How to Keep a Naturalists Notebook

A one-of-a-kind, art-filled how-to guide geared to wildlife students and naturalists, based on the author's college course Pages from actual field notebooks clearly illustrate what works and why Hints and advice for outdoorspeople with even limited artistic skills

For nature-lovers, birders, and students of wildlife and biology, keeping a field notebook is essential to accurately recording outdoor observations. This unique guide offers instruction on how to do it—what to look for, what information should be recorded and how to organize it, basic drawing skills using line and color, and incorporating maps and charts, as well as advice on equipment to take in the field and using conventional field guides. A colorful book that will teach and inspire.

•How to incorporate notes, drawings, and maps into a useful field notebook•Tips on preparing a field kit, sketching natural subjects, and identifying wild plants and animals•For student scientists, biologists, and nature-lovers alike: Keeping a field notebook is essential to recording the natural world from a personal perspective. Whether it's the number of petals on an unusual flower or the color of a bird's feathers, details must be noted in an accurate way. In this easy-to-use guide, readers will learn how to master basic drawing skills, use color and line to their advantage, incorporate maps, sketch wild subjects, and so on. Includes sketches from actual field notebooks to show simple to advanced drawing techniques. Straightforward instructions allow beginners and experienced naturalists to sharpen their skills.

Susan Leigh Tomlinson is a paleontologist, artist, and professor at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas, where she teaches a field craft class in the nature studies program. She lives in Texas.