The Urban Naturalist

“A fascinating dive into community-science projects that will surely encourage and inspire interested readers.”
—Booklist

“In The Urban Naturalist, the Dutch ecologist Menno Schilthuizen invites us to explore the small natural oases found in every city…Mr. Schilthuizen points out that being in nature, even in a city, contributes to mental and physical health. You don’t have to find a new species of ant, snail or spider to succeed as an urban naturalist, but with the author’s advice and encouragement, that might happen too.”
—The Wall Street Journal

“I find science fascinating, but laughing is my favorite activity. Menno presents scientific facts with his absolutely irresistible humor. Reading his book is illuminating. I laughed a lot and learned even more.”
—Isabella Rossellini, actress, filmmaker, founder of Mama Farm, author of Green Porno and My Chickens and I

“With clarity, wit, and passion, Schilthuizen celebrates the surprising biodiversity found in cities and invites readers to explore, embrace, and make it their own. The Urban Naturalist is both a journey of discovery and a call to action.”
—Thor Hanson, author of Close to Home

“From a fungi DNA lab on a Brooklyn kitchen counter to the firefly ambassadors in Kuala Lumpur, Schilthuizen’s chronicles of everyday naturalists show how anyone can unleash their own inner scientist.”
—Beth Shapiro, author of How to Clone a Mammoth and Life as We Made It

“An excellent primer for would-be citizen scientists, inspiring you to explore the unexpected biodiversity lurking in every urban corner. Schilthuizen’s writing has a poetic quality that makes this a pure delight to read!”
—Carin Bondar, author of Wild Moms

“What if everyone realized that doing citizen science in urban areas is quirky, social, and cool? Schilthuizen’s romp through these entertaining examples makes the case with elegance and passion.”
—Christopher Preston, author of Tenacious Beasts

“Menno Schilthuizen writes enthusiastically about all the ways that you can explore nature in cities and contribute to science and conservation, using both simple equipment and the increasing power of digital tools. A joy to read.”
—Richard Primack, author of Walden Warming

“As this fine book illustrates, the first step to conserving urban nature is learning to observe and appreciate it, and in the process expand our care for cities’ human and other-than-human residents. Don’t mourn, protect!”
—Richard Louv, author of Our Wild Calling and Last Child in the Woods

Menno Schilthuizen is a senior scientist at Naturalis Biodiversity Center in Leiden and Professor of Evolution and Biodiversity at Leiden University. He is the director of a nonprofit for community science, the Taxon Foundation, and with his wife, cave biologist Iva Njunjić, he runs Taxon Expeditions, a scientific travel agency focused on discovering new species of wildlife.

Jono Nussbaum, born in London1967, studied art and design at Chelsea School of Art and Kingston University. He moved to central Italy in 2003. Inspired by a curiosity in nature and his rural surroundings, he now works as an artist, illustrator, and furniture designer.

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