Natural History > Birds

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On September 6, 2007, an African Grey parrot named Alex died prematurely at age thirty-one. For thirty years he and his owner, Irene Pepperberg, had worked together - two pioneers who opened an unprecedented window into the hidden yet vast world of animal minds. Over the years, Alex had proved many things. He could add. He could sound out words. He understood concepts like bigger, smaller, more, fewer, and none. He was capable of thought and intention. Together, Alex and Irene uncovered a startling reality: We live in a world popul... read more

Since it was first published in 1984, Simpson and Day's Field Guide to the Birds of Australia has been one of the most respected bird guides in the country. The guide contains 132 superb full-colour plates showing all Australian bird species; key points of identification using the latest classification system; distribution maps for all species; over 900 black-and-white line illustrations; breeding information; a vagrant bird bulletin; a core library list; and easy-to-use indexes. This edition has been revised and updated, including... read more

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Informative texts to accompany every bird species depicted Fran ois Nicolas Martinet's bird illustrations rank amongst the most significant of the 18th century True-to-life representations of birds with the most intricate details

A guide to nests and eggs of those birds known to breed in Australia.

A hugely engaging book about birds, their senses and behaviour that is informed by an attractive blend of personal experience, entertaining stories and cutting-edge science.

"We tend to take birds for granted, in the landscape or in our neighbourhoods. The presence of birds communicates the health of a place. When they're gone, it's as though there's a hole in the sky, in the air, an absence of beauty and grace, and vivid chatter or haunting cries are replaced with eerie silence." As an amateur naturalist and nature lover, Janine Burke, art historian and author, has spent many years observing birds. Nest: The Art of Birds is the story of her passion, a personal, wide-ranging and intimate book - part na... read more

From addled to wind egg, crossed beak to zygote, the terminology of everything chicken is demystified in "The Chicken Encyclopedia", a comprehensive A-to-Z reference volume presented in a friendly, highly illustrated format. Whether it's the difference between wry tail, split tail, and gamy tail; the meaning of hen feathered, forced molt, or quill feather; the characteristics of droopy wing; the content of granite grit; or the translation of a chicken's alarm call, here are all the answers to every chicken question and quandary, fr... read more

From large and raucous cockatoos to tiny secretive wrens, birds have always been a popular subject of poems in Australia. In Little Book of Birds, images of a dancing brolga, a lyrebird displaying its tail, a bell miner flitting through the bush, a pair of wading egrets, a flock of budgerigars and many more illustrated poems by Judith Wright, James McAuley, John Blight, Mark O'Connor, Diane Fahey and other Australian poets. The artists represented in this publication include John Hunter and George Raper, Ferdinand Bauer, John Willi... read more

Celebrate the beauty of native Australian birds in this stunning book. Perfect as a gift for all bird enthusiasts, this superbly designed and illustrated book, includes poems, extracts and interesting facts by author Margaret Geddes and is accompanied by original artwork by aided by acclaimed illustrator, Shirley Barber.

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This book celebrates the amazing bird varieties in Australia, from lyrebirds with their superb ability to mimic sounds, to strange flightless birds and dazzling parrots. Unrivalled in scope, this title will appeal to anyone with even a passing interest in Australia's birds. The introductory section explores bird anatomy and behaviour, taking an in-depth look at topics such as wing structure, flight, feeding adaptations, communication, defence, breeding strategies, migration and life-cycles. The next section presents the world's hab... read more

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Written and illustrated by bird expert, Michael Morcombe, this is the most comprehensive field guide to Australian birds published. Simple, clear design links text and paintings; unique system of organisation of information; includes breeding section; maps define variances in ranges and subspecies.

All animals are equal - but some, as George Orwell said, are more equal than others, and birds, most people would surely agree, are in the very first rank. They can do almost everything that mammals can do - and more. By mastering flight, they have a way of living that encompasses the whole world. In "The Secret Life of Birds", Colin Tudge explores the life of birds, all around the globe. From the secrets of migration to their complicated family lives, their differing habitats and survival techniques to the secrets of fli... read more

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For thousands of years people have been fascinated by birds, and today that fascination is still growing. In 2007 bird-watching is one of the most popular pastimes, not just in Britain, but throughout the world, and the range of interest runs from the specialist to the beginner. In The Wisdom of Birds, Birkhead takes the reader on a journey that not only tells us about the extraordinary lives of birds - from conception and egg, through territory and song, to migration and fully fledged breeder - but also shows how, over centuries, ... read more

The vast diversity of South-East Asian birdlife attracts increasing numbers of birdwatchers each year. This field guide to the region covers 1,300 species. Covering Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, Peninsular Malaysia, Thailand, Laos and Cambodia, it covers the identification, voice, breeding, status, habitat and distribution of the species.

Annie Potts introduces us to the surprisingly complex world of the chicken, tracing the evolution of jungle fowl and the domestication of chickens by humans. Chicken describes the ways in which chickens experience the world, form families and friendships, communicate with each other, and play, bond and grieve.