Books

Killer Whales - Transients

The book Killer Whales appeared in 1995 and was hailed as "an astounding accomplishment". It remains an indispensable guide for whale watchers and researchers, presenting 20 years of killer whale research in BC and Washington. The authors are researchers, widely regarded as among the world's foremost authorities on killer whales. The book covers the natural history of orcas with a catalogue of over 300 photographs of "resident" whales, with dorsal ID shots, grouped according to families.

Now, five years later, a companion volume on transient orcas is available. Mammal-eating transients are more enigmatic and elusive than their fish-eating cousins, but again Ford and Ellis have provided us with incredible photographs of over 200 whales, including ID photos of their dorsal fins, and up to date research about them.

Killer whales are the most widely dispersed mammal on earth, next to humans, found in all oceans of the world. Both residents and transients live on the Pacific Northwest coast of North America, but do not associate with one another. They are genetically distinct populations with different prey, different behaviours, language and social patterns.

These books are full of amazing photographs and the dorsal ID shots will help you identify the whales you see!

Killer Whales, UBC Press 1994,102 pp, $22.95. ISBN 0-7748-0469-6 Transients, UBC Press, 1999, 96 pages, $24.95. ISBN 0-7748-0717-2

Whelks To Whales

Review by Bryan Nichols

A new field guide from Nanaimo's Rick Harbo is something of an event for us biojunkies. For the last 20 years now, the all around best general reference for kayakers, divers and tidepoolers has been Rick's tiny but amazingly useful "Tidepool & Reef".

Now he's finally updated and expanded it (a millennial thing no doubt) but the premise, if not the name and price, remains the same. If you can bring only one field guide on your next trip, this is the one to get (though you should make more room by taking out some of the wine, you lushes). It's all in here, from hydroids to humpback whales; fish, crabs, clams, seaweeds... you name it. All accompanied by color coded pages, a glossary and an index.

The sections on sponges and bryozoans deserve special note, showing common species that were difficult to find in any field guide up until now. The other sections cover their critters well. If it's not feathered, it'll probably be in this book. It's brand new, so you'll have to bug your local bookstore to order one for you.

Coastal Marine Life of the Pacific Northwest, 1999 Rick Harbo ISBN 1-55017-183-6 Harbour Publishing Full color field guide, 245 pages, $24.95

To see a more detailed review of this book click here

The Vancouver Paddler

Glen Stedham, a canoe guide who has been paddling for over 30 years, seems to have explored every paddling nook and cranny around Vancouver for this book. Detailed descriptions of fifty routes include instructions on how to get there and what you'll find when you arrive. From the more well known areas like Indian Arm and English Bay to some lesser known gems like Widgeon Creek and Chehalis Lake, both kayakers and canoeists will find lots to explore in Stedham's book. Glen does an excellent job of detailing how to access each destination and includes photos and text descriptions of each trip.

238pp, $19.95 Cdn. ISBN 0-9684850-0-6, Glen Stedham Publishing. 2735 Alice Lake Place, Coquitlam BC V3C 5W8

The First Nations of British Columbia

Subtitled "An Anthropological Survey", this book by Robert Muckle presents a concise overview of First Nations history, culture and issues in BC. It provides a useful listing of current populations, reserves, bands, and language groups, identifies territories of the major groups, explains the current treaty process, and details past and present government policies. It will serve as a useful primer and a reference to First Nations issues. B/W archival photos, maps, appendices, glossary, bibliography.

146 pp,$19.95 Cdn. ISBN 0-7748-0663X, UBC Press, 1998. Order from: 604-8225959 or email: orders®ubcpress.ubc.ca

Kayaking in Puget Sound, the San Juans and Gulf Islands

Randal Washburne's affinity for the Pacific Northwest is obvious in this second edition of the classic guide to paddling this area. The new edition features five new routes, plus information about the recently established Cascadia Marine Trail which spans from south Puget Sound to the BC border and augments public waterfront campground by providing a dedicated network of simple campsites.

The routes he covers represent five different regions: South Puget Sound, North Puget Sound, the San Juan Islands area, the Gulf Islands (British Columbia) and the Olympic Peninsula. A quick trip reference chart offers at-a-glance details about each route's difficulty, duration, launch sites and camping options.

Randal Washburne is a veteran sea kayaker and the author of two other books and numerous articles. He teaches sea kayaking and navigation, and manufactures can and kayak accessories in Seattle.

256pp, $16.95 US. ISBN 0-89886-607-3, The Mountaineers 1001 SW Klickitat Way, Suite 201, Seattle WA 98134