Belize and Northern Guatemala (Paperback)

The guides deliver solid science without being stilted or boring--sections have titles like "Avian Mating Systems and Birds That Cheat" and "Frugivory: Animals That Eat Fruit and the Trees That Want Them To". The one element that is in surprisingly short supply is ecologically sound travel tips, from general dos and don'ts to a list of ecologically responsible tour operators and other eco-friendly establishments in Belize. This is mildly discouraging, since learning howto travel responsibly is as important as knowing what you are going to see. But given the relative paucity of travel literature on Belize, Belize and Northern Guatemala: The Ecotravellers' Wildlife Guide proves a valuable resource for anyone curious about the natural wonders of this increasingly popular destination. --Andrew Nieland --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From the Author
My comments describe this new series of travel books.
Even though I'm a professional wildlife biologist, I've always found it difficult while travelling to identify animals I'm not familiar with and to get good, on-site information about them, unless I'm with an expert guide or willing to lug around several heavy books (a bird book, a mammal book, etc.). I've produced the Ecotravellers' Wildlife Guides to help solve this problem. The books in the series are aimed at travellers with an interest in animals, at people for whom some of the best moments of any trip to places like Belize or Guatemala are unexpected encounters with birds and mammals, reptiles and amphibians, fish and other marine organisms. You will find in these books information on (1) common animals likely to be seen, (2) those that are commonly pointed out by tour-guides and tourist literature, (3) some threatened ones that are, for example, subjects of conservation attention, and (4) some that are of special ecological significance. The books, endorsed by the Wildlife Conservation Society, are real field guides, with extensive color artwork produced by some of the world's top wildlife artists. To give you an idea of the "depth" of coverage, the Belize/Guatemala book includes detailed information and color illustrations on 104 plates of about 210 bird species, 50 mammals, 80 species of amphibians and reptiles, and 150 coral reef fish and other marine organisms - the book truly covers most of the animals you might encounter in these countries. Additionally, initial chapters in each book introduce the country or region, its habitats and climate, its common trees and other plants, and describe conservation projects and ecotourism there, as well as major eco-attractions (national parks, nature reserves, etc.). My hopes are that these books will be put to good use in the field by ecotravellers, will make trips more enjoyable, and will assist in conservation in a small way by helping to educate people about the wildlife and habitats in the c