Natural History of the Albany Pine Bush Albany and Schenectady Counties, New York. Field Guide and Trail Map

The Albany Pine Bush is a protected, remnant pine barrens community located between the cites of Albany and Schenectady, New York. A visit to the Pine Bush Preserve, home to an impressive and globally rare assemblage of plants and animals, is unlike any other urban experience in North America. This volume is a comprehensive guide that documents one of the most endangered landscapes in the Northeast.

This book is a field guide to trees, shrubs, wildflowers, insects, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals. Human exploitation, land use, and conservation are reviewed, and major problems in protection and ecological management are also addressed. It includes color photographs, brief diagnostic descriptions, and biological notes on 121 notable Pine Bush species. The seven appendices list modern scientific names of hundreds of Pine Bush mosses, liverworts, vascular plants, insects, and vertebrate animals.

The bibliography provides complete and accurate citations to over 200 relevant books and articles published over a period of two centuries, providing access to the growing body of scientific and popular literature. A removable 16 1/2 X 21 inch trail map illustrates the topographic relief of the Pine Bush Preserve and surrounding area, and it locates trails and trailhead access points in relation to area roads.

This volume will appeal to a wide audience, including amateur naturalists, concerned citizens, students, scientists, land managers, developers, and journalists.