Northeastern Naturalist B1 Noteworthy Books 2019 Vol. 26, No. 2 Grasses and Rushes of Maine. Glen H. Mittelhauser, Matt Arsenault, Don Cameron, and Eric Doucette. 2019. University of Maine Press, Orono, ME. 747 pp. $29.95, softcover. ISBN: 9780891011293. This comprehensive field guide for all species of grass (family Poaceae) and rush (family Juncaceae) currently found in the state of Maine was designed for a wide range of readers and will be useful to botanists, ecologists, wetland scientists, students, naturalists, farmers, gardeners, and others interested in these often overlooked groups of plants. Grasses and rushes are common components of ecosystems throughout the state, often found in both natural and human-altered landscapes. However, grasses and rushes are often excluded from botanical and natural community surveys because of the perceived difficulties in their identification. It is true that there are many species that are similar in appearance, and correct identification often relies on interpreting small structures that can be difficult to see with the naked eye. However, there are also many species that can be identified quite easily from a distance, such as Big Bluestem (Andropogon gerardii), American Beach Grass (Ammophila breviligulata), and Smooth Cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora). This guide incorporates highresolution images of morphological structures. Following the well-proven adage “a picture is worth a thousand words”, the images facilitate identifying individual species and learning the terminology used to identify them. Photographs are of living plants, herbarium specimens collected within the state, and, less commonly, from plants outside of the state. In addition to the images, Grasses and Rushes of Maine provides descriptions that highlight the key features, especially those that are useful in the field, or are the most helpful for identification. This guide covers grasses and rushes found within the state of Maine, but it also has excellent coverage for neighboring states and Canadian provinces. Second Atlas of the Breeding Birds of Southern Québec. Michel Robert, Marie-Hélène Hachey, Denis Lepage, and Andrew R. Couturier (Eds.). 2019. Regroupement QuébecOiseaux, Montreal, QC, Canada; Canadian Wildlife Service (Environment and Climate Change Canada), Ottawa, ON, Canada; and Bird Studies Canada, Port Rowan, ON, Canada. 720 pp. US$69.95, hardcover. ISBN 9782981410771. Available in both English and French. This new atlas is the result of the largest ornithological project to be undertaken in Québec for a quarter of a century. From 2010 to 2014, hundreds of birdwatchers spent more than 100,000 hours scouring the different habitats of southern Québec, an effort that enabled them to collect half a million breeding records. This book presents the most up-to-date information on the distribution and abundance of 253 bird species that breed south of latitude 50.5°N in Québec. Beautifully illustrated with more than 450 photographs and 1000 color maps, this book incorporates the results of the first atlas (1984–1989), showing the changes that have taken place in our bird populations over the past quarter of a century. The Second Atlas of the Breeding Birds of Southern Québec is intended for a wide audience. This solidly documented book (more than 1000 references) is a veritable mine of information, and is an essential reference for birdwatchers, students, researchers, conservation organizations, municipalities, consulting firms, promoters, and many more. It is a valuable tool that will inform and guide bird conservation projects in Québec over the coming decades. All profits from the sale of The Second Atlas of the Breeding Birds of Southern Québec will go into the Atlas Fund (Fonds Atlas), which is managed by the Regroupement QuébecOiseaux for the conservation of birds in Québec. Natures’s Calendar: A Year in the Life of a Wildlife Sanctuary. Colin Rees. 2019. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, MD. 320 pp. $32.95, softcover. ISBN 9781421427430. In an absorbing account of a year in the life of a sanctuary, naturalist Colin Rees invites us to join him as he explores the secrets and wonders of the changing natural world. Through his description of the fleeting—and yet enduring— cycles of nature, Rees shares deep insights into the ecological and behavioral dynamics of the natural environment. Enhanced by more than two dozen color plates, the book touches on a wide range of issues, from microbial diversity, bird banding, and butterfly phenology to genetic diversity and habitat fragmentation. It also examines the challenges of conserving these and other natural features in the face of climate change and development pressures. Thoughtful and lyrical, Nature's Calendar speaks to all readers, scientific and lay alike. Noteworthy Books Received by the Northeastern Naturalist, Issue 26/2, 2019 Northeastern Naturalist Noteworthy Books 2019 Vol. 26, No. 2 B2 Birds of Maryland, Delaware, and the District of Columbia. Bruce M. Beehler. 2019. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, MD. 480 pp. $49.95, hardcover. ISBN 9781421427331. Exploring backyard birds, birds of prey, and birds of the open ocean, Smithsonian ornithologist Bruce Beehler and premier nature photographer Middleton Evans have crafted a comprehensive volume unparalleled in its beauty and captivating storytelling. The book invites readers to experience the birds’ lives: where they nest, how they forage, their various behaviors, and the natural environments they need to survive. Beehler offers practical advice on bird-watching. He also discusses the best birding apps, websites, and gear; provides advice on planning a birding field trip; and recommends ornithological institutions that will help you cultivate a lifelong birding hobby. Marvel at the majesty of Ospreys, navigate the ocean with Storm-petrels, and nest with Mourning Doves, all while learning about the richness of the birds' lives, the complexities of their habits, and how we can help keep their populations vibrant and aloft for generations to come. Sedges of the Northern Forest: A Photographic Guide. Jerry Jenkins. 2019. Cornell University Press, Ithaca, NY. 96 pp. $16.95, softcover. ISBN 978150172708. The Northern Forest Region lies between the oak forests of the eastern United States and the boreal forests of eastern Canada. It is, collectively, one of the largest and most continuous temperate forests left in the world and, like much of the biosphere, it is at risk. This guide is an essential companion for those interested in stewardship and conservation of the region. Through multi-image composite photos that allow for unparalleled depth and clarity, this unique guide illustrates the 236 varied and beautiful, and often overlooked, sedges of the Northern Forest. Urban Ornitholgy: 150 Years of Birds In New York City. P.A. Buckley, Walter Sedwitz, William J. Norse, and John Kieran. 2018. Cornell University Press, Ithaca, NY. 536 pp. $75.00, hardcover. ISBN 9781501719615. Urban Ornithology is the first quantitative historical analysis of any New York City natural area’s birdlife and spans the century and a half from 1872 to 2016. Only Manhattan’s Central and Brooklyn’s Prospect Parks have preliminary species lists, not revised since 1967, and the last book examining the birdlife of the entire New York City area is now more than 50 years old. This book updates the avifaunas of those 2 parks, the Bronx, and other New York City boroughs. It treats the 301 bird species known to have occurred within its study area—Van Cortlandt Park and the adjacent Northwest Bronx—plus 70 potential additions. Its 123 breeding species are tracked from 1872 and supplemented by quantitative breeding bird censuses from 1937 to 2015. Gains and losses of breeding species are discussed in light of an expanding New York City inexorably extinguishing unique habitats. Keepers of the Wolves. Second Edition. Richard P. Thiel. 2018. University of Wisconsin Press, Madison, WI. 264 pp. $22.95, softcover. ISBN 9780299320744. It was 1978, and Gray Wolves had been extinct in Wisconsin for 20 years. Still, there were rumors from the state’s northwestern counties that they had returned. Dick Thiel, then a college student with a passion for Wolves, was determined to find out. Keepers of the Wolves is his engrossing account of tracking and protecting the recovery of Wolves in Wisconsin. Thiel conveys the wonder, frustrations, humor, and everyday hard work of field biologists, including the political and public relations pitfalls they regularly face. This new edition brings Thiel’s story into the 21st century, recounting his work monitoring Wolves as they spread to central Wisconsin, conflicts of Wolves with landowners and recreationalists, changes in state and federal policies, the establishment of a state Wolf-hunting season in 2012, and Thiel’s forecast for the future of Wolves in Wisconsin. Mushrooms of the Northeastern United States and Eastern Canada. Timothey J. Baroni. 2017. Timber Press, Portland, OR. 600 pp. $27.95, flexicover. ISBN 9781604696349. The Northeast is one of the best places to find mushrooms; they are both abundant and spectacularly diverse. Mushrooms of the Northeastern United States and Eastern Canada is a compact, beautifully illustrated guide packed with descriptions and photographs of more than 400 of the region’s most conspicuous, distinctive, and ecologically important mushrooms. The geographic range covered by the book includes Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Wisconsin, and the Canadian provinces of New Northeastern Naturalist B3 Noteworthy Books 2019 Vol. 26, No. 2 Brunswick, Newfoundland, Ontario, and most of Quebec. In addition to profiles on individual species, this guide also includes a general discussion and definition of fungi; information on where to find mushrooms and guidelines on collecting them; an overview of fungus ecology; and a discussion on mushroom poisoning and how to avoid it. Advances in Marine Biology: Emerging Pollutants and their Effects on Marine Ecosystems, Volume 81. Bing Chen, Baiyu Zhang, Zhiwen Zhu, and Kenneth Lee. 2018. Academic Press, London, UK. 280 pp. $140.70, hardcover. ISBN 9780128151051. As the latest release in this acclaimed series published since 1963, this volume contains updates on many topics that appeal to postgraduates and researchers in marine biology, fisheries science, ecology, zoology, and biological oceanography. Also included are chapters on the impact of hydrocarbon contamination on the scallop fishery in Port au Port Bay, Newfoundland, Canada, as well as facts, challenges and opportunities in pharmaceutical and personal care products in marine and coastal environments. Modeling of the Marathassa Oil Spill in the Vancouver Harbour is included as well as characterization of nitrogen containing polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in crude oil and refined petroleum products. Ecology and Recovery of Eastern Old-growth Forests. Andrew M. Barton and William S. Keeton. (Eds.). 2018. Island Press, Washington, DC. 360 pp. $40.00, softcover. ISBN 9781610918909. The landscapes of North America, have been shaped by humans for millennia, through fire, agriculture, hunting, and other means. By the 20th century, old-growth forests in the eastern United States were replaced by cities, farms, transportation networks, and secondgrowth forests. Since that time, however, numerous remnants of eastern old growth have been discovered, meticulously mapped, and studied. This edited volume looks at a wide diversity of ecosystems. Chapters authored by leading oldgrowth experts examine contemporary forest ecology topics including forest structure and dynamics, below-ground soil processes, biological diversity, differences between historical and modern forests, carbon and climate change mitigation, and management of old growth. This thoughtful treatise breathes fresh life into the hope for sensible, effective management of oldgrowth stands in eastern forests. Wildflowers and Ferns of Red River Gorge and the Greater Red River Basin. Dan Dourson and Judy Dourson. 2019. University Press of Kentucky, Lexington, KY. 488 pp. $39.95, flexicover. ISBN 9781949669008. The Red River Gorge’s intricate canyon system features an abundance of high sandstone cliffs, rock shelters, waterfalls, and natural bridges, making it one of the world’s top rock-climbing destinations. This is the first book specifically devoted to the biodiversity of the Gorge and its watershed. Authors Dan and Judy Dourson introduce the geology and cultural history of the gorge but focus on the incredible diversity of both common and rare flora of this unique ecosystem. With over 1000 color images and numerous illustrations, Wildflowers and Ferns of Red River Gorge is designed to be accessible to the casual hiker and of use to the seasoned naturalist. Rare and endangered species are highlighted as well as a few other important, but often ignored, non-flowering plant groups, including green algae, fungi, slime molds, lichens, and mosses. In addition, a small section on flowering woody vines, shrubs, and trees is included, making the book the most comprehensive natural guide to one of Kentucky’s most well-known natural recreational areas The Northeastern Naturalist welcomes submissions of review copies of books that publishers or authors would like to recommend to the journal’s readership and are relevant to the journal’s mission of publishing information about the natural history of the northeastern US. Accompanying short, descriptive summaries of the text are also welcome.