Gift Ideas for Naturalists

If you’re into talking to people about invasives…
https://www.zazzle.com/brown_marmorated_stink_bugs_here_comes_the_stink_t_shirt-235798786096554992

I always like field guides (and guides in general). Some that just came out that your naturalist companion may not have:

Beetles of Western North America by Arthur V. Evans.
https://www.amazon.com/Beetles-Western-North-America-Arthur/dp/0691164282/ref=asc_df_0691164282/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=509078909957&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=8466078665950580921&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9008458&hvtargid=pla-1285309842887&psc=1
This is a really nice guide, published in August of this year. If your companion likes beetles (and lives in Western North America) this is the guide for them. I have it, and I live on the East Coast, but it is useful for BugGuide and iNaturalist. I come across lots of posts here and on BugGuide that are in Western North America.

There is another one for Eastern North America, https://www.amazon.com/Beetles-Eastern-North-America-Arthur/dp/0691133042/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3055CPSDI7L46&keywords=beetles+of+eastern+north+america&qid=1640103420&s=books&sprefix=beetles+of+%2Cstripbooks%2C103&sr=1-1
Predictably, it is called Beetles of Eastern North America. It has all the same qualities as its successor, except a different geographical bias. This one was published in 2014.

Wasps: Their Biology, Diversity, and Role as Pollinators of Native Plants by Heather Holm.
https://www.amazon.com/Wasps-Biology-Diversity-Beneficial-Pollinators/dp/0991356314/ref=sr_1_3?crid=28VK8W6Q2GXS3&keywords=wasps&qid=1640103248&s=books&sprefix=wasps%2Cstripbooks%2C118&sr=1-3
A really amazing guide with amazing (sometimes full page) photos. Has ID tips, info, prey, nectar plants, etc. I recommend for anyone who likes wasps. Published Feb. of this year, so the taxa are up to date.

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This book is great and a wonderful present, but I must admit that if they really were marketing it to botanists, they would have labeled the species.

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True…

I love the clip on lenses available for phone cameras.
A UV light would be a lot of fun, maybe a Woods light as well.
Check out the book, Garden Insects of North America, second edition by Whitney Cranshaw and David Shetlar. 2018.
It’s a great resource for identification arranged by what the insects ( mostly) do to plants,ie chewing, sucking,and associated with plant parts, ie twigs, roots, trunks. Over 700 pages.

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Would love recommendations for places that have nice accessories like earrings and rings. They can be abstract or exaggerated representations of animals, but shoyld have some nice representation of accurate details.

Fire & Bone has some nice rings and pendants based off of skulls of living animals as well as extinct ones. Really great for people into Palaeontology, like me.

And if you are looking for a signature perfume/cologne scent that also calls back to your naturalism, check out the brand Zoologist. Each scent is named after a different animal. They have sample cases if you want to try out different scents, or if you just want to commit to your favorite animal from the bunch. :sweat_smile:

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Etsy have tons, if you’re in an allowed country.

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I find most gift jewelry at museums, most have gift shops.

  1. As already mentioned park passes are good.
  2. A magnetic compass or anything with a magnetic compass built in.
  3. Field microscope magnification items.
  4. A multitool like a Leatherman.
  5. A donation made in their name to the human or nature fund (joke from a tv show).
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This:


(By Ludakris3Dprints on Etsy)
A succulent plant pot in the shape of a jumping spider.

(By BalticAmberInclusion on Etsy)
A jumping spider in baltic amber

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I just got this cheap lens that clips on phone, can be used without a phone and has flashlight and UV light:
https://carson.com/product/mm-380-microscope-phone-adapter/
Neat.

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I’m definitely getting one of these. Looks like they have some stronger power ones but not all advertise to work with phones? I’m going to confirm what magnification I use most in the lab I work at tomorrow, then get myself a gift.

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Yes I have this intermediate one that is not made for phones:
https://carson.com/product/mm-300-pocket-microscope/

And this stronger one that only displays on phone (if you are lucky):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLC0-lnUZ7g

All are around 20$ so they make great gifts.

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I went to buy the Carson optics ones and the order form on the website errored on my credit card. I tried several times but nope. 2 days later I look at my bank account and it has 6 pending transactions. I called Carson and they tried to blame me doing it wrong. I have placed hundreds of orders over the years with that credit card and reset the form trying from scratch multiple times from two different computers. I also placed orders at different companies the same day and since then without problem. Despite what they tried to tell me, I know how to use a credit card. I used to charge people’s cards at a past job and know the info must match. So I guess I’m not getting one. I find it strange how they acted and don’t trust them now. Also frustrated because I put a lot of time into researching what I wanted too.

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Can somebody please explain what the point of the stickers are? I don’t get it.
Why would someone unstick them from the book and stick them onto… what?

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Just for the record, I bought another set. These rulers are just great. One is in the car, one is by the computer, one by the phone, one in each camera bag, they also serve as bookmarks for the field guides and as catwalks:
Catwalk by the Nevada Native Plant Society. :-) => https://nvnps.org/node/527
I may perhaps part with one or two – giving them to someone who I know will appreciate their potential.
And no, I won’t trim them because they are absolutely perfect just as they are! :-)

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You can use them on notebooks or furniture, small for phones or phone cases, use in postcards and other crafts, they’re cool, beautiful and of course popular for decades. Not sure what you mean by what they are, they’re no more than what is presented on photos.

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I normally carefully remove stickers and glue from all things, and I would never dream of sticking anything on my fridge or on furniture or my phone or computer or car. So I honestly didn’t see what these could possibly be useful for. Thanks for explaining.
I also haven’t used a paper notebook in decades. I use ZIM on the laptop for notes, where I can include links to photos and PDFs, and which I can search comfortably for words. :-)

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Sometimes I see bolo ties and paper weights of (dangerous) wildlife frozen in acrylic. I think there would be picturesque flowers that would look great like that.

I’m glad to hear you’re getting so much use out of them!