Nests: Fifty Nests And The Birds That Built Them Download Free (EPUB, PDF)
Sharon Beals' gorgeous photographs of nests offer a new window onto the life and beauty of birds. Drawn from the collections of the California Academy of Sciences, the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology at UC Berkeley, and the Western Foundation of Vertebrate Zoology, these birds' nests from around the world offer astonishing insight into the intricate detail wrought by nature's most fastidious architects. Lovely images of nests and eggs are set against rich black backgrounds, and are accompanied by fascinating and informative portraits—conveyed through words and illustrations—of the birds that built them. A beautiful volume, Nests is the perfect gift for birders, bird lovers, and anyone captivated by the fleeting and fascinating splendor of the natural world.
Hardcover: 120 pages
Publisher: Chronicle Books (March 23, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0811877582
ISBN-13: 978-0811877589
Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 0.8 x 9.4 inches
Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (46 customer reviews)
Best Sellers Rank: #88,905 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #11 in Books > Arts & Photography > Photography & Video > Individual Photographers > Artists' Books #72 in Books > Science & Math > Biological Sciences > Animals > Birds & Birdwatching > Field Guides #78 in Books > Arts & Photography > Photography & Video > Nature & Wildlife > Plants & Animals
This is not only a beautiful book, the information in it about birds and their nesting habits is fascinating! This book has become one of my treasures. The only negative is that the book was not packed in such a way that the gorgeous shiny black jacket is protected. As a result, it was marred. It should be shrink wrapped at the publisher to keep it from being damaged because the cover is a work of art in itself.
I saw a show of Sharon Beals' Nest photos about a year ago and have not forgotten them. I was pleased to find this book. Her photographs are stunning; quietly and respectfully raising each nest to an iconic level. What's really great about this book, is the information presented behind each nest. (Some of these have been in the archives of the Academy of Sciences in SF for generations.) And more importantly, she describes the fragility of the environments that birds live in. We live in a rapidly changing world and we're losing many of nature's precious treasures. I highly recommend this book!
If you're as fascinated by birds' nests as I am, this book is for you. Each spread consists of 1 full-color picture of a gorgeous and inventive nest, and the eggs that are deposited there. Facing the page is an illustration of the bird that built the nest and a full description of the bird and how it builds its unique home. The variety is astounding, and the materials birds use are often charmingly colorful or make brainy use of commonly found objects, the detritus of both man and nature. I intend to order another of these as a gift to a fellow bird lover.
I've seen proofs of this book and the author's original prints. This book offers a beautiful set of nests and eggs found in closed museum collections. The color, texture, and sheer ingenuity of these natural, nurturing constructions are amazing, captured in superb still-life images. Who needs art when nature creates such surprising variety? A wonderfully unique gift book, in my opinion (weddings? baby showers)? But keep a quiet, eloquent copy for yourself. You'll never look at birds, or the world around us, in quite the same way again.
You'll want to buy this book for the beauty alone. It's an art book that focuses on the amazing craftsmanship of birds. The photos emphasize the uniqueness of each nest. Sharply focused, each one jumps out from a black background. The birds use all kinds of surprising materials, from scavenged honeycombs, to colorful bits of trash. They build their nests with all levels of technical expertise; some with casual sloppiness, others woven with intricate detail. As an added bonus there's interesting essays about the birds: how they live, their behavior, and their personalities. You'll never look at birds the same way again and if you're like me you'll be hoping this is the first of a series.
The book has nice pictures of the nests. However, the font is very small which makes it difficult for anyone over 40 to read. Also, there is no nest shown for the bluebird, cardinal, chickadee, painted bunting, indigo, robin; common songbirds birdwatchers love to see. I should have zoned in on the table of contents more closely.
This is a lovely book. Stunning photos and lots of interesting and inspiring info about the birds that built them. I plan on giving this as a wedding present, Christmas present, etc.
I have purchased two copies of this book as gifts for nature-loving friends. They both loved it. This title has been out for a while ... this is not a scientific treatise or essay. Instead, the nests, selected from a collection, are treated almost as art, and photographed in a way that brings out their beauty in detail, which heightens one's sense of wonder about how they are made. How are they made? Birds do not teach their young how to build - there must be an element of genetic memory. Anyway, this is a just-the-right-size book for shelf or coffee-table, and a sure hit for anyone who likes birds and fine publications. - Daniel O'Donnell, Portland
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