Nature Store

Barn at Coverdale Farm Preserve

by A. N. Wyeth

Signed and numbered reproductions - $250 - Embellished with a remarque by the artist - $750

Proceeds from the sale of these prints and the original benefit the current capital campaign, "Educating for the Future," to create an endowment for education, expand the Ashland Nature Center, and make improvements to Coverdale Farm Preserve.

Other Merchandise
Nephew of Andrew Wyeth and grandson of N. C. Wyeth, A. N. Wyeth was commissioned by the Delaware Nature Society to create a watercolor of the historic 18th century stone bank barn at its Coverdale Farm Preserve. The barn is a symbol of our agrarian past and of the importance of soil and clean water to our survival. A limited edition of 500 reproductions, 22 x 28" with an 18 x 24" image, were created by Qoro, Inc., on watercolor paper using state-of-the-art digital technology.

About Coverdale Farm Preserve
Coverdale Farm Preserve near Greenville, Del., is a part of the Delaware Nature Society's Burrows Run Preserve. Between 1927 and the early 1930's, Crawford and Margaretta Greenewalt acquired Coverdale Farm Preserve. They farmed the land and built a home. In 1990, the Greenewalts donated 110 acres in the Burrows Run valley to the Delaware Nature Society plus additional lands to be sold for an endowment. In 1998, the Old Kennett Foundation trustees decided to dissolve the foundation and give all the assets, including 229 acres, the 18th century barn, two houses, and farm equipment to the Nature Society.

The Coverdale Farm Preserve property includes a champion black tupelo tree (Nyssa sylvatica), which is the third largest of its kind in the nation and the largest in Delaware. Plans were initiated in April 2000 to develop a year-round farm education program at the site. Together with the 352-acre Burrows Run Preserve and other lands protected by the Nature Society and the Greenewalt / Frederick families, a phenomenal 438 acres have been permanently protected.

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Protecting our Water:

Who's Got the Power?

A 28-minute video for:
- Education groups
- Environmental groups
- Civic groups
- Public television

Three and a half million miles of streams and rivers crisscross our countryside, cutting through our landscape. Flowing through a landscape that was once shaded by an almost endless canopy of leaves, today's streams are more likely surrounded by pavement, buildings, manicured lawns, or farm fields.

With the educational experience of the Delaware Nature Society and the scientific expertise of the Stroud Water Research Center, explore the world of the stream through this half-hour documentary produced by Teleduction. Learn how our water supply is suffering as a result of these changes to the land.

The Delaware Nature Society is the state affiliate of the National Wildlife Federation (NWF). Click Here to learn more about NWF water quality issues and the affiliate efforts.

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Natural History of Delmarva Dragonflies and Damselflies: Essays of a Lifelong Observer

by Hal (Harold B, III) White
Photographs by the author and Jim White
Hard Cover
Members: $27
Non-Members: $30

This fascinating book takes naturalists beyond simple field guides by telling stories about each species that occurs on the Delmarva Peninsula, skillfully and entertaingly weaving threads of life cycles, biology, natural history, and pioneer odonatologists into each species account. It is in turn interesting, absorbing, illuminating, funny, and surprising - readers will be tempted to read it cover to cover like a good novel! Highly informative and just plain great reading, this is a book every dragonfly enthusiast should have.
- Giff Beaton

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Amphibians and Reptiles of Delmarva

by James F. White, Jr. & Amy Wendt White

- Field guide
- Paperback
- 296 pp.
- 73 species
- 96 color photos
- maps, glossary, checklist
- Published in association with Delaware Nature Society by Tidewater Publishers, 2003
- $14.95

Jim White and Amy Wendt White, a husband-and-wife team from the Delaware Nature Society, spent nearly 15 years combing the region's swamps, woods, and fields. The result of their work is Amphibians and Reptiles of Delmarva listing 73 species.

Each species account containing a detailed description of physical characteristics, comparisons to similar species, and information on the geographical distribution, abundance, habitat, reproduction and development, and behavior. From skinks to snakes, from turtles to frogs, this compact but thorough reference gathers vital information about the Delmarva Peninsula's herpetofauna. Herpetology is the branch of zoology dealing with amphibians (salamanders and frogs) and reptiles (turtles, lizards, and snakes).

In 1986, Jim White, associate director of land and biodiversity management for the Delaware Nature Society, became a principal investigator in a herpetological survey of the state; this research eventually formed the basis for the field guide published recently by Tidewater Publishers in association with the Delaware Nature Society. Amy White, who is a teacher-naturalist at the Nature Society, often accompanied her husband on early expeditions. A concerted effort to organize and write the guide commenced in 1998 as Amy became more involved with the entire project. "We hope the book instills a strong conservation ethic in the area's residents, an ethic that leads to better protection of these animals and the habitats in which they live," the authors said.

The field guide has already garnered tremendous accolades, including praise from Roger Conant, esteemed Director Emeritus of the Philadelphia Zoo and one of the country's foremost herpetologists. "As a book on the herpetology of a small geographic area, this publication is the most complete and thorough of any I have seen," said Dr. Conant, author of the Peterson Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of Eastern and Central North America. "Every species and subspecies is described in meticulous detail, and the splendid photographs make identification easy."

Given its size, the Delmarva Peninsula - encompassing all of Delaware, the northeast corner of Maryland and its Eastern Shore, and the eastern shore of Virginia - boasts a rich array of amphibians and reptiles. However, Delmarva's herpetofauna is often overlooked by the vast majority of people living in the area. Many have never heard a northern spring peeper call or seen a salamander, even though a breeding chorus of peepers is common in the spring, and salamanders are residents of most woodlands in Delmarva. Misconceptions also abound. For example, people sometimes think they have seen "cottonmouths" (water moccasins) on Delmarva, even though this venomous species is not known to occur north of the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay. Misidentification of species, especially of snakes, is common, Amy White said. "Fear and misunderstanding lead some people to mistake harmless snakes as venomous and they kill them needlessly."

The field guide will be useful to a wide variety of people interested in these fascinating creatures -- from the curious child who brings home a salamander to students, experienced naturalists, and professionals in need of life history, behavioral, and distributional information. "This landmark field guide is an invaluable tool in our mission to educate children and adults about the natural world," said Michael E. Riska, executive director of the Delaware Nature Society. "It will generate interest in Delmarva's fascinating amphibians and reptiles and encourage conservation of all of our native animals and plants and their habitats."

A skilled nature photographer, Jim White routinely captures many species and their environs on film. More than 90 of his pictures are collected in the guide's full-color plate section, which serves as a valuable tool for identifying various amphibians and reptiles. "Dealing with tough environmental conditions often made the photography challenging," Jim said, referring specifically to photographing frogs. Jim often stood in water up to his hips, usually at night, sometimes in the rain, and crept as close as he could to the frogs without scaring them away. "Then you have to wait for the frog to call and try to get a good photograph with its throat expanded. It takes a lot of effort and luck."

Jim's favorite species included in the guide is the bright green Barking Treefrog - which graces the book's cover - because he was the first to discover a breeding population of these frogs on Delmarva and has spent much time researching this species. Amy's favorite is the warty brown Bufo americanus americanus, or more commonly the American Toad, because it serves as a harbinger of spring and is easier to catch than most other frogs. But handlers beware: it secretes a powerful toxin that can be quite unpleasant if it is ingested or comes in contact with the eyes.

Both Jim and Amy White earned degrees from the University of Delaware: Jim in entomology and applied ecology and Amy in environmental engineering. They are members of the Delaware Ornithological Society and Delaware Natural History Society. Jim is also a member of Delaware Partners in Flight and Partners for Amphibian and Reptile Conservation.

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Butterflies of Delmarva

by Elton N. Woodbury

- Field guide
- Paperback
- 138 pp.
- Published in association with Delaware Nature Society by Tidewater Publishers, May 1994 (2nd edition 1998)
- $12.95

Elton Woodbury's interest in butterflies began early in childhood and continued throughout his life. For over 40 years he photographed Delmarva insects. The result of his lifelong interest is the first-ever field guide to the butterflies that occur naturally on the Delmarva Peninsula. All 61 adult butterfly species found in the area are included in the field guide.132 full-color photographs by Dr. Woodbury help clearly identify adult, larva and pulpa stages.

Differences in color or wing patterns between the sexes are also illustrated to aid in identification. The species accounts that form the bulk of this book include a description of the adult butterfly, the larva, and the egg, as well as information on the food sources, habitat, and range of each butterfly. Anatomy, metamorphosis, habitats, enemies, longevity, mimicry, and migration of butterflies in general are investigated in a chapter on the natural history of the butterfly.

Hints for attracting butterflies to a garden and suggestions for photographing the species help the reader to increase his or her appreciation of butterflies.

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Birds of Delaware

by Gene K. Hess, Richard L. West,
Maurice V. Barnhill III, Lorraine M. Fleming

- 750 pp., 8.5" x 11"
- 350 drawings
- 1,000 maps and graphs
- Hardcover
- $65.00

Delaware's location in the mid-Atlantic region on the Atlantic flyway, as well as the geologic evolution of Delaware's Piedmont and Coastal Plain, have resulted in a great variety of bird life-virtually all species regularly encountered in the East. Birds of Delaware is the first comprehensive book on birds in the state, containing accounts of 418 species. It is the first state book to integrate breeding bird atlas survey results with all other available information on a state's wild birds. Destined to be a definitive reference work for years to come, Birds of Delaware includes innovative graphic presentations on breeding and seasonal distribution, relative abundance of species, nesting season, and winter population changes.

This scholarly compendium is primarily concerned with species accounts for breeding birds, migrants, and rare visitors. These contain, as appropriate, each bird's status, habitat, documentation of presence in the state, breeding season, migration, and unusual facts about its occurrence in Delaware. Accompanying graphics and tables illustrate breeding distribution, seasonal distribution and abundance, nesting and clutch completion dates, migration patterns gleaned from banding records, and significant population trends. Regular disciplined population studies conducted by the Delmarva Ornithological Society over a thirty-year period have allowed more reliable and detailed population definition than the usual state publication.

Written for both the ornithologist and the enthusiast alike, the authors have included short original essays on geese, hawk migration, spring shorebird migration, blackbird floods, irruptive winter visitors, and other subjects that will give the reader added pleasure. The authors also discuss the conservation measures needed to maintain the rich diversity of species found today, and an original essay provides a fascinating account of three hundred years of ornithology in Delaware.

Authors and Artwork

Richard L. West, Ph.D., was a research chemist and manager for ICI Americas until he elected early retirement in 1987 to devote himself to ornithology. He now lives in Florida where he continues to write and study about birds.

Gene K. Hess is the collections manager (vertebrates) for the Delaware Museum of Natural History. He teaches bird identification at the museum and in the field.

Maurice V. Barnhill III is a physics professor at the University of Delaware, with a strong avocational interest in ornithology.

Lorraine M. Fleming, the Delaware Nature Society's Associate Director, Advocacy, has provided strong support for sound conservation policy in Delaware. She is the author of Delaware's Outstanding Natural Areas and Their Preservation (1978).

Publications Chairman - Winston J. Wayne, Delmarva Ornithological Society
Editorial Consultant - Howard P. Brokaw, Delmarva Ornithological Society
Art Consultant - Nancy C. Willis
Graphics Consultant - Martha B. W. Olson
Scientific Reader - Chandler S. Robbins, U.S. Geological Survey, Biological Resources Division

Sponsoring Organizations
Delmarva Ornithological Society
Delaware Museum of Natural History
Delaware Nature Society
Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control

Regional Sources
Ashland Nature Center, Brackenville & Barley Mill Rds., Hockessin, DE
Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge
Delaware Museum of Natural History

Come to the Ashland Nature Center to browse through a copy of this comprehensive (and weighty) book at your leisure!

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Creating a Natural Legacy

The Story of Two Families

- 8.5" x 11" booklet
- 20 pp.
- Delaware Nature Society, 2002
- $3.00

The stories told here involve the families of Robert & Lucile Flint and Crawford & Margaretta Greenewalt--who loved the land near Wilmington, DE. on which they lived. They took great pleasure in the natural world they experienced each day. Learning about the plants and animals they encountered, the families came to realize their lands had significant ecological value. As more land in the region was stripped of its natural features, the ecological and aesthetic values of forests and fields increased.

Over time, the monetary value of land also increased dramatically creating severe economic challenges for heirs receiving land. Therefore, it became desirable to transfer land from each family estate before the death of the surviving spouse. Yet, as is true for most land holdings, each story is unique. The families' approaches to the problem and the solutions they achieved are quite distinct. We hope these stories will prompt owners of land containing natural areas and/or stream corridors to consider the multitude of options available for preserving their properties.

Following the narratives are some tips to consider for the land decisions that you may face, a summary of preservation techniques, and additional resources for land planning.

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Delaware's Freshwater and
Brackish-Water Fishes

by Dr. Maynard S. Raasch

- Field guide
- Hardcover
- 179 pp.
- Dover Litho Printing, Co., 5th edition 2007
- $12.95

In this excellent publication, Dr. Maynard S. Raasch provides descriptions and color photos of 97 species (25 fish families) including strays and historical occurrences, a review of topography and habitat, and a summary of historical accounts.

His intention is to increase interest in Delaware's varied and fascinating fish population and, as a spinoff, a greater interest in the environment.

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Red Knot: A Shorebird's
Incredible Journey

by Nancy Carol Willis

- Hardcover: $15.95
- Paperback: $6.95
- Birdsong Books, 2006

Cool breezes brush across the southernmost tip of South America. A robin-sized shorebird called a Red Knot prepares to migrate 20,000 miles round trip to nest and raise young. Will she survive bad weather, fatigue, predators, and food shortages to raise her chicks and return home? Appended information includes a glossary, range map, timeline, shorebird relatives, and Red Knot history and conservation.

Nancy Carol Willis has captured the wonder of one of the most amazing animal journeys known to science, and has delivered a factually honest story of the migration by the Red Knot. She has taken decades of research of this wondrous animal and reduced it to an illustrated, simple and straightforward story of migration wonder with a conservation bent for children.

    Brian Harrington, author of Flight of the Red Knot, WW Norton & Company, New York

"This beautifully illustrated book teaches children about the amazing Red Knot, currently in serious decline, and the hardships it must overcome each year to nest and raise its young. As a long term protector of Delaware's wondrous Coastal Zone, I endorse this book and its clear and compelling conservation message."

    Russell W. Peterson, Governor, State of Delaware, 1969-1973; President National Audubon Society, 1979-1984

"The epic journeys of these birds are explained in a way that is easy to understand and gives a feel for the trials they go through every year."

    Nigel A. Clark, Head of Projects, British Trust for Ornithology

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