Hawaii: The Ecotravellers' Wildlife Guide
- Book Review,
by Les Beletsky, Doug Pratt
Jennifer Howard in The Washington Post, June 6, 1999
"Moving from the urban to the wild, a new breed of guidebooks focuses on flora and fauna (and not in the way Harold Gatty did). The Ecotravellers' Wildlife Guides grew out of its nature-loving author's frustration that 'I could not locate a single book to take along on a trip that would help me identify all the types of animals that really interested me.' So Beletsky wrote one that did. Combining natural history -lore, habits, best places to spot each creature- with pointers on specific sites and background on the state of conservation in the region today."
From Book News, Inc.
In a volume endorsed by the Wildlife Conservation Society, a Seattle wildlife biologist profiles Hawaiian habitats, flora, and fauna for the environmentally-conscious tourist. Includes 86 color plates and a species index.Book News, Inc.®, Portland, OR
Nick Baker in BBC Wildlife 1999
"There are so many bad guides on the market trying to do what this book does so simply and so well. ...few are written with the same authority and attention to detail that wildlife biologist and zoology lecturer Les Beletsky has brought to bear in this volume. It could be the best (money) you spend all trip."
Review
Ecotravellers' Wildlife Guides have been hailed an "excellent series" by Birding World and an "inspired new concept in the field-guide genre" by Birding magazine.
Birds, Summer 1999
"The illustrations are superb, the text simple and direct ('Jaguar - you will know it when you see it'). If you go, take this book."
Bryan Bland in British Birds September 1999
"The information on identification, distribution, ecology, behavior, conservation, and habitats is enlivened by fascinating 'environmental close-ups' - intriguing reading for spare moments or to stimulate post-prandial group discussions."
Winging It June 1999
"...it is the treatment of frogs and snakes that makes these volumes worth taking along."
William R. Teska in Science Books and Films, June 1999
"This is the perfect field book for the general tourist who has an interest in exploring tropical environs."
Reshma Prakash in The Earth Times, May 16, 1999
"...trouble distinguishing a Tropical Kingsnake from a Coral Snake, or a Woolly False Vampire Bat from a Common Vampire Bat, [this book] will set you on the right path."
Steve Gantlett in Birding World, 1998
"...this convenient field guide-sized book is absolutely packed with information for the visitor."
Nick Smith in IBIS, 1999
"The text is accurate and well-researched."
Review
Ecotravellers' Wildlife Guides have been hailed an "excellent series" by Birding World and an "inspired new concept in the field-guide genre" by Birding magazine.
Book Description
People travel to Hawaii for sun, sand, and surf but increasingly spend parts of their trips hiking, birdwatching, kayaking, whale-watching, or snorkeling in the island's stunning national parks and nature reserves. Ecotravellers to the islands know that Hawaii is a special place biologically, harboring many native animal and plant species that occur nowhere else on Earth. Contained in this book is all the information you need to find, identify, and learn about the island's magnificent animal life. The author visited parks and preserves, discussed wildlife with local and international experts, and then selected his color illustrations from more than 300 of the islands' most common fish, amphibians, reptiles, mammals, and birds (including essentially every Hawaiian bird). You will want to have this easy-to-carry, entertainingly written, beautifully illustrated book as a constant companion on your trip.
Key Features
* Provides identifying, location, and conservation information on frequently spotted animals
* Gives up-to-date information on the ecology, behavior, and conservation of the families of animals to which the pictured species belong
* Contains information on Hawaiian habitats and on the most common plants you will see, and on the underwater animals most divers and snorklers actually see
* Gives brief descriptions of the state's national parks and nature reserves
From the Author
Even though I'm a professional wildlife biologist, I've always found it difficult while travelling to identify animals I'm not familiar with and to get good, on-site information about them, unless I'm with an expert guide or willing to lug around several heavy books (a bird book, a mammal book, etc.). I've produced the Ecotravellers' Wildlife Guides to help solve this problem. The books in the series are aimed at travellers with an interest in animals, at people for whom some of the best moments of any trip to places like southern Mexico are unexpected encounters with birds and mammals, reptiles and amphibians, fish and other marine organisms. You will find in these books information on
(1) common animals likely to be seen,
(2) those that are commonly pointed out by tour-guides and tourist literature,
(3) some threatened ones that are, for example, subjects of conservation attention, and
(4) some that are of special ecological significance. The books, endorsed by the Wildlife Conservation Society, are real field guides, with extensive color artwork produced by some of the world's top wildlife artists. To give you an idea of the "depth" of coverage, the Tropical Mexico book (which covers the Yucatan Peninsula, Cancun region, Oaxaca, Chiapas, and Tabasco states) includes detailed information and color illustrations on 104 plates of about 250 bird species, 55 mammals, 95 species of amphibians and reptiles, and 150 coral reef fish and other marine organisms - the book truly covers most of the animals you might encounter in this large region. Additionally, initial chapters in each book introduce the country or region, its habitats and climate, its common trees and other plants, and describe conservation projects and ecotourism there, as well as major eco-attractions (national parks, nature reserves, etc.). My hopes are that these books will be put to good use in the field by ecotravellers, will make trips more enjoyable, and will assist in conservation in a small way by helping to educate people about the wildlife and habitats in the countries through which they travel.
From the Back Cover
Travellers to Hawaii go for sun, sand, and surf, but increasingly leave the beach for part of their stay to explore the islands' incredible natural attractions: stunning mountain scenery, wonderful hiking trails, glimpses of birds - many of them highly endangered - that occur nowhere else on Earth. In this book is all the information you need to find, identify, and learn about Hawaii's unique land animals and plants, and magnificent sealife. In one beautifully illustrated book, you will have as constant companion on your journey:
* Field-guide color illustrations of about 475 of Hawaii's most common fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, mammals, and plants - including essentially every bird species that occurs in the main Hawaiian Islands (on the Midway atoll)
* Birds and other land animals illustrated by H. Douglas Pratt, one of the world's foremost authorities on Hawaii's birds
* Information on the underwater animals most snorkelers and divers actually see; and on the region's whales and dolphins
* Information on Hawaiian habitats and on the most common plants you will encounter
* Descriptions of the region's most frequently visited parks and reserves
About the Author
Les Beletsky is a professional wildlife biologist and university zoology teacher. Prior to taking up writing wildlife guides, he conducted many years of field research into the ecology and behavior of birds, publishing many scientific reports and writing two books. An avid ecotraveler, he has visited numerous sites in the Americas, Africa, Asian and Australia. He currently makes his home in Seattle, Washington.
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