Count me lucky to have a book like this to show me a place
I've never visited. NATURAL WONDERS OF ASSATEAGUE ISLAND is
enough to make anyone pack and head off to the coastal
barrier island. The ponies on the cover are famous from
Marguerite Henry's books about Misty of Chincoteague - the
nearby, inhabited island. But the feral ponies graze on a
wildlife haven, though today developers have created homes
and holiday residences in some areas. From the dignified
blue heron to the hunting osprey, this is a spectacular
habitat among the dunes and sea grasses.
Mark Hendricks has captured the landscape and seascape in
broad and minute canvases. His photography is full of vivid
colour and immediacy, rewards for his time. He took to
kayak as much as forest, spending weeks letting a great
horned owl become familiar with him. Thirty-seven miles
long and nowhere more than two miles wide, this spit
protects the coastline and so is exposed to the wild
Atlantic weather, constantly changing as a result. The dune
plants tolerate salt, and the resulting barely disturbed
natural area leads to a prime birding spot. Migrant as well
as resident birds take shelter. Behind the dunes flourish
shrubs leading to maritime forest which is home to many
residents including the owl, deer and Delmarva fox
squirrel. Blown in by bad weather come occasional visitors
- Hendricks got a spectacular shot of a snowy owl.
Those famous ponies are all registered and monitored by
either Maryland or Virginia. Hendricks often met a fine
black stallion called Charcoal, guarding his herd. Winter
brings a change of view - snow, bare trees, and geese
feeding on eel grass in the salt lagoons. The white cattle
egret has arrived here too - it recently turned up in
Ireland - and follows the ponies as it followed buffalo in
its native Africa. Shore birds include dunlin, whimbrel and
ruddy turnstone, with Chesapeake's famous horseshoe crabs
among other shore residents. Hendricks describes the
conservation work involved in keeping nests of piping
plover safe. He warns that small wildlife crosses roads, so
drive slowly, and he participates in beach trash cleanups,
imploring us to leave no litter. At the end Hendricks
describes the photography equipment he used and assures us
that no animals were disturbed while making the very fine
work NATURAL WONDERS OF ASSATEAGUE ISLAND. As a coffee
table book or a nature lover's dream, this is beautiful.
Assateague Island, primarily known for its population of
wild horses and pristine beaches, is a magical place. Yet
few people have experienced all of its natural wonders.
Noted wildlife photographer Mark Hendricks has spent years
exploring the barrier island and shares his passion for the
area’s incredible biodiversity in this stunning collection
of more than 190 color pictures. Through his lens and words,
he captures truly rare moments with some elusive creatures,
including a river otter, snowy owl, black stallion, and the
threatened piping plover. From the windswept beaches to
inland forests and through all seasons, this personal
journey is relatable to all who have visited, or wish to
visit, this enchanted island off the coasts of both Maryland
and Virginia.
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