Nick Baker's fascination with the natural world began at an early age, inspired by Gerald and Lee Durrell's classic book The Amateur Naturalist. His The Complete Naturalist is an up-to-date, practical introduction to observing, understanding and investigating the natural world around us. Whether you want to understand what makes an insect an insect, rear a family of frogs for your garden pond, or record bird songs and calls, Nick can give you all the advice and information you need.
Fact-packed and brimming with practical tips, techniques and activities, The Complete Naturalist offers a rich source of new ideas for more experienced naturalists, as well as sparking the natural curiosity of a whole new generation. From communicating with wild animals to setting up an aquarium, this is the naturalist's guide no family bookshelf should be without. Nick is an experienced and well-travelled naturalist, and his book includes his international experiences.
Foreword
Introduction
1 The essential hardware: equipment
2 Feathered and flighty: birds
3 Big game: mammals
4 The earth creepers: reptiles and amphibians
5 Fish fantastic
6 Spineless wonders: invertebrates
7 Six-legged mini-beasts: insects
8 Getting botanical: plants and allies
Going further
Suppliers
Further reading
Acknowledgements
Index
Nick Baker has presented a number of wildlife programmes including The Really Wild Show, Nick Baker's Under the Skin, Weird Creatures with Nick Baker and more recently Autumnwatch. Nick Baker's Beautiful Freaks was broadcast on Discovery and Sky 3D (in 3D) early in 2012, which was one of the first presenter-led 3D programmes in the UK. He has also written a number of well-received books, including The New Amateur Naturalist and The RSPB Nature Tracker's Handbook. Nick lives in Devon with Dartmoor on his doorstep and is Vice President of Buglife.