Wetland Birds of North America: A Guide to Observation, Understanding, and Conservation

Janet Arnett is the former campus manager of adult education at Ontario’s Georgian College. She is the author of Antiques and Collectibles: Starting Small, The Grange at Knock, and 673 Ways to Save Money.

Wetlands are known by many names—marshes, swamps, bogs, ponds,
sloughs, fens, mudflats. All have shallow water and a complex
biodiversity, making them among the earth’s richest ecosystems. The
many bird species that thrive in this environment include waterfowl,
waders, birds of prey, shorebirds, gulls, terns, diving birds, and
perching birds. From these groups Leslie selected 73 species to feature
in this guide.

For each, he gives two to four colour photographs, a range map, and a
brief natural history covering appearance, behaviour, habitat, calls,
food, “family life,” migration, related species, and conservation
concerns. For a few there is more information given in brief notes
called “photographer’s journal.” For each of the 18 most
threatened species there is a conservation map showing, by state or
province, the level of threat, from “presumed extirpated” to
“apparently secure.”

As the work contains only some species in each category, it would not
work as a field guide. It has some potential as a work to consult as
part of a field trip post mortem, but here, again, the absence of many
interesting species such as

black terns and trumpeter swans may cause frustration.

The text is adequate but uninspiring. The range and conservation maps
are too small and the colour coding too complex to be easily used.
Supplementary material includes a brief selected bibliography and an
excellent compilation of relevant Canadian areas and organizations
involved with wetlands, giving location and mailing address, a brief
description, and a web address.

While photographs will never be as useful as drawings for
identification purposes, Leslie has been very successful in capturing
shots that show behaviour or movement—and sometimes personality. These
photographs are the strength of the work.