Kindred sites

Herein lies a list of a few Websites with a similar underlying principle. All of these sites are the work of individuals, offer good (sometimes outstanding) images, and insightful commentary. A romp through any of these sites is a delight.

None of these sites is overtly commercial and most offer no marketing links.

Incidentally, many fine wildlife photographers present their work through the web. Yet, the majority of their websites have been established solely to market pictures; they provide the keen observer with scant insight and so are not included here.

Biota

Garden Safari
This is the ultimate site for exploring the fauna in one’s garden, whether birds or bugs. It is the project of a Dutch couple, Hania and Hans Arentsen, who take the pictures and write the text. As the site is based in urban Holland, the mammals are small and land based.

Backyard Nature
Built by American Naturalist, Jim Conrad, this site assumes a broader mandate than does Garden Safari: it includes plants, fungi, and geology. Its particular strength is a wide-ranging series of essays on structure, behavior, and ecology.

Vancouver Island Birds
This displays the impressive photography and delightful commentary of Mike Yip.

The Backyard Arthropod Project
This site, by Tim Eisele, explores all of the arthropods found a nine–acre plot in upper Michigan. It is filled with useful insights.

Animals and plants of Eastern Washington
This is a personal project of Fred Bentler.

Urban Wildlife (list)
This is an annotated list of (mainly European) Websites in the urban wildlife Web ring. Many of these sites are both beautiful and informative.

Light

Atmospheric Optics
This site built by Les Cawley is the premier personal website about the topic. It shows superb images, but more than that it offers knowledgeable commentary on the physical process giving rise to the scenes.

Paraselene
Eva Seidenfaden has built this site (in German and English) to show the behaviour of light in the natural world. It is a treasure trove of things to see in one’s surroundings. The site’s name, paraselene, refers to one of those phenomena: parseelene are moon dogs—the equivalent of a sundog, but from moonlight.

Local History

Crow’s–nest Highway
D.M. Wilson built this informative website about the history of the places along the Crow’s–nest Highway, a road stretching from Hope, British Columbia, to Medicine Hat, Alberta. The site offers considerable information on the region around Kootenay Lake.