Review of Magpies and Mayflies: An Introduction to Plants and Animals of Central Valley and Sierra Foothills (Paperback)

Very highly recommended, Magpies And Mayflies: An Introduction To Plants And Animals Of The Central Valley And Sierra Foothills is knowledgeably co-authored by Derek Madden, Ken Charters and Cathy Snyder. An invaluable resource for ecological explorers of (and casual visitors to) the central valley and Sierra Foothills. Magpies And Mayflies is a perfectly "user friendly", informed and informative guide to flora and fauna of the fields and hills of the beautiful and endless Sierra area.


Product Description
California's Sierra Nevada Foothills, Central Valley, and the Delta share much of the same natural history. It has long been overlooked by most authors who write about California's attractions, and is experienced by many visitors as a place of endless roads and valley towns seen along the way to the glamorous coast or majestic mountains. Although this vast area is no longer an isolated outback region, there still exist places today where wildlife thrive and the presence of the Native Americans can be seen and felt. Right here in our own backyard there are spike rushes and water ferns, crayfish and bobcats. Look around and you will find milk thistle and the black-crowned night heron, turkey tail mushrooms and arboreal salamanders. This book attempts to answer, at least in part, the universal question of what is this place? Filled with jaw-dropping illustrations that seem ready to crawl right off the page, and detailed descriptions of the plants, animals, fungi, and microorganisms that inhabit the region, this isn't just an identification guide: it's a book that will fill you with awe and make you all the smarter.

About the Author
Ecologist Ken Charters has documented nature during his explorations ofCalifornia's vast interior for over two decades. Ken wrote naturalhistory articles on plants and animals of the Central Valley whichappear in several issues of CSU Fresno's Journal of Natural Sciences.Ken conducted research on alligator lizards while he attended CSUFresno, and completed his graduate work in ecology at Northern ArizonaUniversity.Cathy Snyder is a science education specialist, with combined graduatework in biology and linguistics conducted at UC Santa Barbara and CSUFresno. Working both as a tenured primary school teacher in California'sCentral Valley, and as an adjunct professor of biology, Ms. Snyder hasintroduced thousands of students to the natural wonders of this region.Dr. Derek Madden led ecological research projects as a student andprofessor at CSU Fresno. Some of his work appears in the Journal ofParasitology, Oecologia, and the Journal of African Ecology. Derek is arecipient of the Charles Spinetta Award for Excellence in Wildlife Art,and he received the Amador Artist Guild Award in 2004 for wildlife art.He is currently a professor of biology and the Dean of Science atModesto Junior College in California's Central Valley.

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