Stephen Lyn Bales Livres

Accompanied by the author's striking line drawings, each chapter in Natural Histories showcases a particular animal or plant and each narrative begins or ends in, or passes through the Tennessee Valley. Along the way, historical episodes both familiar and obscure-the de Soto explorations, the saga of the Lost State of Franklin, the devastation of the Trail of Tears, and the planting of a "Moon Tree" at Sycamore Shoals in Elizabethton-are brought vividly to life. Bales also highlights the work of present-day environmentalists and scientists such as the dedicated staffers of the Tennessee-based American Eagle Foundation, whose efforts have helped save the endangered raptors and reintroduce them to the wild.

The narrative follows naturalist James T. Tanner's passionate quest for the elusive ivory-billed woodpecker, a rare species he first encountered in 1935 during an ambitious ornithological expedition. Over the years, Tanner conducted extensive field research across eight southern states, documenting sightings and even handling a nestling. The urgency of his work stemmed from the bird's declining population due to habitat destruction. With recent sightings rekindling hope for its survival, the book captures Tanner's dedication and the ongoing mystery surrounding this "ghost bird."