Books - What's New?

What better way to spend a warm summer night than studying the sky above us? Whether you are camping in the mountains for a family vacation, or spending a birding weekend at Malheur, the opportunity to clearly see the nighttime sky is one not to miss. Orion’s belt, the Big Dipper, and Cassiopeia’s big “W” are just a few nighttime highlights. Oh, and don’t forget the Perseid meteor showers occurring every year in mid-August! This month we’re featuring some of the books available in the Nature Store that can inspire amateur astronomers both young and old.

Stargazing Guides
Our all-time favorite beginner’s guide to the sky is the classic Find the Constellations by H.A. Rey. Better known as the originator of the Curious George books, Rey brings a cartoonist’s sensibility to his easily understandable line drawings of the constellations, and a warm folksy storytelling approach to some of the mythology behind their names. It is accessible for children, but also easy to use for adults. 

We also stock convenient pocket-size guides to the stars from Little Golden Guides and National Audubon Society. A good companion to any of these books is The Night Sky, a Pocket Naturalist guide that glows in the dark!

 

Adult astronomers looking for a more detailed approach should check out the Princeton Field Guides new edition of Ian Ridpath and Wil Tirion’s Stars and Planets. This lavishly illustrated work has extensive information on all the major and minor constellations in both hemispheres, fascinating photos of the planets, and information on the use of optical equipment. (Here’s another way to put your birding binos to use!)

There is a more serious ecological implication to the topic of stargazing. Most urban dwellers have little opportunity to truly see the nighttime sky. Light pollution is ubiquitous, and while seemingly less significant than pollutants in our water or soil, is robbing us of an important connection with nature.

 

In his book Last Child in the Woods, Richard Louv has alerted the public to a growing disconnect between our children and the natural world. This disconnect is surely heightened in urban and suburban landscapes where children have no chance to experience a nighttime world obscured by the glare of modern life. Light pollution also has an effect on wildlife. Migratory birds often travel at night, and there are serious concerns about the frequency of birds slamming into large lighted buildings as they pass through urban areas. Please watch in future Warblers for news about a forthcoming Audubon campaign to study this problem in the Portland area.

Or, check out this list of popular titles.