trip go much faster. Birding Illinois by Sheryl DeVore Wow. Sheryl DeVore's guide is detailed, extensive and complete.
If you are planning a trip to any part of the state, Birding
Illinois shows you where to go, and what you might see there
at a particular time of year. If you are pressed for time, this
book will be a Godsend. It lists more than 110 premier birding
locations in Illinois. Return to Illinois Raptor Center Home Page | Learn about our educational programs |