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Into the Nest: Intimate Views of the Courting, Parenting, and Family Lives of Familiar Birds by Laura Erickson
The intimate lives of familiar birds as never before seen! Spectacular, stunning, and beautiful close-up photography documents the family lives of more than 30 birds, from the first song of the courting male to the first flight of the fledglings. You'll find images of the male and female, nest construction, the eggs, the parents on the nest, nestlings, feeding time, fledglings taking their first leap, and more. The featured birds include songbirds, urban birds such as raptors and pigeons, water birds, and owls, all of them common to North America.
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First published March 10, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
February 27, 2021
I just finished Into the Nest: Intimate Views of the Courting, Parenting, and Family Lives of Familiar Birds I'm highly recommending this book for information on common North American nesting birds. The photographs are outstanding- they show all phases of nesting behavior from making the nest though fledging. This book will also help you find and identify nests in your yard or on your property. Truly the best photographs I have ever seen of nesting birds and behavior related to nesting!
July 25, 2016
أحد أفضل ما قرأت عن الطيور!
ممتاز من عدة نواحي:
١. التصوير دقيق وممتاز يحاكي محتوى المادة
٢. معلومات غنية حول الحياة العائلية للطيور
٣. يطرح مجموعة متنوعة من الطيور - بمختلف بيئات تواجدها ٤. يحتوي على خرائط لقارة أمريكا الجنوبية لتحديد أماكن وجود كل طائر عرضه المؤلف في الكتاب ، كما رمز لكل فصل من فصول السنة بلون مغاير لتتعرف على أماكن تواجد الطير ولو كان ذلك خلال موسم هجرته!
أحببت الكتاب !
ممتاز من عدة نواحي:
١. التصوير دقيق وممتاز يحاكي محتوى المادة
٢. معلومات غنية حول الحياة العائلية للطيور
٣. يطرح مجموعة متنوعة من الطيور - بمختلف بيئات تواجدها ٤. يحتوي على خرائط لقارة أمريكا الجنوبية لتحديد أماكن وجود كل طائر عرضه المؤلف في الكتاب ، كما رمز لكل فصل من فصول السنة بلون مغاير لتتعرف على أماكن تواجد الطير ولو كان ذلك خلال موسم هجرته!
أحببت الكتاب !
June 4, 2019
Great photos of nesting and courting birds of many common U.S. species.
Text Laura Erickson, photos Marie Read.
Answers questions such as goodreads.com/trivia/work/27662994-in...
Text Laura Erickson, photos Marie Read.
Answers questions such as goodreads.com/trivia/work/27662994-in...
May 13, 2019
I picked up this book for its glossy pictures of so many amazing birds. The male great horned owls establish territories.
The courting and mating of various couples are described in detail. I wanted to learn more about a bird that laid its eggs in the open in my yard last summer and here it is---- the cutest things you've ever seen. Kildeer lay and incubate their eggs right in the open. The eggs have cryptic coloration.
The Black-capped chikadee is noted. The female starts laying one egg per day until it reaches a clutch of six to eight eggs, but sometimes more--- up to thirteen. Titmice are similar. A picture is included here of a chickadee, which has cleared out a cavity and in the process of building its cup nest of mosses and fibers lining it with soft fur, it may have picked directly off animals. They may also use wads of dog or cat fur, humans brush off their dogs or cats during grooming.
Only females incubate the eggs. They spend 75% of daylight hours and all night on the job. Their mate searches for and gathers food. Incubation takes 13 days ----- compared to 21 days for chickens (Rhode island reds, leghorns, etc etc--- the domesticated birds). What a beautiful picture shown here of a nest with 8 speckled looking eggs. When hatched, adults stuff food down their open wide gapped mouths. The nestlings are dependent on their parents for 2 to 4 weeks, constantly begging for food, the greedy little things. (Smiling here).
I believe it was a downy woodpecker that I saw this past summer too. Up close they are fascinating.
The nest cavity protects nestlings from rain, wind and extreme temperatures and have even adapted to high CO2 levels. House sparrows and European starlings are known to steal their nest cavities. Even squirrels and field mice can take over a woodpecker's cavity. Did I even know all this animal activity and community service might be going on so close to my home. Wow!
2016 was an incredible year or maybe the veil over my eyes was removed and the animals in nature became visible. I even saw a peregrine falcon swoop down in front me going for its prey.
And crows, I appreciate them a lot more for the way they take care of one another. They (crows) are even used as a warning sign to scientists and bird watchers when there is an outbreak of disease as they are the first ones to die.
This was a really good book.
The courting and mating of various couples are described in detail. I wanted to learn more about a bird that laid its eggs in the open in my yard last summer and here it is---- the cutest things you've ever seen. Kildeer lay and incubate their eggs right in the open. The eggs have cryptic coloration.
The Black-capped chikadee is noted. The female starts laying one egg per day until it reaches a clutch of six to eight eggs, but sometimes more--- up to thirteen. Titmice are similar. A picture is included here of a chickadee, which has cleared out a cavity and in the process of building its cup nest of mosses and fibers lining it with soft fur, it may have picked directly off animals. They may also use wads of dog or cat fur, humans brush off their dogs or cats during grooming.
Only females incubate the eggs. They spend 75% of daylight hours and all night on the job. Their mate searches for and gathers food. Incubation takes 13 days ----- compared to 21 days for chickens (Rhode island reds, leghorns, etc etc--- the domesticated birds). What a beautiful picture shown here of a nest with 8 speckled looking eggs. When hatched, adults stuff food down their open wide gapped mouths. The nestlings are dependent on their parents for 2 to 4 weeks, constantly begging for food, the greedy little things. (Smiling here).
I believe it was a downy woodpecker that I saw this past summer too. Up close they are fascinating.
The nest cavity protects nestlings from rain, wind and extreme temperatures and have even adapted to high CO2 levels. House sparrows and European starlings are known to steal their nest cavities. Even squirrels and field mice can take over a woodpecker's cavity. Did I even know all this animal activity and community service might be going on so close to my home. Wow!
2016 was an incredible year or maybe the veil over my eyes was removed and the animals in nature became visible. I even saw a peregrine falcon swoop down in front me going for its prey.
And crows, I appreciate them a lot more for the way they take care of one another. They (crows) are even used as a warning sign to scientists and bird watchers when there is an outbreak of disease as they are the first ones to die.
This was a really good book.
January 20, 2019
If you're a newcomer to birding and still mostly at the birdfeeder stage or the I-know-what-that-is bigger bird, or if you've got a kid or grand who's just getting excited about the birds around them, then this is a good resource.
For each of the species represented the book has beautiful pictures of males and females, eggs in nest, nestlings, fledglings, and usually juveniles. It includes information about mating, building the nest, male/female responsibilities, feeding, and how the babies develop and eventually leave for lives of their own.
As you'd expect of such a work, Into the Nest isn't a book to read, it's a book to pull out whenever you get one of those moments where you want to know just a bit more. With luck this little teaser will get you hooked and looking for more.
For each of the species represented the book has beautiful pictures of males and females, eggs in nest, nestlings, fledglings, and usually juveniles. It includes information about mating, building the nest, male/female responsibilities, feeding, and how the babies develop and eventually leave for lives of their own.
As you'd expect of such a work, Into the Nest isn't a book to read, it's a book to pull out whenever you get one of those moments where you want to know just a bit more. With luck this little teaser will get you hooked and looking for more.
September 28, 2014
I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for a review, and here is said review!
I love birds, I always have...I envy their flight and beautiful plumage ( dyed my hair bright blue out of desire for plumage, even if most females are drab), their romantic courtships have fascinated me, and their songs soothe me. This book takes a look at a side of many bird's lives that sadly gets skimmed over in more general books on birds, which is tragic. In my opinion birds have probably the most diverse and fascinating reproduction cycle of any animal groups. It ranges from lifelong commitments and dedicated partners to birds that wander around mating with everything in a breeding season frenzy. Some birds require elegant courtship dances and gifts of sticks and other nesting material...others could care less.
There is so much to learn from this book, it teaches while not being at all dry and boring, and add the glorious photos to the mix and you have an extremely useful book. I am no bird expert, but I also am no newbie to the art of birding, I can safely say I learned a ton about bird courtship and reproduction.
The beginning of the book is a typical overview of the subject discussed, giving a more general overview of bird reproduction. After this it goes into more detail about specific species, and this is probably my favorite part of the book. It reminds me of how bad I feel for female (and juvenile male) Mallards during breeding season, it showed how beautiful the sky dances of certain birds of prey are, you get to see the clever tricks used by Killdeers to distract predators, and so much more.
I loved this book, absolutely loved it. It is probably the most beautiful an well put together book on birds that I have run into. If you are a birder this is an absolute MUST for your collection, hands down.
I love birds, I always have...I envy their flight and beautiful plumage ( dyed my hair bright blue out of desire for plumage, even if most females are drab), their romantic courtships have fascinated me, and their songs soothe me. This book takes a look at a side of many bird's lives that sadly gets skimmed over in more general books on birds, which is tragic. In my opinion birds have probably the most diverse and fascinating reproduction cycle of any animal groups. It ranges from lifelong commitments and dedicated partners to birds that wander around mating with everything in a breeding season frenzy. Some birds require elegant courtship dances and gifts of sticks and other nesting material...others could care less.
There is so much to learn from this book, it teaches while not being at all dry and boring, and add the glorious photos to the mix and you have an extremely useful book. I am no bird expert, but I also am no newbie to the art of birding, I can safely say I learned a ton about bird courtship and reproduction.
The beginning of the book is a typical overview of the subject discussed, giving a more general overview of bird reproduction. After this it goes into more detail about specific species, and this is probably my favorite part of the book. It reminds me of how bad I feel for female (and juvenile male) Mallards during breeding season, it showed how beautiful the sky dances of certain birds of prey are, you get to see the clever tricks used by Killdeers to distract predators, and so much more.
I loved this book, absolutely loved it. It is probably the most beautiful an well put together book on birds that I have run into. If you are a birder this is an absolute MUST for your collection, hands down.
September 25, 2014
This is a magical look into the secret lives of birds. We only think we know them. We hear their song and see them at the feeder. Their courtships and family lives are so diverse and choreographed it is hard to image they are all descended from the same line. A wonderful family book to share with children. A way to draw the nature indoors and draw us outdoors to experience more.
July 5, 2017
Recently my 13y.o. daughter starts to love birdwatching and this book offers a fascinating introduction to not only the nest, but also the family lives of various kinds of birds! Nice :)
August 1, 2018
A wonderful book for anyone who is interested in learning more about the nesting habits of North American birds. It is clearly written, well organized and full of amazing pictures. As an avid birder working on a breeding bird atlas, I’m excited to learn more about breeding habits. Highly recommended.
February 10, 2020
If you like bird watching or even just nature in general, even just casually, this is a must read! I loved how this broke down information into interesting and manageable bits, lots of photos - and not too many fancy terms. I love bird watching and was eager to learn more about the birds I see in my yard and community - I learned so much from just this one book. I highly recommend it!
May 30, 2020
A fascinating account of the reproductive behavior of birds. After a brief introductory overview of mating, nesting, and child-rearing, the book examines individual species behavior in depth. The focus is on the most commonly seen birds and is accompanied by abundant photos.
October 2, 2022
This was a lovely and informative book. The photos are amazing and very compelling! The prose gets a bit repetitive, but perhaps that's to be expected from something with a bit of an encyclopedia format.
August 12, 2024
Just was I was hoping for: Plenty of photos and info sorted by common species! Includes universal info on avians, and then unique profiles of a handful of common backyard birds. I hope there are future volumes that contain even more species!
August 19, 2025
I am familiar with lots of these birds and still learned many new things. The layout worked well for reading it here and there, the pictures were fabulous, and the captions and descriptions helped the information stick in my brain. This is a nice resource for birders of all levels.
April 10, 2020
a great reference about common north american birds. I learnt a lot of things that I didn't previously know. An interesting reference for birders.
November 2, 2020
text 3, photos 5
November 3, 2025
what a delightful book for bird lovers. nice pictures, informative
November 16, 2015
I loved this read, with the brilliantly coloured, action-filled photos showing nesting, courtship, egg-sitting, chick feeding and fledgling rearing among many American birds.
Bird lovers anywhere will benefit from learning that eggs laid inside a tree are normally white, unlike those in open nests, while many terms are well explained. For example, precocial chicks follow their mother from the nest shortly after hatching, like ducklings, while altricial chicks are fed in the nest for weeks until they fledge and learn to fly. The cowbird is the American version of Europe's cuckoo, laying in other birds' nests.
Anyone from primary school age could enjoy and learn from this book, while it holds enough information to benefit adults who want a good knowledge of the topic. Other images include a red-tailed hawk nesting on a fire escape in the Bronx, so not only small birds are available to the domestic bird watcher. Read, look around and enjoy.
Bird lovers anywhere will benefit from learning that eggs laid inside a tree are normally white, unlike those in open nests, while many terms are well explained. For example, precocial chicks follow their mother from the nest shortly after hatching, like ducklings, while altricial chicks are fed in the nest for weeks until they fledge and learn to fly. The cowbird is the American version of Europe's cuckoo, laying in other birds' nests.
Anyone from primary school age could enjoy and learn from this book, while it holds enough information to benefit adults who want a good knowledge of the topic. Other images include a red-tailed hawk nesting on a fire escape in the Bronx, so not only small birds are available to the domestic bird watcher. Read, look around and enjoy.
May 26, 2015
Erickson and Read have brought out the binoculars (as evidenced by the engaging cover) and done some bird research for you. While not comprehensive, this book focuses on a selection of over 2 dozen American bird species that you’re likely to see around your neighborhood. This heavily illustrated volume is fun to browse but also very concisely informative. Captions accompanying each color image make it easy to identify the birds, their nests & eggs, and young offspring.
The introductory chapters go over general bird mating, nesting, and parenting behaviors. Each subsequent 6-page chapter delves into more information on a particular species, with family secrets and other fascinating facts presented occasionally in a sidebar.
The next time you notice some nesting behavior happening around you, pick up this book and look inside the lives of these fascinating familiar birds. Great for libraries and coffee tables.
The introductory chapters go over general bird mating, nesting, and parenting behaviors. Each subsequent 6-page chapter delves into more information on a particular species, with family secrets and other fascinating facts presented occasionally in a sidebar.
The next time you notice some nesting behavior happening around you, pick up this book and look inside the lives of these fascinating familiar birds. Great for libraries and coffee tables.
June 5, 2016
An interestingly written book which explores the habits of familiar birds. These are, for the most part, birds that live around me, and many that I see frequently. I loved reading about the various courting habits, their different parenting styles, and how the young grow and finally go off on their own. As I was reading this book, I was observing a pair of house or purple finches (I can't tell the difference) as they are raising a family in the grapevine/fake forsythia wreath beside my front door. The authors incorporate humor and easy to read language to give the reader this insider glimpse of our feathered neighbors.
March 12, 2015
I was so excited to receive a copy of this book, I have been a keen birdwatcher from a very young age and I am always keen to know more. The book is fascinating, it has delightful facts, excellent images and I really enjoyed the whole thing. It was a joy to read and cannot thank the publishers enough for letting me have a review copy in exchange for my honest opinion. I have already recommended the book to others.
May 17, 2016
This book is a treasure! The photographs are gorgeous and amazing (how did they get some of those shots?!), and I learned a lot about the birds in our yard (plus birds I might never see). So fascinating! It really gave me a new appreciation for all the work birds do in mating, nesting, fighting off predators, raising and feeding their young, and just surviving. If you have even a remote interest in birds, I highly recommend this book.
December 27, 2015
I have been a bird enthusiast for many years, but the photos and captions alone are worth checking out this resource. I learned so many fascinating tidbits about the various species which frequent my area. For example, unlike other birds, the Downy woodpecker can nest deep in the cavity of a tree despite the buildup of carbon dioxide.
September 25, 2014
Great book, with wonderful pictures and interesting information about birds currently living in the U.S.
Bel libro con delle fantastiche fotografie dei piú comuni volatili degli Stati Uniti.
THANKS TO NETGALLEY AND STOREY PUBLISHING FOR THE PREVIEW!
Bel libro con delle fantastiche fotografie dei piú comuni volatili degli Stati Uniti.
THANKS TO NETGALLEY AND STOREY PUBLISHING FOR THE PREVIEW!
June 14, 2015
I have studied birds all my life and I learned so many things from this book! Highly recommend for bird lovers!
November 28, 2015
A book about the day to day behavior and habits of specific species of birds.
August 3, 2018
Beautiful pictures and interesting read - at first - but then it gets a bit repetitive. Great reference book, though.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews