Living Sanibel is the most complete nature guide to Sanibel and Captiva Island ever compiled. With more than 650 full color photographs and illustrations by award-winning nature photographers and artists, this single volume is the only book you will ever need while visiting Florida's fabled barrier islands. The guide contains a total of 291 species of birds, with 105 species having color plates and detailed information making it easy to identify the various resident and migratory species that inhabit J.N. Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge and the many other preserves located on Sanibel and Captiva. LIVING SANIBEL also includes a extensive shell guide, complete with color photographs of more than 70 of the most commonly found shells on the pristine beaches of Sanibel and Captiva. The photos include a ruler beside each shell, making it simple to find even the smallest of shells. LIVING SANIBEL starts with a detailed and concise Environmental History of Sanibel and Captiva. This brief natural history puts the amazing accomplishment of preserving these barrier islands into its true historical perspective. The book also contains a complete section on the mammals and sea mammals found on Sanibel and Captiva. These include manatees, bottle-nose dophin and Atlantic spotted dolphin. For those interested in reptiles and amphibians, there are more than fifty pages of snakes, lizards, alligators and crocodiles. Also included are the various fresh water turtles, as well as five species of sea turtles that nest on Sanibel and Captiva's beaches. The fisherman will find a complete guide to fifty of the most commonly found saltwater fishes surrounding the two islands. These include snook, redfish, shark and tarpon. This section includes detailed tips on where to locate these fish and how to catch them. There is also a small section on the fresh water fish found on the islands. For the amatuer entomologist there is an extensive section on the islands' insects, spiders, butteryflies and crabs. For the botanist you will find a large section on the native, as well as a few of the invasive species, found on these barrier islands. These include the incredible strangler fig, the cabbage and royal palm and many more. Finally there is a complete map section. It details more than 65 miles of hiking and biking trails hidden throughout the islands. The book concludes with a section about all the museums and eco-attractions of Sanibel and Captiva, including the J.N. Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge, the Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum, SCCF, the Sanibel Historical Museum and more.