Secret Lives Of Common Birds: Enjoying Bird Behavior Through the Seasons - Softcover

MARIE READ is an acclaimed wildlife photographer and nature writer whose photographs are regularly featured in magazines, books, and calendars. A birdwatcher since childhood, she has traveled throughout the world to photograph birds.

Why do birds build nests? Why do they sing? Why do we sometimes see them lying in a daze on a lawn? These and other questions that an interested observer of backyard birds might ask are answered in a tidy book by a wildlife photographer. Taking a seasonal approach, the author examines what viewers can expect for each season and what the behavior they have seen means. For example, in the spring nests are built both to attract mates and to shelter young. Singing, too, attracts mates, but it also serves as the first line of territorial defense. Birds lying dazed on the grass are often sunbathing, which not only feels good but also is thought to repel parasites. Although migration is the most obvious autumn behavior, Read also explains how and why birds molt their feathers. Finding food and keeping warm are major winter activities that amateur naturalists can explore. Beautifully illustrated with the author's photos--many are exquisite close-ups--this book is an excellent start for learning why birds do what they do. Nancy Bent
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved