Nature awaits discovery at almost every turn in the complex ecosystem of Washington, D.C. In parks large and small, within the District's gardens, and on public streets, there is tremendous biodiversity. In Field Guide to the Natural World of Washington, D.C., naturalist Howard Youth takes us on an urban safari, describing the wild side of the nation's capital.Beyond the abundant wildlife that can be seen in every neighborhood, Washington boasts a large park network rich in natural wonders. A hike along the trails of Rock Creek Park, one of the countrys largest and oldest urban forests, quickly reveals white-tailed deer, eastern gray squirrels, and little brown bats. Mayapples, Virginia bluebells, and red mulberry trees are but a few of the treasures found growing at the National Arboretum. A stroll along the Potomac and Anacostia Rivers might reveal stealthy denizens such as bullfrogs, largemouth bass, and common snapping turtles. Detailed drawings by Carnegie artist Mark A. Klingler and photography by Robert E. Mumford, Jr., reveal the rich color and stunning beauty of the flora and fauna awaiting every D.C. naturalist.Whether seeking a secluded jog or an adventurous outing, residents and tourists alike will find this handsome guide indispensable for finding oases away from the noise of the city.
Forward, by Kirk Johnson Acknowledgments 1. The Natural, and Not-So-Natural, History of Washington, D.C. 2. Visiting D.C. Parks 3. The Parks Northwest Northeast Southwest Southeast 4. Animals INVERTEBRATES Annelid Earthworm Arachnids Brown Daddy Longlegs, or Brown Harvestman Goldenrod Crab Spider Rabid Wolf Spider Myriopods Garden Millipede Garden Centipede Insects Common Eastern Firefly Lady Beetle Honeybee Eastern Carpenter Bee Eastern Yellow Jacket Eastern Cicada Killer Annual Cicada Asian Tiger Mosquito Common Green Darner Eastern Forktail Eastern Amberwing Polyphemus Moth Eastern Tent Moth and Eastern Tent Caterpillar Cabbage White Butterfly Mourning Cloak Butterfly Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Spicebush Swallowtail Monarch Crustaceans Common Pillbug Rough Sowbug Crayfish VERTEBRATES Fish Common Carp Channel Catfish Bluegill Largemouth Bass Amphibians Redback Salamander American Toad Bullfrog Spring Peeper Reptiles Snapping Turtle Eastern Painted Turtle Northern Water Snake Black Rat Snake Birds Double-crested Cormorant Canada Goose Mallard Wood Duck Ring-necked Duck Hooded Merganser Great Blue Heron Black-crowned Night-heron Red-tailed Hawk Osprey American Coot Ring-billed Gull Mourning Dove Chimney Swift Downy Woodpecker Red-bellied Woodpecker Northern Flicker Pileated Woodpecker Eastern Kingbird Blue Jay Carolina Chickadee Tufted Titmouse White-breasted Nuthatch Carolina Wren American Robin Gray Catbird Northern Mockingbird Yellow Warbler Yellow-rumped Warbler Common Yellowthroat Red-winged Blackbird Common Grackle European Starling House Sparrow Dark-eyed Junco Northern Cardinal House Finch American Goldfinch More D.C. Birds MAMMALS Northern Raccoon Eastern Chipmunk Eastern Gray Squirrel Woodchuck (Groundhog) Eastern Cottontail White-tailed Deer More D.C. Mammals 5. Plants Aquatic Plants Common Cattail Common Reed WILDFLOWERS Red and White Clover Common Milkweed Common Mullein Dandelion Spotted or Orange Jewelweed TREES Eastern White Pine Virginia Pine Eastern Redcedar Ailanthus American Elm American Beech Sugar Maple Red Maple Norway Maple Sassafras Boxelder Willow Oak Chestnut Oak Eastern White Oak Northern Red Oak Pin Oak Ginkgo Crape-Myrtle White and Red Mulberry Trees Eastern Redbud Sweetgum American Sycamore Tuliptree Southern Magnolia Weeping Willow Black Cherry Yoshino Cherry Flowering Dogwood American Holly NATIVE SHRUBS Spicebush Mapleleaf Viburnum Arrowwood Viburnum NONNATIVE SHRUBS Bush Honeysuckle Wineberry Multiflora Rose NATIVE VINES Poison Ivy Virginia Creeper NONNATIVE VINES Porcelainberry Japanese Honeysuckle 6. Mushrooms Artist's Conk Chicken Mushroom, Sulphur Shelf, or Chicken-of-the-Woods Turkey Tail 7. Geology Organizations Bibliography Index
""Downtown sightings of such wild creatures as snowy owls, peregrine falcons, and vultures may generate media attention, but after perusing Howard Youth's Field Guide to the Natural World of Washington, D.C., I don't find these episodes as outlandish as the headlines might suggest... The guide represents a considerable documentation of the species that share our corner of the world.""
