Currently, I’m illustrating a field guide entitled Birds of the Sierra Nevada. This comprehensive and user friendly guide is being published by the Yosemite Association. The book is being written by Ted Beedy and David Lukas.

         Ted Beedy has been birding since he was a young man and has a wealth of experience studying birds in the Sierra. He has worked for the consulting company of Jones and Stokes where his love of birds and nature has been applied directly to his job, Not only does he have a vast knowledge of Sierra bird life, but his grasp of plant life, geology and the workings of natural cycles, throughout the Sierra Nevada will make this book something much more than a simple bird identification guide.

         David Lukas, the coauthor, is an accomplished author, birder, nature tour leader and a gifted naturalist. For some time David has been writing natural history and bird related articles for many different magazines, including: Audubon, Birding, California Wild, Sunset, Wild Bird and numerous natural history periodicals. Recently he wrote the text for the beautifully illustrated book Wild Birds of California by Companion Press.

          The Yosemite Association is publishing this guide, which is just one of many books this fine institution has produced. Yosemite Association is a non profit organization dedicated to the support of Yosemite National Park through a program that includes membership, book publishing, seminars and visitor services.

        In this book I’m illustrating the 316 species that occur annually in the sierra Nevada. With watercolor, graphite and colored pencil, I’m bringing to life all of the species that one could hope to encounter in this impressively large and diverse mountain range. It is my goal to portray each species accurately and in an attractive manner. I want to properly capture the unique features and markings that make each bird species, gender and age identifiable. In addition, I’m portraying most species in flight.

         On the Yosemite Association website you can find additional information, not only about this important work, but you will get to see updated species accounts and new information as it becomes available.

     For more information about Birds of the Sierra Nevada, check out the Yosemite Association website at www.Yosemite.org/naturenotes/birdguide/index.htm