Editors: Tim Dolby and Rohan Clarke
CSIRO Publishing
ISBN: 9780643097667
AUD$49.95
This excellent book by bird enthusiasts Tom Dolby and Rohan Clark is a thorough and extensive guide to the best bird watching sites in Australia. Dolby and Clarke are both prominent members of Australian bird watching communities and have contributed enormously to avian conservation in this country. Ecologist Rohan Clarke has been involved with the discovery of 15 species of birds previously unrecorded in Australia while Tom Dolby was the principal editor of ‘Where to See Birds in Victoria’ and is involved in the organization of many bird watching events.
With the assistance of many of Australia’s’ most experienced bird watchers and many years of intensive field work, Dolby and Clark introduce readers to over 400 of the best bird watching locations in Australia. A broad range of bird watching skills ranging from beginners through to those seeking to find rare and elusive birds are skillfully accommodated.
At 600 plus pages this volume is beautifully illustrated with high quality photos of birds and stunning Australian landscapes. The first chapter begins with an overview of geographical features of the Australian continent and is followed by tips for finding birds in Australia. Information for local and international visitors includes what to expect of road conditions in all parts of the country and the effects of seasonal variations on bird watching opportunities. The chapter closes with information about getting around the country such as flight schedules and car rental companies. The book is then divided into chapters – one for each state including Australia’s offshore islands and territories. Pelagic trips on offer in each state are also included. Indexes include an annotated bird list, lists of place names, common bird names and contact information for local groups and resources.
State by state chapters begin with geographical and regional overviews and are followed by suggested bird watching itineraries ranging from 3 to 10 days encompassing the best bird watching areas in each state. Detailed information on each area includes maps of national parks, wetlands, wildlife reserves and conservation parks with lists of key species likely to be found at these locations. For each location listed, information about the dominant vegetation is clearly articulated complete with flowering times of Australian eucalypts and other native trees and shrubs.
Clear and precise directions to specific bird watching sites within each park are carefully recorded with defined distances to turnoff points and landmarks. Detailed information on car parks, walking tracks, bird hide accessibility, spotlighting, and even specific stands of roadside bushes that may harbor the elusive sought after species are thoroughly explained throughout. Also thoughtfully included are attractions for non-birding companions and family members.
Dolby and Clark have done an impressive job of this book. Each chapter is attractively set out with clear to read maps, stunning photos of birds and colourful insets highlighting local birding locations. Unlike other volumes that often leave the visitor stranded in the middle of a National Park not quite knowing where to go, this book directs the reader to the exact bush, tree, dam or pathway where the bird is most likely to be found. Interspersed with visitor information and locality guides is a wealth of information about the lives and diversity of the 898 birds represented in this book.
Bird watching is more than a casual pastime for many. Committed and passionate people from all walks of life donate countless hours of their time in monitoring, research and conservation efforts as well as raising public awareness of some our Australia’s most critically endangered species. The popularity of ‘twitching’ or ‘birding’ has grown exponentially over the years with both local and international visitors travelling to sites all over the country in the hope of sighting and recording many species of Australian birdlife.
Finding Australian Birds is the perfect companion guide for bird watchers of all persuasions and used in tandem with a good field guide is a must for anyone interested in birdlife and bird watching in Australia.
Reviewed by Lynnette Saint, RMIT