Louisiana Impressions

Photographs by Brian Miller

The irresistible charm of The Pelican State is presented with Southern style in Louisiana Impressions, a collection of color photographs by Brian K. Miller. The eccentricity of New Orleans, the history of the Mississippi River, the mystery of the state’s swamps, the legacy of Louisiana’s music scene, and the grace of the Southern lifestyle are but a few elements to be enjoyed in this beautiful portfolio.

Birds of the Gulf Coast

Photographs by Brian Miller

Text by William R. Fontenot

A dazzling portrait of an eclectic aviary society

The moist, sultry northern coast of the Gulf of Mexico hosts a remarkably diverse bird community of more than three hundred species. Waders and seabirds, waterfowl, night jars and owls, hummingbirds, thrushes and mimic thrushes, warblers, grosbeaks, tanagers, larks, blackbirds, sparrows, and finches all thrive in the various ecosystems of the Gulf Coast and swirl in and out with the seasons. Featuring over 140 full-page color photographs by nature photographer Brian K. Miller and essays by aviary columnist William R. Fontenot, Birds of the Gulf Coast depicts the mystery and majesty of these beautiful creatures and highlights the importance of the region to the birds’ conservation.

Fontenot introduces the climate and cultural conditions peculiar to each season on the temperate Gulf Coast, and Miller’s images are arranged by the calendar. The waterfowl, raptors, and seabirds of winter; the songbirds and shorebirds of spring and fall; and the wading birds of summer-their numbers peak and wane on schedule, and the chapters vividly reflect the dramatic variation in the bird population throughout the year.

Miller captures sights that thrill human eyes-the stately gaze of a bald eagle; two great herons perched as if embracing; the splendor of an osprey in full flight; the stunned stare of a trio of barn owl chicks surprised in their nest; the quiet concentration of a sora rail studying his reflection in the marsh. His vibrant portraits illustrate the brilliant hues of nature: the dazzling pinks and reds of the spoonbill, the rainbow plumage of the painted bunting, the bright splash of the yellow-throated warbler.

Together with Fontenot’s edifying essays, these captivating photographs convey the luxuriant abundance that characterizes bird life of the Gulf Coast. This is a book that will inspire seasoned birders and novices alike to explore the region’s woodlands, marshes, and beaches and discover for themselves the avian riches that await.

Brian K. Miller’s photographs have appeared in numerous magazines and publications, including National Geographic, Wildlife Conservation, Brown Trout and Audubon. He lives in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

William R. Fontenot is curator of the Acadiana Park Nature Station in Lafayette, Louisiana and a nature columnist for several publications.

ISBN 0-8071-2724-8