Feathers of Aotearoa An Illustrated Journal

About this book

As a nature artist, Niels Meyer-Westfeld has drawn horns, hooves, skin, scales, and fur, but nothing is as versatile as feathers. In this book, he explores the feathers of Aotearoa’s native birds, from the long wing feathers of an albatross that enable it to soar endlessly over the oceans, to the tiny, insulating feathers of a penguin.

Feathers are one of nature’s most remarkable evolutionary developments, an ingenious solution to the countless environmental challenges that birds face. In this book, the author showcases examples of feathers from New Zealand birds, including those used for various styles of flight, those adapted for diving and swimming, and others designed for insulation, light absorption or reflection, hearing, sound production, social displays, camouflage, and deception.

This exquisitely illustrated book, which combines artwork with compelling insights, will reveal a largely unknown aspect of the avian world and will appeal to anyone with an interest in our unique bird life.

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Biography

Niels Meyer-Westfeld initially studied in Germany and earned a Master’s Degree in Communication Design from Central St Martins in London. Prior to moving to New Zealand, he co-founded his own business, Unit4 Design, in the UK. In 2002, Niels emigrated to New Zealand, where he worked as a graphic designer before joining his wife’s fashion business, overseeing marketing, web development, and graphic design. He now works full-time as an artist from his home studio in Wellington. Niels has always had a passion for nature and illustration, and his fascination with New Zealand’s unique natural history led him to produce his lauded first book, Land of Birds, and now his second book, Feathers of Aotearoa. He lives with his wife and two sons in Wellington.