The Fabulous Ordinary: Discovering the Natural Wonders of the Wild South

Eubanks (Saving the Wild South) and Campbell travel through seven southeastern U.S. states over three years to witness nature at its finest. Eubanks shares their journeys in 15 lyrical and connected essays illustrated with color photographs. Using an animal or plant species as an entry point, Eubanks discusses the species and its natural history, its habitat, other plants and animals found in the area, the history of the places they go, the scientists and their work, and the activists and volunteers instrumental in protecting sensitive areas. Eubanks and Campbell catch sight of a rare whooping crane among sandhill cranes, a carpet of dimpled trout lilies, cavorting river otters, bioluminescent dismalites and fireflies, bugling elk, purple martins, and a vast flock of tundra swans and snow geese. Observing nesting bald eagles, alligators in the Okefenokee Swamp, frogs and toads, butterflies and moths, Eastern screech owls, wood storks, roseate spoonbills round out their travels. They even try forest-bathing.