cover image Baby Birds: An Artist Looks into the Nest

Baby Birds: An Artist Looks into the Nest

Julie Zickefoose. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, $28 (384p) ISBN 978-0-544-20670-0

Artist and wildlife rehabilitator Zickefoose (Letters from Eden) follows the development of 17 different wild bird species, 16 of which nest in the author’s private bird sanctuary in the Appalachian foothills of Ohio. Each chapter tells the story of her personal interactions with the nesting, hatching, and fledging of various species, including Carolina wrens, eastern bluebirds, tree swallows, house sparrows, mourning doves, and yellow-billed cuckoos. Illustrated lavishly with more than 400 highly detailed watercolor paintings showing the development of the birds, Zickefoose’s book serves as an resource for bird watchers and aficionados, and as a memoir of a person who finds joy in the beauty and wonder of nature. Birdwatchers will appreciate her tender attention to every developmental aspect of her feathered subjects, and the casual reader will enjoy the lyrical quality in her writing, which is calming and informative. Color illus. [em](Apr.) [/em]