From the introduction by Kathe Koja:
       An ordinary bird feeder, an ordinary day: and the extraordinary sight of these beautiful, resilient, fragile creatures, thanks to the tenacity and patience and artistry of Rick Lieder, who gives us this series of indelible moments, life held in a moment’s caught vision, the little lives we know surround us every day.

Reviews of Aerial Acrobats . . .

“Fantastic backyard bird photos – Rick Lieder, the talented sf/f artist whose backyard nature photographs have stunned me for years, has released a new book of photos of small birds on the wing, shot in his own backyard in south Michigan. Rick doesn’t use fancy fast film or other high-tech treats — instead, he just uses patience and care to capture these remarkable images. I just got a copy from Rick and discovered a lovely bonus: a short introduction by Kathe Koja, the fantastic writer.”
— Cory Doctorow – Writer, Boing Boing blogger, activist

“These birds are living in the air as we live on the ground. They eat and preen, seduce and fight, without making that fatal Wile E. Coyote mistake of looking down and realizing that what they do is impossible.

Rick’s pictures make me think that birds don’t give a lot of thought to the empty spaces they fill. They’re too busy with life. Living between branches and fence posts and power lines, speed walking on air, taking care of business. His lens captures flight with the precision of a diamond cutter removing just enough to reveal the true stone.”
— Mark Heath – cartoonist, No Brow Cartoons

“What a stunningly beautiful book.”
— Anca Vlasopolos (Author of “The New Bedford Samurai”)

“Your work is absolutely stunning. I’ve loved birds and bird art ever since I was a child and your photos of backyard birds in flight elevate these humble avians to the lofty level of raptors or exotic parrots, which is where they belong.”
— Alexandra Highcrest

“Exquisite, fragile, yet conveying great self-possession and everyday poise, there is so much going on in so simple an image it defies categorization and asks only to be seen as its own self. Marvelous.
Thank you so much for this enchantment.”
— Pete Rogan

“I enjoy your photos of birds in flight so much. The airborne ecstasy brought about by the rhythmic push and pull of tiny wings fascinates me. Thank you once again for this bit of serendipity.”
— Karen Gallagher

“Rick Lieder doesn’t find it necessary to prowl the forests of the earth, his world is only a few steps beyond his door. This photographer has more than a great eye, he has patience. His method is to set up where he knows the action will be, then just wait. For the subject, for the light, and trickier yet – from what I see – the pose.

See his action-packed bird shots. They seem intimate to me. Action tied to intimacy sounds like an oxymoron, but maybe it’s just because we’re raised on movies and think certain genres don’t meld.”
— Fred Wickham [BullseyeRooster]

“These images capture life on the wing in a way that is unexpected and illuminating.”
— Anne Harris (Author of “Inventing Memory”)

“Of the many things I find fascinating about avians is that they are the sole extant lineage descending from true dinosaurs. This is never more apparent than in, or better enhances one’s (read: my) appreciation for, candid action shots such as this wonderful collection.”
— James Maiewski

“I really like your book! What patience you have. What an inspiration your book is.”
— Walter Denn