Joseph C. Neal's "In the Province of Birds" takes the reader along the highways and byways of western Arkansas, with stops at the intersections of family, faith, friendship, art, and science. What fuels the journey? Birds. From a common Northern Cardinal nesting in a backyard tree to a rare Prairie Falcon soaring over a former tallgrass prairie, birds are at the heart of this collection of essays. Even so, Neal's writings go far beyond an account of days spent with binoculars and field guide. At once biologist, historian, hippy, father, and companion, Neal's life experiences color each essay. Illustrated with photos of flora, fauna, and friends, "In the Province of Birds" offers a unique perspective on nature, ecology, and humanity. Joseph Neal is author of "The Birdside Baptist,"and co-author of "Arkansas Birds" and "History of Washington County Arkansas." He has worked as a biologist for three decades, including 17 years in the USDA Forest Service as a wildlife biologist working to restore the endangered Red-cockaded Woodpecker in the Ouachita Mountains. Now retired from the Forest Service, he continues his Arkansas bird studies from his home in Fayetteville. He writes and records commentaries for "Ozarks at Large," a feature on KUAF, a local National Public Radio affiliate. He is a Visiting Scholar in the University of Arkansas's Department of Biological Sciences and writes a local bird column for the Washington County Observer.