Magpies and Mayflies

California’s Sierra Nevada Foothills, Central Valley, and the Delta share much of the same natural history. It has long been overlooked by most authors who write about California’s attractions, and is experienced by many visitors as a place of endless roads and valley towns seen along the way to the glamorous coast or majestic mountains. Although this vast area is no longer an isolated outback region, there still exist places today where wildlife thrive and the presence of the Native Americans can be seen and felt. Right here in our own backyard there are spike rushes and water ferns, crayfish and bobcats. Look around and you will find milk thistle and the black-crowned night heron, turkey tail mushrooms and arboreal salamanders. This book attempts to answer, at least in part, the universal question of what is this place? Filled with jaw-dropping illustrations that seem ready to crawl right off the page, and detailed descriptions of the plants, animals, fungi, and microorganisms that inhabit the region, this isn’t just an identification guide: it’s a book that will fill you with awe and make you all the smarter.

Magpie and Mayflies is the first book ever written for general readers about the wildlife of California's Central Valley, one of the most fertile landscapes in the world. This handy paperback contains over 700 precisely rendered illustrations by biologist and award-winning artist Derek Madden, plus useful information on topics such as edible berries and mushrooms.