Whispers in the Pines: A Naturalist in the Northeast by Joanna Burger, Joanna Burger (Illustrator)

From Barnes & Noble

For most of us, the words "pine barrens" conjures up forbidding images of swamps and mutant fiends. For naturalist Dr. Joanna Burger, pine barrens are unique ecosystems, sanctuaries for frogs and toads; fence lizards and cottonmouths; gopher tortoises, red squirrels, scrub jays, and warblers. In Whispers in the Pines, Burger leads us readers on a fascinating guided tour of these dense forested areas, describing its diverse spectrum of plant and animal life. The Rutgers University biology professor also explains how modern development and fire prevention have combined to endanger the existence of these natural preserves.

From the Publisher

In this book, naturalist Joanna Burger takes us on a series of delightful trips through the Pine Barrens. From the Albany Pine Bush, the Long Island Barrens, and the New Jersey Pine Barrens in the Northeast, to the pinelands of South Carolina and Florida, Burger describes in lively detail how these habitats have come to harbor such a unique assemblage of species.

She introduces us to amphibians and reptiles, neotropical migrants and other birds, and a range of common and unusual mammals. Burger also traces the regions’ historic and geologic backgrounds, and the impact of human occupation from the time of the paleo-Indians to the present. She revisits the tension between development and preservation, reminding us that a healthy pine barren region requires uninterrupted land and rejuvenating fires, both of which are increasingly jeopardized.

Whispers in the Pines is essential reading for everyone concerned with the history and preservation of these unique landscapes and their wildlife.

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