Rhode Island writer Todd McLeish will visit the Jamestown Philomenian Library this Saturday, Feb. 23, to talk about his new book

Golden Wings & Hairy Toes."

The nature talk begins at 1 p.m. and promises to be a lively session. Wildlife lovers and birders won't want to miss this hour-long presentation.

McLeish, 45, is a publicist and science writer at the University of Rhode Island.

"Golden Wings & Hairy Toes" is McLeish's first book. It was recently published by the University Press of New England. The book profiles 14 rare and endangered species found in New England. To research the book, McLeish went into the field with the biologists who are studying the mammals, birds, insects, plants and fish.

The book is a fascinating look at our fellow creatures and McLeish's experiences visiting their habitats. In one chapter he is attacked by maurading birds. The book's title comes from the name of one of the birds profiled in the book, the golden warbler, and the hairy toes found on the Indiana bat.

McLeish said the biologists welcomed him - not only for the extra set of helping hand, but also for the opportunity to shed some light on their research efforts.

McLeish has worked as a freelance nature and birding writer for magazines for some 20 years. He is currently at work on a followup book that will focus on the threatened marine life in New England. One chapter will focus on the Harlequin Ducks found at Beavertail in Jamestown, he said.

At the library on Saturday McLeish will share his experiences in the field. "I plan to talk about some of the endangered species that I've profiled and my encounters with them," McLeish said.

Of course, McLeish will have copies of his new book available for puchase and is ready to autograph them.

- Jeff McDonough