Bird Egg Feather Nest [Hardcover]

Maryjo Koch (Author), by Maryjo Koch (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1994

Bird watchers, naturalists, and art lovers alike will marvel at the exquisite watercolors and accurate information contained in this fascinating book--back in print after nearly a year. Drawing from her own field observations as well as from literature, scientific writings and mythology, Koch covers such topics as migration, courtship patterns, and evolutionary adaptations. 100 illustrations.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

The cover art hardly does justice to the wonders that lie in store for you within the pages of this glorious tribute to our feathered friends. Maryjo Koch's informative, hand-lettered text is drawn from her own observations in the field, as well as literature, science, and mythology. It includes quotes from notable figures such as Edgar Allan Poe, Miguel de Cervantes, and Henry David Thoreau: "How can you expect the birds to sing when their groves are cut down?" Discover fascinating tidbits, such as how the tailorbird actually stitches its nest together using its beak as a needle, tying knots as it goes along. Though it's not an encyclopedic A-Z edition, you'll find information about the tiniest bee hummingbird, laying eggs in her thimble-sized nest, as well as the eight-foot-tall ostrich laying grapefruit-sized eggs weighing almost three and a half pounds.

More remarkable than the text, however, is the incredible variety of images included in one single book. The hand lettering takes the form of an egg or the flowing pattern of a bird in flight, or simply creates a design on its own. Koch's images include fairly straightforward naturalist paintings along with more imaginative ones, such as the charming illustration of a menu from the Blue Bird Inn, with selections including the common earthworm, poison oak berries, and hundred-legged centipedes. This is definitely a book well suited to bird lovers and art lovers of all ages. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From the Publisher

With her enchanting watercolor images and hand-lettered prose, artist and author Maryjo Koch explores, with both authority and humor, everything in the world of birds.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 144 pages
• Publisher: Collins Pub San Francisco; First edition. edition (April 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0002554569
• ISBN-13: 978-0002554565
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 9.9 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,059,588 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Maryjo Koch is a natural. The naturalist painter has authored and illustrated over a dozen books, and her paintings and prints are sold in galleries and gift shops nationwide. Her artwork has even been featured on fine houseware products and on a variety of stationery lines. Maryjo's natural habitat and home is in Santa Cruz, California.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Snipets of bird information beautifully illustrated in detai, November 18, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Bird Egg Feather Nest (Maryjo Koch Series) (Hardcover)

This book draws the reader and non-reader (18 months to old avid birders) into its pages with beautiful, detailed illustrations of birds, their nests, thier young, the vast diffeences of eggs, etc. The snipets of information range from dietary:

"Birds and humans have similar nutritional requirments ... yet differ vastly in what each finds appetizing"

to nest planning and building.

Readers can pick up the book hundreds of times, start anywhere, middle or end; and immerse themselves in bird lore, migration insight, famous quotations and familiar and exotic detailed illustrations of birds, their nests, their environment, their eggs, EVERYTHING! I recommend this book for children and even experienced birders.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Breathtaking Nature Illustration, November 30, 1999

By 

Stephanie Loftus (Carmel , CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bird Egg Feather Nest (Maryjo Koch Series) (Hardcover)

From the moment I picked up this book I was in awe. Ms. Koch's illustrations are absolutely incredible and should be appreciated by anyone who has ever been in the great out doors.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars lovely book, June 21, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Bird Egg Feather Nest (Maryjo Koch Series) (Hardcover)

Why would they discontinue this title? It is an excellent reference for artists and needle workers, and full of interesting information (particularly if you have little ones full of questions!).