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| Author | John Kieran |
|---|---|
| Illustrator | Henry Bugbee Kane |
| Language | English |
| Subject | Natural history, urban ecology |
| Genre | Nonfiction |
| Publisher | Houghton Mifflin |
| Publication date | 1959 |
| Publication place | United States |
| Media type | Print (hardcover) |
| Pages | 428 |
A Natural History of New York City: A Personal Report after Fifty Years of Study & Enjoyment of Wildlife Within the Boundaries of Greater New York is a 1959 nonfiction book by American journalist and naturalist John Kieran. The book describes wildlife and natural environments within New York City based on the author’s long-term observations.[1]
It was illustrated by Henry Bugbee Kane and published by Houghton Mifflin in Boston.[2]
Background
editJohn Kieran was an American journalist, sportswriter, and radio and television personality. He was known for his role on the quiz program Information, Please!.[3]
Content
editThe book is a series of essays describing wildlife and ecological environments across New York City. Kieran draws on observations made over several decades in parks, waterways, coastal areas, and residential districts.
It includes descriptions of:
- Bird species observed in urban parks and waterways
- Mammals found in suburban and undeveloped areas
- Fish and aquatic life in rivers and coastal waters
- Insects and other invertebrates in urban environments
- Plant life in parks and remaining natural habitats
The book uses an observational style intended for general readers rather than a technical scientific format.
A 1959 review in The New Yorker described it as a record of decades of urban natural observation and noted its focus on wildlife persistence in a developed city.[4]
Publication
editReception
editContemporary reviews described the book in descriptive terms rather than critical evaluation. A 1959 notice in The New Yorker highlighted its documentation of urban wildlife and long-term observation.
Modern summaries describe it as an accessible work of urban natural history aimed at general readers rather than specialists.[6]
See also
editReferences
edit- 1 2 "A Natural History of New York City". Open Library. Retrieved 22 June 2026.
- ↑ "A Natural History of New York City". ABAA Rare Books. Retrieved 22 June 2026.
- ↑ "John Kieran, Columnist, Radio Host, Naturalist, Dies at 89". The New York Times. 11 December 1981. Retrieved 22 June 2026.
- ↑ "Briefly Noted". The New Yorker. 3 October 1959. Retrieved 22 June 2026.
- ↑ "A natural history of New York City". CiNii Books. Retrieved 22 June 2026.
- ↑ "A Natural History of New York City". Goodreads. Retrieved 22 June 2026.