Dance of the Flying Gurnards America's Coastal Curiosities and Beachside Wonders

The bizarre, bottom-dwelling gurnard resembles a flying fish, but contrary to popular belief and local lore, its winglike fins propel it in search of food or puff out to warn a predator, rather than allow it to take flight. This is just one of the entries in THE DANCE OF THE FLYING GURNARDS, the first informative and engaging sourcebook to introduce beachgoers, waterfront residents, vacationers, and boaters to the natural charms and menaces of the three North American coastlines. It describes basic and surprising marine phenomena, celebrating what is observable by people who watch, touch, or float upon the sea. The topics, described in lay terms, are rich with legend, science, and beauty in the spirit of Steinbeck and Ricketts who planned-but never completed -a seacoast guidebook filled with valuable information and literary whimsy. John Waldman touches on such subjects as: . Night swimming and "lighting up" among swarms of bioluminescent plankton . The annual shoreside ritual of giant spawning horseshoe crabs . A phenomenon in Mobile Bay called "the Jubilee," where thousands upon thousands of fish throw themselves onto the shore How and where red tides occur, and why they are dangerous Waldman also includes his own personal anecdotes and the stories of fellow mariners who have seen the strangest and most beautiful miracles the coast has to offer. THE DANCE OF THE FLYING GURNARDS is perfect for anyone who has enjoyed the essays of Stephen Jay Gould, or who loves the coast and wants to know more.Waldman, John is the author of 'Dance of the Flying Gurnards America's Coastal Curiosities and Beachside Wonders', published 2004 under ISBN 9781592285594 and ISBN 1592285597.