Description
Book Synopsis
How and why do birds build? The book shows how birds make nests, bowers for male display and tools. Written for those interested in animal behaviour, and behavioural ecology, it will also be absorbing for architects and engineers interested in structures in the natural world.
Trade Review
'A stimulating read for scientists and birdwatchers alike.' Charles Deeming, BBC Wildlife
'Mike Hansell's well-written book … provides an excellent overview … bird nests are beautiful and serve their purpose well. the same can also be said of this book.' Tore Slagsvold, Nature
'… a scholarly written review on a marvellous subject. It is beautifully illustrated and makes fascinating reading. I recommend it to all students, researchers and amateur ornithologists interested in avian ecology and behaviour.' Tamás Székely, Trends in Ecology and Evolution
'… a valuable book that will be of particular interest to ornithologists and would serve as a useful supplement in ornithology courses.' Charles R. Brown, Animal Behaviour
' … an interesting read and should have a broad appeal to all ornithologists.' Ibis
'Hansell's book contains loads of information that will be both helpful to the scientist and interesting to the enthusiast. … is thorough, engaging, and fun to read. Hansell's book will be enjoyed by students of ornithology, animal behavior, ecology, and evolutionary biology. It will become a valuable part of the collections of university libraries, professional ornithologists, and those generally enthusiastic about all things avian.' Rebecca Jo Safran, Cornell University
Table of Contents
1. Animal builders and the importance of bird nests; 2. The clutch-nest relationship; 3. Standardising the nest description; 4. Construction; 5. The structure; 6. The cost of nest building; 7. The selection of a nest site; 8. Bowers, building quality and mate assessment; 9. The evolution of nest building; Bibliography; Index.
