Secrets of the Nest

The marbled murrelet, a seabird, nests on the massive, mossy upper limbs of trees in old-growth forests on the West Coast, a discovery made only in 1973. Other bird species nest on the ground, in burrows and cavities; they build platforms, cups and pendulous nests. Dunning ( The Loon: Voice of the Wilderness ) examines nests, from the eagle's huge platform to the hummingbird's thimble-sized cup. We see Harris's hawks, which nest in the saguaro cactus, displaying remarkable cooperation in hunting, kingfishers feeding their young in the dark of a four-foot tunnel, a cowbird waiting to lay her egg in a vireo's nest. Dunning describes nest-building, care of the young, defensive measures by parent birds and growth of the chicks until they leave the nest. This study will appeal equally to the novice and the seasoned birder. Illustrations. (Apr.)