Whether you're planning a stay-cation in the backyard or a getaway to the shore or mountains this summer, a good book makes a great companion. Here are a few titles you might enjoy as you settle into a favorite reading chair:

"Birdsong by the Seasons: A Year of Listening to Birds" by Donald Kroodsma (2009, Houghton Mifflin) is for all who want to dig deeper into the world of bird song. Written in a month-by-month almanac style, Kroodsma introduces the reader to a world far more complex than simply enjoying the sounds of backyard birds. And it comes with a CD so you can hear exactly what the author wants you to hear.

"Prairie Dogs: Communication and Community in an Animal Society" by C.N. Slobodchikoff, Bianca Perla, and Jennifer Verdolin (2009, Harvard University Press) is a look into the behavioral ecology of prairie dogs, highly social rodents that actually "speak" a language that differentiates between humans and a variety of other beasts. (Full disclosure: The lead author was my major professor when I studied prairie dogs in graduate school in northern Arizona.)

"The Dangerous World of Butterflies: the Startling Subculture of Criminals, Collectors, and Conservationists" by Peter Laufer (2009, Lyons Press) is an eye-opening peek into the world of butterfly collecting. From true crime to heated debates between butterfly conservationists and butterfly farmers, this book reads like a novel.

"The Lizard King: the True Crimes and Passions of the World's Greatest Reptile Smugglers" by Bryan Christy (2008, Twelve) exposes reptile smugglers and gives a rare glimpse into the world of federal and international wildlife law enforcement.

"Birdscapes: Birds in our Imagination and Experience" by Jeremy Mynott (2009, Princeton University Press) seems to be the product of a lifelong obsession with birds. The author is the former chief executive of Cambridge University Press, and I suspect that he has been acquiring information about birds for many years.

This book is his catharsis, an outpouring of his fascination with birds that he just had to share with everyone. It's a great nightstand book to savor in bits and pieces.

Scott Shalaway is a biologist and author. He can be reached at sshalaway@aol.com or RD 5, Cameron, WV 26033.