Finding Australian Birds is a guide to the special birds found across Australia's vastly varied landscapes. From the eastern rainforests to central deserts, Australia is home to some 900 species of birds. Finding Australian Birds covers over 400 Australian bird watching sites conveniently grouped into the best birding areas, from one end of the country to the other. This includes areas such as Kakadu in the Top End and rocky gorges in the central deserts of the Northern Territory, the Great Barrier Reef in Queensland, rainforests distributed along the eastern Australian seaboard, some of the world's tallest forests in Tasmania, the Flinders Ranges and deserts along the iconic Strzelecki and Birdsville Tracks in South Australia, and the Mallee temperate woodlands and spectacular coastlines in both Victoria and south west Western Australia.
Each chapter begins with a brief description of the location, followed by a section on where to find the birds, which describes specific birdwatching sites within the location's boundaries, and information on accommodation and facilities. Finding Australian Birds also provides a comprehensive 'Bird Finding Guide', listing all of Australia's birds with details on their abundance and where exactly to see them.
Of value to both Australian birdwatchers and international visitors, Finding Australian Birds will assist novices, birders of intermediate skill and keen 'twitchers' to find any Australian species.
Foreword
Introduction
Acknowledgements
NORTHERN TERRITORY
The Top End
The Red Centre
QUEENSLAND
The Cape York Peninsula
North Queensland
Queensland’s Gulf Country and Outback
South-East Queensland
NEW SOUTH WALES
Sydney, Central Coast, and NSW South Coast
The Hunter Valley and NSW North Coast
Western Slopes, Central Tableland, and Western Plains
VICTORIA
Northern Victoria and the Mallee
Southern Victoria
TASMANIA
SOUTH AUSTRALIA
Adelaide and the South East
The Arid Lands
WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Southern Western Australia
Northern Western Australia and the Kimberley
OFFSHORE TERRITORIES and ISLANDS
Birds of Australia: Annotated Bird List
Further reading, Web Resources, Addresses
Tim Dolby is a well-known Australian birdwatcher and former Convener of Birdlife Australia in Victoria. He was the principle editor of Where to See Birds in Victoria, and previously organised the celebrated birdwatching event, the Twitchathon. He currently moderates Birdline Australia and Birdline Victoria.
Rohan Clarke is an ecologist at Monash University with expertise in conservation biology and avian ecology. He is also a prominent member of the Australian birdwatching community, having been involved in the discovery of over 15 species not previously recorded in Australia. He is a longstanding member of the BirdLife Australia Rarities Committee and sits on the editorial board for the journal Australian Field Ornithology.
"[...] Australia being a safe country with a great deal of space, the number of potential birding locations is almost limitless. This book tries to draw the fine line between providing detailed information about specific locations, and trying to capture a wide range of different sites. I think it makes a relatively good job of this, but it does mean that some additional research will be required for visitors to many areas. [...] The book is nicely illustrated with photographs throughout. To me, this is an important feature. [...] The only gripe I have with this book is the maps, which let the book down in two ways. First, the maps are small and not very accurate. [...] However, I must make it clear that this only detracts slightly from what is a very useful reference, and one that will stand the test of time."
– Damien Farine, Ibis 157(2), April 2015