North American Wading Birds

Text and Photos by John Netherton

This lovely book is, unfortunately, out of print, but serviceable copies are available from reputable used book dealers. The outstanding feature  is, of course, the photographs by Nashville photographer John Netherton who, during his lifetime, became Tennessee’s premier nature photographer. He also wrote the text which includes a life history of each selected species. Each of the accounts includes a description of physical appearance and life history, including feeding, roosting, and nesting behavior.

A biologist would certainly regard the selection of described species as an artificial grouping. Netherton devoted the largest portion of the book to herons and egrets, and left out their close relatives, the bitterns. He then added descriptions and photographs of the Limpkin, Roseate Spoonbill, Wood Stork, three species of ibis, and the Sandhill and Whooping Crane. The result is an account made whole by the similarities of habitat and life ways. The text is brief, but well worth the time spent reading, and makes a nice compliment to the stunning photography.