cover image Hosting the Birds: How to Attract Birds to Nest in Your Yard

Hosting the Birds: How to Attract Birds to Nest in Your Yard

Jan Mahnken. Storey Books, $21.95 (208pp) ISBN 978-0-88266-534-4

``No one who enjoys feeding birds needs to be given a reason to do this: it's interesting. If you need more motivation, however, try thinking of bird feeding as a way of repaying a debt to fellow inhabitants of the planet.'' This guide, intended for casual bird-watchers eager to learn more about the birds passing through their urban, suburban or country yards or gardens, discusses the nesting cycle, courtship, territories, parenthood and theories of migration and outlines breeding habits (i.e., incubation and nesting periods) of 175 species. However, beginning birders would have benefited from more information on the exact times of year when mating begins and on notes on coloring. And the book provides relatively little advice on how to lure birds by strategic landscaping, plant selection and building and installing feeders and nest boxes. Still, the author's self-effacing enthusiasm is endearing: ``Though it's probably superfluous to fall into raptures and rhapsodies on the perfection of Nature and the absolute marvel that an egg is, I must admit that I continue to be amazed.'' Mahnken and Knauf previously collaborated on Feeding the Birds . Illustrations not seen by PW. (Apr.)