Artist, writer, naturalist, and wildlife rehabilitator Julie Zickefoose’s incredible avian encounters might border on magical were they not meticulously recorded in her sketchbook with a scientist’s attention to detail. A lifetime of observing and caring for wild birds has given Zickefoose much more than scientific insight into their behaviors; years later, her curiosity and wonder, even for the most familiar species, remain unceasing and infectious. She has welcomed birds as members of the family, often into her home, detailing the reciprocal “getting-to-know-you” process and the unique connections she has forged with each individual. The Bluebird Effect (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, $28) is glowingly illustrated with watercolor paintings and captivating pencil sketches from the field; each chapter is devoted to a separate species, from the much-maligned European starling to the feisty ruby-throated hummingbird.