There are dozens of very good books on urban habitat and supporting urban wildlife. We think the books below are some of the best. A large number of the authors are from Georgia.
Habitat
Doug Tallamy is, well… inspirational. He’s a University of Delaware professor who has a message that is perhaps as powerful as the one in Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring. We’d mark Bringing Nature Home with a sticker that says ‘Start Here >’. Noah’s Garden has a similar concept, but reads more like a story. Let It Rot is a classic that has been around for awhile, but is still right on target (we reference it again on our Compost and Mulch page).
Birds
The Sibley Guide to Birds is our choice for identifying birds. Illustrations seem to work better for us than photographs, especially when it comes to identifying the markings of male vs. female and juvenile vs. adult. It’s a beautiful book and unless you need a portable field guide, give this a try. If you are from Georgia, Birding Georgia by Giff Beaton is excellent and so well respected and popular you can find in in the gift shop of most state parks.
Critters
There’s a lot we don’t know about critters, and the books below are a big help to us. They’re about 8×10 inches in size, loaded with good information and beautiful photographs, and are produced by the The University of Georgia Press. One author, Whit Gibbons, was involved in all five. We’ve heard him speak, and he’s the real deal.
Pollinators
Pollinators. Extremely important especially in light of Colony Collapse Disorder which is affecting honeybees and the disappearance of the Monarch Butterfly. The books below help identify pollinators that show up in your yard and give you some ways to help attract and support these vital creatures.
Trees and Plants
The first two are reference books by by outstanding University of Georgia professors. These tomes have a little heft to them, but they may be all you need to answer your questions . The third, is great information on hikes in Atlanta
the Intown Hawk 