Synopses & Reviews
Julie Zickefoose lives for the moment when a wild, free living bird that she has raised or rehabilitated comes back to visit her; their eyes meet and they share a spark of understanding. Her reward for the grueling work of rescuing birdsand#8212;such as feeding baby hummingbirds every twenty minutes all day longand#8212;is her empathy with them and the satisfaction of knowing the world is a birdier and more beautiful place.
The Bluebird Effect is about the change that's set in motion by one single act, such as saving an injured bluebirdand#8212;or a hummingbird, swift, or phoebe. Each of the twenty five chapters covers a different species, and many depict an individual bird, each with its own personality, habits, and quirks. And each chapter is illustrated with Zickefoose's stunning watercolor paintings and drawings. Not just individual tales about the trials and triumphs of raising birds, The Bluebird Effect mixes humor, natural history, and memoir to give readers an intimate story of a life lived among wild birds.
Review
and#8220;We've been knocked to our knees by the delightful illustrated essay collectionand#8230; you don't have to care all that much about birds to get sucked into [Zickefooseand#8217;s] dreamy illustrated stories of bluebirds and phoebes, titmice and ospreys. In delicate, subtle strokes of the pen and brush, she reveals a lifetime of backyard friendshipsand#8212;moments spent observing a bluebird couple or listening to the calls of scarlet tanagersand#8230;.Zickefoose has spent a lifetime observing this particular corner of the domestic-wild world, and she did not escape these experience without gaining both wisdom and humorand#8212;about mates, about our obligation to help others or set them free, about loss and about thankfulness." and#8212;Oprah.comand#8217;s Book of the Week
Library Journaland#8217;s BEST BOOKS OF 2012: Science and Technology
2013 Ohioana Book Award, nonfiction
"Birders will appreciate her meticulous observations and devotion to the avian world, but anyone whoand#8217;s ever considered hanging a birdfeeder is likely to be mesmerized by the sensuous, precise prose as well as Zickefooseand#8217;s vivid portraits of scrawny, fluffy phoebe chicks, a self-possessed hummingbird perched on a clothesline, dwarfed by the surrounding clothespins, and orioles migrating by moonlight. Readers will be astounded by the drama and intelligence fluttering in their backyards." and#8212;Publishers Weekly and#8220;a wonderful amalgam of nature writing and memoirand#8230;This lovely book is one to savor slowly, admiring both writing and artistry.and#8221; and#8212;Booklist, starred review
and#8220;Beguiling stories from a naturalistand#8217;s life with backyard birds....Describing her songbirds with a delicacy of words and brush strokes, Zickefoose makes learning about birds seem like the adventure of a lifetime. A wonderful treat for birders.and#8221; and#8212;Kirkus
"The Bluebird Effect" is a terrific read and a feast for the eyes. Buy! Buy! Buy!"and#160;and#8212;The Charleston Gazette
"insightful essays and lovely illustrations...[Zickefoose has] drawn sketches and painted vivid pictures with words, letting us see much more about those not-so-common lives outside our windows." and#8212;Seattle Times
Review
Zickefoose finds [a connection with nature] often and documents it in words and paintings in her beautiful new book.
Cleveland Plain Dealer
Synopsis
Through raising and rehabilitating birds, Julie Zickefoose pulls back a curtain on their motivations, desires, and even emotions.and#160;This bookand#160;is a visual feast, lavishly illustrated withand#160;watercolors and field sketches.
Synopsis
If you've ever wondered what goes on in bird nests, or what happens after a fledgling leaves the nest, come along on Julie's sensitive exploration of often-uncharted ornithological ground.
This beautiful book is as much an art book as it is a natural history, something readers have come to expect from Julie Zickefoose. More than 400 watercolor paintings show the breathtakingly swift development of seventeen different species of wild birds. Sixteen of those species nest on Julie's wildlife sanctuary, so she knows the birds intimately, and writes about them with authority. To create the bulk of this extraordinary work, Julie would borrow a wild nestling, draw it, then return it to its nest every day until it fledged. Some were orphans she raised by hand, giving the ultimate insider's glimpse into their lives. In sparkling prose, Julie shares a lifetime of insight about bird breeding biology, growth, and cognition.
As an artist and wildlife rehabilitator, Julie possesses a unique skill set that includes sketching and painting rapidly from life as well as handling delicate hatchlings. She is uniquely positioned to create such an opus, and in fact, nothing like it has ever been attempted. Julie has many fans, and she will gain many more with this unparalleled work.
Synopsis
A frequent commentator on NPR's All Things Considered, Julie Zickefoose has painted nature virtually all her life. At the age of seven she knew that she wanted to paint birds for a living, and her lifelong dedication shows in her paintings, which are meticulously accurate as well as beautiful. The paintings used here, of scenes from her beloved home in southern Ohio, illuminate well-crafted essays based on her daily walks and observations. Wild turkeys, coyotes, box turtles, and a bird-eating bullfrog flap, lope, and leap through her prose. She excels at describing and exploring interactions between people and animals, bringing her subjects to life in just a few lines. Her husband and young children make appearances, presenting their own challenges and pleasures. The essays are arranged by season, starting with winter, providing a sense of movement through the year.
Synopsis
Gorgeous watercolor paintings show the rarely seen day-by-day development of seventeen species of North American songbird nestlings, from hatching day to full-feathered fledging
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About the Author
JULIE ZICKEFOOSE began illustrating natural history subjects as a college freshman in 1976.andnbsp;Since then, her writing has been featured in Bird Watcherand#39;s Digest, on NPRand#39;s All Things Considered,andnbsp;and in her book of illustrated essays Lettersandnbsp;from Eden. She lives in Ohio.
Sy Montgomery is an author,andnbsp;naturalist, newspaper columnist,andnbsp;scriptwriter, and radio commentator who writes award-winning books for children as well as adults. She lives in Hancock, New Hampshire.andnbsp;Visit her website at symontgomery.com. andnbsp;andnbsp;andnbsp;andnbsp; Syandnbsp;Montgomery and photographer Nic Bishop won theandnbsp;Sibert Medal in 2011andnbsp;for their collaborative work on Kakapo Rescue:andnbsp;Saving the World's Strangest Parrot,andnbsp;another Scientist in the Field title.andnbsp;andnbsp;
Table of Contents
Foreword x Preface xiv
Winter January Thaw 3 Adaptation 8 Grosbeaks: A Remembrance 14 A Winterand#8217;s Tale 21 Calling Kali 26 The Cursed Tangle 32 The Generous Robin 37
Spring Off-seasons 45 Phoebe Magic 51 Mowing the Meadow 57 Six Gifts of April 63 The Planting Bird 68 A Bad Day for Starlings 76 Atoning to Box Turtles 85 Baffling Phoebes 97 Dancing with Tree Swallows 102 Big Nature 108
Summer Paradise Lost 119 Once Bitten 131 Stopping to Help 136 Summer Pleasures 144 Going on Vacation 150 Wren Wranch 156
Fall Chicken Fever 165 The Turning of the Year 171 The Vultures Knew 178 Letting It Go 185 Avian Intelligence 192 Birding with Bambinos 200 The Healing Walk 206 Catching Paul 212