ABOUT THIS BOOK

For native and visitor alike, the New England landscape has a rich allure. This grand sweep of land is a living tapestry woven of interconnected bioregions and natural communities whose compositions of plants and animals have evolved over time. In more than fifty essays, Michael J. Caduto brings readers into the complex stories to be found in nature. Drawing on first-hand experiences and reflections on the relationship between the natural world and humans, Caduto explores some of the plants, animals, natural places, and environmental issues of New England—from dragonflies, cuckoos, and chipmunks to circumpolar constellations and climate change. Stunning illustrations by Adelaide Murphy Tyrol illuminate these elegant and humorous essays.

AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY

MICHAEL J. CADUTO, the author of twenty books, is an internationally recognized leader in natural history, environmental education, and cultural diversity. ADELAIDE MURPHY TYROL is a fine artist, a natural history illustrator, and a large format commercial painter.

REVIEWS

“Looking through a naturalist’s eyes is all the richer when those eyes are Caduto’s. . . . Natural history will always be a rich opportunity for discovery. Through a Naturalist’s Eyes celebrates why it is also such fun.”—Portland Press Herald

“Michael Caduto, one of the most perceptive observers of New England’s natural world, writes with authority and affection for his subject. With Through a Naturalist’s Eyes, he’s outdone himself. Not only is he describing what’s constantly going on around us, but he makes it a personal experience, and we find ourselves saying, ‘Yes! I’ve seen that! So that’s what it is!’”—Willem Lange, author of Words from the Wild

“For all of us who love the forests, hills, and marshes of New England, this is much more than a guide book—it’s an invitation to explore, and a key to making sense of what we notice. Many thanks to Michael Caduto for opening my eyes again!”—Bill McKibben, author of Wandering Home and cofounder of 350.org

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Acknowledgments • Introduction • Prologue: Chipmunk CPR • ANIMALS • Mouse or Mole, Shrew or Vole? • Catamount: The Game Is Afoot • The Swifts of Summer • That’s the Nature of Coyotes, Deer • Endearing, Enterprising: The Eastern Chipmunk • Woodcocks in Mu