Birds at Rest is the first book to give a full picture of how birds rest, roost, and sleep, a vital part of their lives. It features new science that can measure what is happening in a bird’s brain over the course of a night or when it has flown to another hemisphere, as well as still-valuable observations by legendary naturalists such as John James Audubon, Alfred Russel Wallace, and Theodore Roosevelt. Much of what they saw and what ornithologists are studying today can be observed and enjoyed by any birder.
From the poles to the tropics, how, when, and where birds sleep reflect the ecology and behavior of each species, as well as their evolution from dinosaur ancestors. Some sleep briefly, their brain half awake, others spend long cold nights in torpor, and a few can sleep while flying. Their roosting habits are also varied. Most birds sleep alone, some in pairs or families, while others in flocks of millions. Birds at Rest explains how each strategy works over the course of a season, a year, or a lifetime by providing protection, mating opportunities, information about food, and other survival benefits.
With evocative drawings by artist and illustrator Margaret La Farge, Birds at Rest discusses how environmental challenges such as artificial lights and noise, invasive species, and climate change are disrupting avian sleep and proposes solutions to ensure that birds get the rest they need.
Roger F. Pasquier, a lifelong birder, has had a career with BirdLife International, the World Wildlife Fund, the Environmental Defense Fund, and the National Audubon Society. He is currently an associate in the Department of Ornithology at the American Museum of Natural History. His books include Birds in Winter: Surviving the Most Challenging Season (Princeton).
“Pasquier brings exhaustive new research to his already comprehensive understanding of birds and their biology to paint a detailed picture of avian resting habits. And if you want to learn even more, it’s a breeze to go to the primary sources he cites because he’s given us a road map of the scientific literature! For years, I’ve benefitted from Roger sharing his knowledge in person. Now everybody can benefit from that knowledge, too.”—Christian Cooper, Emmy Award–winning host of Extraordinary Birder and New York Times bestselling author of Better Living through Birding
“For those interested in the full life histories of birds, here’s a delightfully written book that spotlights some of the little-known aspects of bird life: sleeping, roosting, and rest. And what fascinating aspects these are! Roger Pasquier does a splendid job of leading a reader through these often complex but essential behaviors, honing our appreciation of evolution’s varied ways of guaranteeing birds their rest.”—Alan Poole, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, editor of The Birds of North America: Life Histories for the 21st Century
“It is hard to overstate what a striking work of scholarship Roger Pasquier has assembled in Birds at Rest. There is not a single aspect of avian sleep, from roosting and social interaction to predation and the impact of people, that he doesn’t explore in rich and fascinating depth.”—Scott Weidensaul, author of A World on the Wing
“Roger Pasquier’s latest fascinating book reminds us that we are still just scraping the surface of our understanding of how birds live. As a lifelong birder, I admit to having still had a scant understanding about what birds do from dusk to dawn. Not only is this an absorbing topic, but birders might just find out something that helps them track down that rare bird a bit more easily. Highly recommended.”—Michael J. Parr, president of the American Bird Conservancy
