Natural History

Campbell, Wayne. Birds of British Columbia. Edmonton: Lone Pine Publishing, 2008. A field guide to birds across the province’s wide-ranging landscapes.

Cannings, Richard and Sydney. British Columbia: A Natural History. Vancouver: Douglas & McIntyre, 2004. The natural history of the province divided into 10 chapters, including Forests of Rain, Mountaintops, and The World of Fresh Water. A beautiful book with lots of color maps.

Fischer, George (photographer). Haida Gwaii Queen Charlotte Islands: Land of Mountains, Mystery, and Myth. Halifax: Nimbus Publishing, 2006. A magnificent coffee table book that depicts the unique and intriguing natural and human history of these remote islands.

Folkens, Peter. Marine Mammals of British Columbia and the Pacific Northwest. Vancouver: Harbour Publishing, 2001. In a waterproof, fold-away format, this booklet provides vital identification tips and habitat maps for 50 marine mammals, including all species of whales present in local waters.

Gadd, Ben. Handbook of the Canadian Rockies. Jasper: Corax Press, 1999. Although bulky for backpackers, this classic field guide is a must-read for anyone interested in the natural history of the Canadian Rockies [1].

Gill, Ian. Haida Gwaii: Journeys through the Queen Charlotte Islands. Vancouver: Raincoast Books, 1997. A personal and touching view of the Queen Charlottes [2] complemented by the stunning color photography of David Nunuk.

Haig Brown, Roderick. Return to the River. Vancouver: Douglas & McIntyre, 1997. Although fictional, this story of the life of one salmon and its struggle through life is based on fact, and is a classic read for both anglers and naturalists. It was originally published in 1946 but has recently been reprinted and is available at most bookstores.

Herrero, Stephen. Bear Attacks: Their Causes and Avoidances. New York: Nick Lyons Books, 1995. Through a series of gruesome stories, this book catalogs the stormy relationship between people and bruins, provides hints on avoiding attacks, and tells what to do in case you’re attacked.

Pojar, Jim. Plants of Coastal British Columbia. Edmonton: Lone Pine Publishing, 2005. This popular field guide makes the province’s coastal flora easy to identify through detailed descriptions and illustrations.

Pyne, Stephen J. Awful Splendor. Vancouver: University of British Columbia Press, 2007. This big, beautiful book tells the story of wildfires in Canada, both through specific fires and the effects on the environment and humans.