Summer is nigh upon us, and do you know what that means?
It’s time to hike—and walk, and run, and bike, and paddle—your way through the
beautiful Pacific Northwest! But before you embark on any adventures, browse
the books below to see which field guides and handbooks might serve as helpful
companions.
By Tim Palmer 
Our most popular field guide profiles 120 Oregon rivers,
offering a bevy of color photographs, history, and tips for all manner of
outdoor enthusiasts. Described by WaterWatch of Oregon Executive Director John
Devoe as “an essential tool for anyone who paddles, fishes, explores, and wants
to understand the natural history of our rivers,” Palmer’s work serves as an
unprecedented reference for Oregonians and visitors alike.
Field
Guide to the Sedges of the Pacific Northwest
By the Carex Working
Group 
This updated second edition offers a comprehensive look at
the Pacific Northwest’s 169 Carex sedge
species. Notoriously difficult to identify, sedges can be tackled using this
helpful guide, which contains more than 650 color photographs and distribution
maps. Learn the tricks of the trade employed by botanists and ecologists to use
in your own gardening, landscaping, or citizen science pursuits.
Dragonflies
and Damselflies of Oregon: A Field Guide 
By Cary Kerst and Steve Gordon
Catered to naturalists, conservationists, and wildlife
enthusiasts with all levels of experience, this companion guide includes
stunning, vibrant photographs of Oregon’s Odonates and identification tips.
Take the guide with you on any excursion to learn more about the distribution,
habits, and natural history of the order.
Handbook
of Oregon Birds: A Field Companion to Birds
of Oregon 
By Hendrik G. Herlyn and Alan L. Contreras
The essential guide to Oregon ornithology, the Handbook provides a detailed field
reference for birders interested in seasonal patterns, habitat information, and
breeding and winter maps. Intended for more experienced birders, the guide
includes specialized identification aids on such challenges as flying alcids
and immature swallows.
Macrolichens
of the Pacific Northwest 
By Bruce McCune and Linda Geiser
A useful guide for both beginners and specialists, this
revised edition includes keys to 586 lichen species in Oregon and Washington
and some parts of Idaho and Montana. With an emphasis on forested ecosystems, Macrolichens offers users an illustrated
glossary, as well as ecological challenges like air quality currently faced by
the species. The guide includes more than 240 color photographs for improved
identification.
Handbook
of Northwestern Plants 
By Helen M. Gilkey and La Rea J. Dennis
Valuable to botany students and beginners, this revised
handbook helps identify hundreds of plants found between the Cascade Mountains
and Pacific Coast. Educational components include a glossary of botanical terms
and a host of illustrations that highlight indentifying details. For years, The Handbook of Northwestern Plants has
been widely used as the premiere guide for plants in western Washington and
Oregon.
Land
Snails and Slugs of the Pacific Northwest 
By Thomas E. Burke
Turn to this field guide for the definitive authority on
the animal kingdom’s second largest phylum. Browse its pages for information on
the snails and slugs of Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and western Montana. As a reference, Land Snails and Slugs provides rich illustrations, characteristic
traits, and biogeography details.
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Still
looking for more inspiration for your outdoor adventures? Look through our
entire collection to learn more about conservation, ecological history, and the
state’s best kept natural secrets.