Natural History

The Atlas of Breeding Birds of Alberta. Edmonton: Federation of Alberta Naturalists, 1992. Comprehensive study of all birds that breed in Alberta [1], with easy-to-read distribution maps, details on nesting and other behavioral patterns, and color plates.

Foster, John E., Dick Harrison, and I. S. MacLaren, eds. Buffalo. Edmonton: University of Alberta Press, 1992. A series of essays by noted historians and experts in the field of the American bison, addressing their disappearance from the prairies, and buffalo jumps. One essay deals with Wood Buffalo National Park [2].

Gadd, Ben. Handbook of the Canadian Rockies. Jasper: Corax Press, 2009. This classic full-color field guide is bulky for backpackers but is a must-read for anyone interested in the natural history of the Canadian Rockies [3].

Hare, F. K., and M. K. Thomas. Climate Canada. Toronto: John Wiley & Sons, 1974. One of the most extensive works on Canada’s climate ever written. Includes a chapter on how the climate is changing.

Herrero, Stephen. Bear Attacks: Their Causes and Avoidances. New York: The Lyons Press, 2002. 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.

Jones, Karen. Wolf Mountains. Calgary: University of Calgary Press, 2002. Explores the history of wolves in the Canadian Rockies, with emphasis on the often-controversial relationship between man and wolf.

Marty, Sid. The Black Grizzly of Whiskey Creek. Toronto: McClelland & Stewart, 2008. True story of a grizzly bear that went on a terrifying rampage near the town of Banff [4].

Musiani, Marco. A New Era for Wolves and People. Calgary: University of Calgary Press, 2009. A detailed analysis of the relationship between wolves and people in both North America and Europe. All contributors are wolf experts; includes stunning images.

Patterson, W. S. The Physics of Glaciers. London: Butterworth-Heinemann, 1999. Originally published by the Pergamon Press in 1969, this tome is a highly technical look at all aspects of glaciation, why glaciers form, how they flow, and their effect on the environment.

Rezendes, Paul. Tracking and the Art of Seeing. Charlotte, VA: Camden House Publishing, 1992. This is one of the best of many books dedicated to tracking North American mammals. It begins with a short essay on the relationship of humans with nature.

Whitaker, John. National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Mammals. New York: Random House, 1997. One of a series of field guides produced by the National Audubon Society, this one details mammals through color plates and in-depth descriptions of characteristics, habitat, and range.

Whyte, Anthony J. Meteorites of Alberta. Edmonton: University of Alberta Press, 2009. Maps, photos, and firsthand accounts of discovery make this book about major meteorite discoveries an interesting read.

Wilkinson, Kathleen. Wildflowers of Alberta. Edmonton: University of Alberta Press, 1999. Color plates of all flowers found in the mountain national parks and beyond. Color plates and line drawings are indispensable for identification.