What to give the nature lovers on your list?
We've got the answers!

We like to make the process of holiday giving as simple and meaningful as possible. So here are some great nature-related gift ideas, starting with Bay Nature magazine! (And since we’re all about local, all of these 
are locally-produced as well!)

Five Great Reasons to Give Bay Nature This Year:

• Award-winning articles about the natural world of the San Francisco Bay Area.
• Beautiful photos and original illustrations of local wildlife, plants, and landscapes.
• Great ideas for places to go to experience local nature.
• Sustainably produced (wind-powered printing press) and no plastic packaging!
• Great savings off the regular price! And the more you give, the more you save:
  
  Buy one gift subscription for $17.95; buy two or more subscriptions for only $15 each, a savings of over 35% off the cover price. 

 

And here are some other great gifts to consider  . . . .

2013 Birds of the Bay Area Calendar
Enjoy the beauty of Bay Area birds every day of the year with this calendar on your office or kitchen wall. It features more than two dozen vivid images of owls, egrets, warblers and more by some of the region's best wildlife photographers. Best of all, it raises funds for the work of Golden Gate Audubon Society protecting Bay Area birds and their habitats. $20.00. Order online.

An Island in Time: 50 Years of Point Reyes National Seashore
This well-researched and beautifully-written book by frequent Bay Nature contributor John Hart celebrates and chronicles fifty years of one of our region’s favorite parks,  Point Reyes National Seashore. It covers the history of the Point Reyes peninsula, from the geology and the wildlife to the indigenous inhabitants and ranchers, and the battle to save it. Published by Lighthouse Press (Mill Valley). $29.95. Available at Point Reyes Books, Book Passage, and other local bookstores.
 

The Laws Guide to Drawing Birds
According to naturalist and artist John Muir Laws, drawing is a vehicle for seeing. Drawing Birds opens up a world of beauty and sharpens our ability to observe the natural world in greater depth and with greater appreciation. The book is a great how-to guide for the artist who wants to learn how to paint birds. But it’s also a great gift for any bird lover who wants to understand how these amazing creatures are put together. Published by Heyday Books (Berkeley). $24.95.
Order your copy today or pick one up at your local bookstore.

Maps make great stocking stuffers....

Mount Diablo, Los Vacqueros and Surrounding Parks, 2nd Ed.

What’s waterproof, tearproof and has 110,000 acres of protected lands? That would be the second edition of the “Mount Diablo, Los Vaqueros & Surrounding Parks” trail map, of course! This map details trails and significant natural and man-made features on protected land throughout eastern Contra Costa and Alameda Counties. Published by Save Mount Diablo. $10 plus $2.50 postage and handling.

The Walker's Map of San Francisco

This is the perfect map for residents and visitors who want to explore every corner of San Francisco on foot, or by bus, BART or ferry! A complete street map of the city, from the heart of downtown to the outermost neighborhoods, from Aquatic Park to the top of Twin Peaks and out to Ocean Beach, including every trail and bike path in the city's parks and natural areas. Also includes the Marin Headlands, San Bruno Mountain, and Angel Island. Published by Pease Press. $7.95.

And don't forget classes!

Pole-Hiking Classes

Using poles for hiking and/or walking engages the whole body and improves balance, posture and endurance. And it can help those with mobility challenges get back out into nature with confidence. Adventure Buddies offers a range of low-cost, small-group classes in Bay Area parks on the use of poles for hiking, as well as training videos and an excellent pole buyer’s guide.