Erin McCloskey

British Columbia Nature Guide is an introductory field guide to British Columbia's principal animals and plants (including mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, invertebrates, trees, shrubs, wildflowers, ferns, and grasses). Obviously, it would be impossible to include all species in a 200-page book, and the focus is on the larger, more easily recognizable species. Some groups are left out entirely (fungi, lichens, and terrestrial invertebrates such as slugs and snails) while others are covered only briefly (insects, grasses). As with most Lone Pine field guides, the illustrations are excellent and relatively large. The descriptions, although they are brief, are interesting and non-technical.

I would recommend this book if you only want one field guide to the flora and fauna of British Columbia, or if you're new to the province or just beginning your study of natural history and need a good introduction. For those who are more experienced, this book will not replace the more technical and comprehensive field guides, but it would still be a good choice if you're looking for a single book that you can toss into your backpack to use as a quick reference (rather than lugging around multiple heavy books).… (mehr)