Chris’s Reading List for Exploring Bulls Island

If you’ve ever joined Chris on one of the Dominick House Expeditions, you know how deeply he loves diving into the stories—human and ecological—that shape the Lowcountry. His quiet joy on those morning beach walks, pointing out subtle shell patterns or telling tales of old settlements, comes from years of reading, exploring, and observing. For Chris, every dune, marsh creek, and live oak holds a story, and his bedside table is stacked with books about the landscape, fauna, and history of the region.

Below is Chris’s recommended reading list for those heading to Bulls Island. These are more than just field guides—each offers a different lens on the island’s layers of natural wonder and human presence.

Recommended Reading for Bulls Island

The Wind Birds by Peter Matthiessen
A lyrical, deeply felt exploration of shorebirds and their journeys. Matthiessen’s writing blends natural history, personal reflection, and poetic observation—perfect for setting the mood before you watch flocks wheel over Bulls’ beaches.

The Sixth Extinction by Elizabeth Kolbert
A Pulitzer Prize–winning work that examines biodiversity loss on a global scale. This book gives context to the fragile ecosystems you’ll walk through on Bulls Island, reminding readers that what seems remote is intimately tied to larger planetary changes.

Tideland Treasure by Todd Ballentine
A beloved Lowcountry field guide, this book invites you to look closely at shells, tracks, and tidal clues along the wild shorelines. It’s an excellent companion for scavenging the beach or exploring tidal flats under a low sun.

A New Voyage to the Carolinas by John Lawson
Originally published in 1709, Lawson’s firsthand account of colonial-era Carolina is full of descriptions of wildlife, plants, and local geography. Reading it will help you see parts of Bulls Island much as early explorers might have.

The Curious Mr. Catesby (University of Georgia Press)
This biography celebrates Mark Catesby, the 18th-century naturalist whose illustrations of Carolina plants and birds echo much of what you’ll see on Bulls. It connects art, science, and the living landscape.

Exploring Bulls Island by Bob Raynor
Written by a longtime naturalist, this is the practical field companion to your expedition. It’s full of maps, habitat notes, species checklists, and insider insights about trails and wildlife. A must-have to deepen your on-island experience.