Point Reyes National Seashore Association is happy to partner with award-winning San Francisco-based photographer Sharon Beals to offer an exclusive package geared towards art and bird lovers alike.

Sharon is the author and photographer of Nests: Fifty Nests and the Birds that Built Them, a unique collection of photographs and prose on bird’s nests that offers astonishing insight into the intricate detail wrought by nature's most fastidious architects from around the world. Sharon's lovely images of nests and eggs are set against rich black backgrounds, and are accompanied by fascinating and informative portraits—conveyed through words and illustrations—of the birds that built them. The nest and egg specimens, collected over the last two centuries, were photographed at The California Academy of Sciences, The Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, and The Western Foundation of Vertebrate Zoology. While few nests are collected today, these nests and eggs are used for research, providing important information about their builder’s habitats, DNA, diseases and other survival issues.

“Bird nests, even without knowing which birds constructed them, seem hardly possible. Creations of spider’s web, caterpillar cocoon, plant down, mud, found modern objects, human and animal hair, mosses, lichen, feathers and down, sticks and twigs – all are woven with beak and claw into a bird's best effort to protect their next generation. But survival for so many birds is tenuous in a modern world where habitat loss is as common as the next housing development, and even subtle changes in climate can affect food supply. It is my hope that capturing the detailed art form of the nests in these photographs will gain appreciation for their builders, and inspire their protection.” ~ Sharon Beals

The winning bidder of this exclusive package will receive a set of three signed 12” x 12” high-resolution digital prints and a copy of Sharon’s book. The lucky winner will handpick their three favorite nests for print. Hang them in your living room, study, library or other special nook.

This package is the perfect gift for any birder, nature lover, art collector, or anyone captivated by the fleeting and fascinating splendor of the natural world. Build your nest and bid today!