Into the Nest: Intimate Views of the Courting, Parenting, and Family Lives of Familiar Birds

Into the Nest explains bird courtship, mating, egg-laying, nest-building, and chick-rearing with clarity and stunningly beautiful photographs. It is an important companion to your field guide.―Stephen W. Kress, author of Audubon Guide to Attracting Birds

See the intimate lives of birds as never before! Laura Erikson and Marie Read document the family lives of more than 50 common North American birds through breathtaking close-up photography. Stunning images of hummingbirds, owls, tanagers, and more showcase different stages of avian development and capture the loving bond that exists within each bird family. Bird enthusiasts of all feathers will cherish these beautiful images of courting, nest construction, eggs, nestlings, feeding time, and much more.

Gr 6 Up—This information-rich introduction to avian reproductive behavior covers topics such as why some birds engage in elaborate mating rituals, how they form strong pair bonds, and how they produce eggs. The first section, "Courting and Mating," covers general behavior. Color photographs illustrate examples of courtship, while the clear text explains egg production and hatching. The rest of the book delves into species-specific content, with each readable, fact-packed chapter tackling a different bird, such as the thrush, wren, oriole, hummingbird, bald eagle, and peregrine falcon. The material is further broken down into subtopics, including "Pairing Up and Nesting," "Parenting," and "Flight Path" (or how long it takes before the young can fly). Attractive photos can be found on every page, revealing parents interacting with their young. Color-coded maps feature information on each species' typical clutch size, eggshell color, and number of broods per season. VERDICT A wonderful addition to any ornithology section.—Frances E. Millhouser, formerly at Fairfax County Public Library, VA

Into the Nest explains bird courtship, mating, egg-laying, nest-building, and chick-rearing with clarity and stunningly beautiful photographs. It is an important companion to your field guide. ― Stephen W. Kress, author of Audubon Guide to Attracting Birds

THE HIDDEN LIVES OF BIRDS REVEALED

From grand flight displays to the quiet pipping of an egg, this intimately photographed book offers a rare glimpse into the breeding and nesting cycles of birds, including the fascinating details of courtship, mating, and parenting that are so often hidden from view. With the support of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, authors Laura Erickson and Marie Read bring the diverse personal lives of raptors and hummingbirds, woodpeckers and wrens, into stunning focus.

Laura Erickson is the author of The Love Lives of Birds and The Bird Watching Answer Book, and is coauthor of Into the Nest. A recipient of the American Birding Association’s prestigious Roger Tory Peterson award, she has served as science editor at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, an editor of Bird Scope magazine, and a columnist and contributing editor for Birdwatching magazine. She produces For the Birds, a long-running public radio program and podcast, and lives in Duluth, Minnesota. 

Marie (pronounced "Maury") Read's photographs and articles have been featured in numerous magazines, including National Geographic, Bird Watching, Birds & Blooms, and Bird Watcher’s Digest. Marie previously worked at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology as photo/illustrations editor for the Home Study Course in Bird Biology, and later as photo editor/content developer for the All About Birds website. She lives in Freeville, New York.