From blue moons to bald eagles, this new edition of Great Lakes Nature---now lavishly illustrated in color---is a guide to nature's everyday but overlooked gems. With an open-mind and the curiosity of an old-fashioned naturalist, author Mary Blocksma furnishes more than just ecological nomenclature; she unearths a treasure trove of tips, hints, and trivia. Blocksma set out to identify her Great Lakes environment just a name at a time, a few times a week, for a year. Coming upon a bird, tree, or natural phenomenon she doesn't recognize, the author takes us along on her process of learning. The result is a book that educates through the delight of serendipitous discovery as it transports the armchair explorer out of the living room and into the forests and wetlands of the Great Lakes region. Mary Blocksma is a freelance writer and artist. She has published more than twenty-one books, including Necessary Numbers , Great Lakes Solo , and Lake Lover's Year .