Paleontologist Jack Horner discovered a large nesting site of the dinosaur Maiasaura in Montana. The site contained abundant evidence of parental care, including nests with eggs and remains of young dinosaurs. The name Maiasaura means 'good mother lizard' and this discovery provided some of the first evidence of dinosaurian parental care, changing the perception of dinosaurs as reptiles that simply laid eggs and abandoned them.

The Maiasaura nesting site has provided a powerful, almost sentimental, image of dinosaur life. It has inspired poets and writers to consider the emotional and social lives of these ancient creatures, moving them beyond mere monsters of the past. This discovery has influenced how we imagine the lives of our deep ancestors, seeing them in a more complex and relatable light, a theme often found in nature poetry.