SKIMMERS

The life cycle of a fish-eating bird that frequents shores from New York to Mexico. A brief but informative text accompanies splendid full-color photos capturing the distinctive skimmer (black upper feathers, white chest, enormous black-and-orange bill) soaring in a mating dance, scraping a nest, brooding eggs, ""skimming"" for fish, feeding the downy chicks, and teaching them to fly. Guravich also focuses on a flock nesting in the parking lot of a Texas chemical plant, prompting an unusual sign: ""Notice: Baby skimmers have the right of way."" An appealing nature book, beautifully presented.