Beachcomber's Guide to Marine Life of the Pacific Northwest

Unlike the first reviewer, I'm an amateur. Our family recently relocated to the Puget Sound region and have discovered the excitement of exploring the many tidal pools and beaches in the area. We've purchased several field guides and although this one is not my favorite - it is large and has a limited number of high-quality color photographs - it is definitely a good book. What it lacks in photos it more than makes up for in information - in a very easy to understand format. He introduces the region and explains the "whys" behind the geography, then moves into his very beneficial tips for successful beachcombing. What I like most about the book, however, is that he goes into great detail about the different tidal zones and the particular creatures you will find in each zone. This book is a little advanced for our needs right now, but as my children age, I am sure it will be a well-referenced guide. Recommended.

This book is an outstanding guide to the marine life found along the shores of the Pacific Northwest. Before I go further, I should note that it is NOT a pocket guide. But if you slip it into a daypack, you will be amply rewarded. Dr. Niesen has written a book that in very clear language helps you identfy what you are looking at, learn about its life habits, and learn about its habitat. Its emphasis on habitats, and arrangement by type of organism within each habitat, is extremely helpful. The black and white photos are usually pretty good, although sometimes dark, but the section of color plates is really good. What are really outstanding are the line drawings--David Wood, the artist, really captures the organisms in a way that brings out details yet preserves the basic nature of the organism. The book also gives a great (meaning clear yet not too simple) introduction to marine biology for the Pacific Northwest, explaining tides, currents, the origin of the coast , and the basic biology of the major groups (taxa) of organisms. Furthermore, he provides tips on beachcombing.All in all, a very handy reference. I will consider it for my Marine Biology class for non-majors (I'd use it with a majors course, too, if I taught one!).