Identify (and appreciate) birds and plants with these 5 titles

As spring returns, dozens of avian species are flocking to the Pacific Northwest. Spring is also a rich time for foraging, as tender leaves and blooms begin to appear. Ring in the season with five books to help you spot and appreciate these natural treasures.

“How to Look at a Bird” by Clare Walker Leslie. Bestselling author Leslie presents an accessible guide for new bird-watchers to sharpen their powers of observation.

Using her signature nature sketches, Leslie highlights key identification clues such as beak shape, coloring, flight patterns and behavior. She encourages readers to follow their natural curiosity and provides questions to guide their observations.

With an emphasis on birds commonly found at feeders, parks and nature preserves, “How to Look at a Bird” makes bird identification and appreciation accessible for new enthusiasts. 

“Best Little Book of Birds: Coastal Washington” by Tamara Enz. Searching for a compact, beginner-friendly guide to the birds along Washington’s coast? Look no further. Featuring over 100 species, this book offers practical tips for spotting these beautiful Washingtonians in their natural habitat.

Emphasizing sustainable birding practices and habitat conservation, the guide empowers readers to protect the region’s natural wonders for future generations. Slip it in your pocket for your next trip to the coast. 

“How to Forage for Wild Foods without Dying” by Ellen Zachos. Foraging, or identifying and harvesting wild plants, can be a rich and rewarding way to explore the outdoors in both the city and the countryside. You don’t want to learn this hobby the hard way, though, so author Zachos has thoughtfully written a book for the absolute beginner.

She focuses on 40 plants you can find anywhere that won’t try to kill you, like wild garlic, fiddlehead ferns and elderflowers. Multiple detailed photos, lengthy descriptions of key characteristics, lists of poisonous look-alikes and a “Know Before You Eat” list will all help you feel confident that you’re foraging wisely.

The compact guide also has information on how to cook and preserve your foraged treasure, so you can enjoy some Queen Anne’s lace jelly made from the flower or garnish your salad with the leaves. 

“Field Notes from a Fungi Forager” by Ashley Rodriguez, illustrated by Libby England. Seattle-based food consultant and author Rodriguez has created a guide to local mushrooms that will satisfy both beginning mushroom seekers and advanced mycology enthusiasts.

She profiles 50 mushrooms, noting their distinctive characteristics, usual habitat and available season. For especially delicious types, Rodriguez expands with recipes and suggestions for use. She also includes tips in the descriptions, like dehydrating the jelly-textured cat’s tongue mushroom for a kind of fungi gummy.

The content is excellent, but the illustrations are the star of the show. The line drawings are detailed with an undercurrent of whimsy that’s sure to delight as well as educate.  

“Fieldwork: A Forager’s Memoir” by Iliana Regan. Regan’s life took a sharp turn in 2019. The Michelin-star chef and her wife, Anna, relocated from Chicago to Michigan’s remote Upper Peninsula and opened the Milkweed Inn. There, Regan committed to foraging for much of the inn’s food, returning to the land and practices that shaped her childhood.

Growing up on a farm in rural Indiana, Regan formed a deep bond with her father, who taught her to forage and fish. As Regan navigates her new life in the forest, she faces the pandemic, ongoing environmental destruction and the generational impact of trauma, addiction and loss. In “Fieldwork,” Regan explores the beauty of home while confronting the complex legacies that shape her life and work. 

Whether you’re a seasoned explorer or budding enthusiast, these books are designed to help anyone feel more connected to nature. Visit your local library to check one out, along with a Discover Pass, and begin your next birding or foraging adventure!