A walk through the woods at The Lorraine Cherry Nature Preserve is always a pleasure, but your experience can be richer as you come to recognize the birds, insects, plants and wildlife that call the preserve home. The following is a list of field guides and books written specifically about Houston and the Southeast Texas region:
60 Hikes within 60 miles: Houston Including Huntsville and Galveston
by Laurie Roddy
Each chapter serves as both a navigational aid and an interpretive guide to old native homesteads, untouched prairies, deep forests, wetlands, wildlife preserves along the Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail, and scenic bayous and waterways in and around the Bayou City.
312 pages.
Along Forgotten River: Photographs of Buffalo Bayou and the Houston Ship Channel, 1997–2001
by Geoff Winningham.
For more than five years award-winning photographer Geoff Winningham explored and photographed Buffalo Bayou, the Houston Ship Channel, and the landscape he found along the way. He revisited sites of historic importance, such as Allen’s Landing, where the city was founded in 1836, and the San Jacinto Battlefield, where Texas won its independence in the same year.
Eighty large-format black-and-white photographs, following Buffalo Bayou from its source in the Katy Prairie through the suburbs and into the inner city of Houston are captured. 160 pages.
Birdlife of Houston, Galveston, and the Upper Texas Coast
by Ted Eubanks, Robert A. Behrstock, and Ron J. Weeks
The authors draw on their lifetime of experience to present a thorough introduction and discussion of the migrant and resident birds of this region. More than 480 regional species of birds are discussed in detail.
328 pages.
Birds of Houston
by B. C. Robison and John L. Tveten.
Nature writer B. C. Robison and wildlife photographer John Tveten have teamed up to produce this field guide for birders who want to identify the birds most commonly seen in Houston. Fifty-five species are included, ranging from such well-known favorites as the mockingbird and cardinal to the more exotic yellow-crowned night heron. A full-color photograph for each bird appears alongside warm and often witty description. This summary includes not only identifying features of the bird but also its habitats, the time of year it can be found, and its distinctive behavioral traits.
141 pages.
Birds of Southeast Texas & the Upper Texas Coast: A Guide to Common & Notable Species
by Gary and Kathy Clark
In this quick reference guide the birds are grouped by family for ease in identification. The accompanying text indicates size, habitat, field marks, and seasonal occurrence.
Great folding guide for beginners and children.
Waterproof, 4 by 9 inches, multi-panel, 9 x 22 inches unfolded.
Butterflies of Houston & Southeast Texas
by John Tveten and Gloria Tveten.
In this easy-to-use field guide, the Tvetens describe and illustrate more than 100 species of butterflies that live in Southeast Texas and can often be found across the state.
This book has striking color photographs of living butterflies and caterpillars (a unique addition) show the key marks and characteristics necessary for field identification.
304 pages.
Dragonfiles of Texas: a Field Guide
by John Abbott.
This is the definitive field guide to these insects since it covers all 160 species with in situ photographs and detailed anatomical images. Each species is given a two-page spread that includes photographs of both sexes and known variations when possible, key features, a distribution map, identification, discussion of similar species, status in Texas, habitat, seasonality, and general comments. Many of the groups also have comparative plates that show anatomically distinctive characteristics.
466 pages.
Mammals of Texas Field Guide
By TStan Tekiela
This field guide features 157 species of Texas mammals organized by family, and then by size, for ease of use. When you see a mammal, you can determine its family by common visual characteristics. Then turn to the corresponding section to find out what it is!
Find out facts about size, habitat, and range of each mammal along with professional photographs, insights, range maps and other relevant information.
416 pages.
Peterson Field Guide To Birds Of Eastern & Central North America
by Roger Tory Peterson.
For decades, this is THE popular and trusted guide for birders of all levels, thanks to its famous system of identification and unparalleled illustrations. The 7th edition of the field guide features updated text and range maps, and art updated to reflect current knowledge in ornithology.
Highly recommended.
392 pages.
Snakes of Southeast Texas: A Guide to Common & Notable Species
by Clint Pustejovsky
This quick reference pamphlet is covers over 35 species of snakes found in Southeast Texas. It features clear, color photos, habitat, behavior and easy field identification of each snake.
This folding guide includes both juvenile and adult photos. Seven venomous species of Southeast Texas are identified.
Waterproof, 4 by 9 inches, multi-panel, 9 x 22 inches unfolded.
Spiders of Texas: A Guide to Common and Notable Species
By Valerie Bugh
This quick reference pamphlet is perfect for the casual observer, gardener, homeowner or curious naturalist, it serves as both a general introduction and a useful reference.
Colorful photographs illustrate spider species with descriptive text highlighting size, habitat, and web type.
Spider silk, and examples of spider webs are also covered.
Waterproof, 4 by 9 inches, multi-panel, 9 x 22 inches unfolded.
Texas Bug Book: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
by Howard Garret and Malcom Beck
Your complete guide for identifying the most common Texas insects. Drawing on years of practical experience and research, organic gardening experts Howard Garrett and Malcolm Beck give detailed instructions on how to identify, understand the life cycle of, and control or protect Texas insects, mites, snails, slugs, nematodes, and other critters.
Color photos and black-and-white drawings help you identify each bug.
202 pages.
Texas Butterflies & Pollinators: A Folding Pocket Guide to Familiar Species
by James Kavanagh
A quick reference pamphlet on pollinators include bats, bees, moths, hummingbirds, butterflies, wasps, flies, and beetles.
This folding guide includes illustrations and descriptions of 140 species and a back-panel map featuring some of the state's top nature viewing hot spots.
Waterproof, 4 by 9 inches, multi-panel, 9 x 22 inches unfolded.
Wildflowers of Southeast Texas: A Guide to Common Native Species
by Steven Schwartzman
The flowers in the guide are grouped by color to make identification as easy as possible, and the accompanying text indicates size, bloom period, and other characteristics of each plant.
The plants identified in Southeast Texas Wildflowers grow in a large area that includes Houston, Galveston, Beaumont, Jasper, Lufkin, Huntsville, Bryan, Brenham, La Grange, and many other nearby places.
Waterproof, 4 by 9 inches, multi-panel, 9 x 22 inches unfolded.
Wildflowers of Texas
By Michael Eason
Describes and illustrates more than 1,100 commonly encountered species, both native and introduced. The book is organized by flower color, with helpful color coding along the page edges making it easy to navigate.
Includes perennials, annuals, and subshrubs, both native and nonnative. and includes all regions of Texas.
508 pages.