Where Song Began: Australia's Birds and How They Changed the World by Tim Low

$22.99 AUD

Category: Animals

Renowned for its unusual mammals, Australia is a land of birds that are just as unusual, just as striking, a result of the continent's tens of millions of years of isolation. Compared with birds elsewhere, ours are more likely to be intelligent, aggressive and loud, to live in complex societies, and are long-lived. They're also ecologically more powerful, exerting more influences on forests than other birds. But unlike the mammals, the birds did not keep to Australia; they spread around the globe. Australia provided the world with its songbirds and parrots, the most intelligent of all bird groups. It was thought in Darwin's time that species generated in the Southern Hemisphere could not succeed in the Northern, an idea that was proven wrong in respect of birds in the 1980s but not properly accepted by the world's scientists until 2004 - because, says Tim Low, most ornithologists live in the Northern Hemisphere. As a result, few Australians are aware of the ramifications, something which prompted the writing of this book. Tim Low has a rare gift for illuminating complex ideas in highly readable prose, and making of the whole a dynamic story. Here he brilliantly explains how our birds came to be so extraordinary, including the large role played by the foods they consume (birds, too, are what they eat), and by our climate, soil, fire, and Australia's legacy as a part of Gondwana. The story of its birds, it turns out, is inseparable from the story of Australia itself, and one that continues to unfold, so much having changed in the last decade about what we know of our ancient past. Where Song Beganalso shines a light on New Guinea as a biological region of Australia, as much a part of the continent as Tasmania. This is a work that goes far beyond the birds themselves to explore the relationships between Australia's birds and its people, and the ways in which scientific prejudice have hindered our understanding. ...Show more

The Australian Bird Guide (Revised ed.) by Peter Menkhorst; Danny Rogers; Rohan Clarke; Jeff Davies (Illustrator); Peter Marsack (Illustrator); Kim Franklin (Illustrator)

$49.99 AUD

Category: Animals | Series: CSIRO

A new in-depth field guide to Australian birds The Australian avifauna is large, diverse, and spectacular, reflecting the continent's impressive habitats and evolutionary history. Looking at more than 900 species, The Australian Bird Guide is the most comprehensive field guide on Australian birds avail able, and contains by far the best coverage of southern seabirds. With 249 color plates containing 4,000 stunning images, this book offers a far more in-depth treatment of subspecies, rarities, and overall plumage variation than comparative guides. The artwork meets the highest standards, and the text is rigorously accurate and current in terms of identification details, distribution, and status. The Australian Bird Guide sets a new bar for coverage of Australia's remarkable avifauna and is indispensable to all birders and naturalists interested in this area of the world, including the southern oceans. Brand-new guide with an attractive look and design 249 color plates containing 4,000 superb images by some of the most talented illustrators working in Australia today Every bird species in Australia is covered (more than 900), including subspecies and rarities Up-to-date maps reflect the latest information on distribution Accurate and detailed text ...Show more

Budgerigar: How a Brave, Chatty and Colourful Little Aussie Bird Stole the World's Heart by Sarah Harris; Don Baker

$29.99 AUD

Category: Animals

A curiosity of everything you ever wanted to know (or realised you never knew) about budgies. Beautiful and cheeky, delightful and enchanting, wild or tamed budgerigars are Australia's gift to the bird world.They sing and dance, and yawn as contagiously as humans. They are masters of mimicry. They grasp simple grammar, can count to six and have memories that belie their size. They've been coveted by royals and been companions to the great and famous as well as grannies in suburban kitchens around the world. They've been painted by masters, rendered in the finest porcelain and graced fashionable hats and earrings of the highest order. Their image has been used to sell whisky, stamps and laundry detergent and everything in between.Surprising, charming and occasionally alarming, Budgerigar is the book that at last opens the cage door on the incredible story of the little bird that grew. ...Show more

Penguin Bloom: The Odd Little Bird Who Saved a Family by Bradley Trevor Greive; Cameron Bloom

$32.99 AUD

Category: Animals

PENGUIN BLOOM is a unique journey of recovery and an extraordinary celebration of life, featuring Cameron Bloom's exceptional photographs and a captivating narrative by NEW YORK TIMES bestselling author Bradley Trevor Greive. Penguin the Magpie is a global social media sensation with over 113k followers on Instagram. People the world over have fallen in love with the stunning and deeply personal images of this rescued bird and her human family. But there is far more to Penguin's story than meets the eye. This is a true story of hope and courage. It begins with a shocking accident, in which Cameron's wife, Sam, suffers a near fatal fall that leaves her paralysed and deeply depressed. Into their lives comes Penguin, an injured magpie chick abandoned after she fell from her nest. Penguin's rescue and the incredible joy and strength she gives Sam and all those who helped her survive demonstrates that, however bleak things seem, compassion, friendship and support can come from unexpected quarters, ensuring there are always better days ahead. This plucky little magpie reminds us all that, no matter how lost, fragile or damaged we feel, accepting the love of others and loving them in return will help to make us whole.   ...Show more

Unleashed by Amanda Jones

$19.99 AUD

$34.99 (42% off)

Category: Animals

Dogs are in their natural element when they are playing outdoors. Pet photographer Amanda Jones captures this unbridled joy perfectly in her latest collection of photographs. Set against the backdrop of four distinct seasons—each with its own color palette and lush backdrops—these dogs are clearly havin g their favorite days in their favorite places. This handsome book showcases the energy and character of a diverse group of dogs as they run, jump, and play outdoors all year long. ...Show more

Extraordinary Insects: Weird. Wonderful. Indispensable. The Ones Who Run Our World by Anne Sverdrup-Thygeson

$14.99 AUD

$32.99 (54% off)

Category: Animals

A journey into the weird, wonderful and truly astonishing lives of the small but mighty creatures who keep the world turning. Out of sight, underfoot, unseen beyond fleeting scuttles or darting flights, insects occupy a hidden world, yet are essential to sustaining life on earth. Insects influence our e cosystem like a ripple effect on water. They arrived when life first moved to dry land, they preceded – and survived – the dinosaurs, they outnumber the grains of sand on all the world's beaches, and they will be here long after us. Working quietly but tirelessly, they give us food, uphold our ecosystems, can heal our wounds and even digest plastic. They could also provide us with new solutions to the antibiotics crisis, assist in disaster zones and inspire airforce engineers with their flying techniques. But their private lives are also full of fun, intrigue and wonder –musical mating rituals; house-hunting for armies of beetle babies; metamorphosing into new characters; throwing parties in fermenting sap; cultivating fungi for food; farming smaller species for honey dew and always ensuring that what is dead is decomposed, ready to become life once again. Here, we will discover life and death, drama and dreams, all on a millimetric scale. Like it or not, Earth is the planet of insects, and this is their extraordinary story. ...Show more

Sharks Never Sleep: First-Hand Encounters with Killers of the Sea by Brendan McAloon

$9.99 AUD

$29.99 (66% off)

Category: Animals

Sharks Never Sleep explores dramatic accounts of first-hand encounters with the most feared creature in the ocean. At Shelly Beach near Ballina, Japanese surfer Tadashi Nakahari is attacked and killed by a great white shark, turning the country's favourite playground into a kingdom of fear. At Jeffreys Bay in South Africa, world champion surfer Mick Fanning fights off a great white shark during the final of one of the world?s biggest professional surfing competitions, broadcast live into living rooms around the planet and turning Fanning into a global celebrity overnight. At Trois Bassins on Reunion Island, 22-year-old French born British citizen Talon Bishop is killed by a tiger shark while swimming in waist-deep water with her boyfriend on Valentine's Day, sparking the small island's "la crise requin" (the shark crisis). At Surf Beach in Santa Barbara, California, 39-year-old father of two, Francisco "Paquito" Solorio Jr, is killed by a great white shark two years and one day after 19-year-old student Lucas Ransom was killed at the very same location, connecting two families in devastating loss. At Jaws on the Hawaiian island of Maui, the Everest of big-wave surfing, shark attack survivor Bethany Hamilton is towed into monstrous, death-defying waves -- having lost her arm to a tiger shark as a 13-year-old junior surfing champion, Bethany has returned to compete at the highest level, written an autobiography, appeared on numerous US television shows (from Oprah and Ellen to The Amazing Race), been the subject of a feature film and, most recently, gave birth to a son. Hear of primal fear of being eaten alive by a wild animal, the unimaginable grief of losing a loved one, and the extraordinary survival and inspiring journey back into the ocean by shark attack victims. Meet a cast of crazy characters and explore our complex relationship with sharks in this gripping collection of true tales by award-winning journalist and filmmaker Brendan McAloon. ...Show more

Wet Dog by Sophie Gamand

$19.99 AUD

Category: Animals

An adorable and hilarious collection of dog photographs. Every dog owner knows too well the fun and misery of bath time: the wriggles, the poignant looks, the playful splashes. WET DOG, by photographer Sophie Gamand, is a stunning and touching capture of this intimate moment. Elevating dog photography t o the status of art, these expressive portraits of our canine friends mirror our very own human emotions.  ...Show more

Naturalists' Guide Birds of Australia by Ingwersen Dean

$24.99 AUD

Category: Animals | Series: Naturalist's Guide

Emperors of the Deep by William McKeever

$9.99 AUD

$32.99 (69% off)

Category: Animals

Sharks are ruthlessly efficient predators, the apex of 450 million years of evolution. They are older than trees, have survived five extinction events and are essential to maintaining balanced ocean ecosystems, but how much do we really know about their lives? The first book to reveal the hidden world of sharks, Emperors of the Deep draws upon the latest scientific research to examine four species in detail - mako, tiger, hammerhead and great white - as never before. An eye-opening tour of shark habitats ranges from the coral reefs of the Central Pacific where great whites mysteriously congregate every autumn in what researchers call a festival for sharks, to tropical mangrove forests where baby lemon sharks play in social groups and to the frigid waters of the North Atlantic, home to 400-year-old Greenland sharks, the world's longest-lived vertebrates. McKeever also traces the evolution of the myth of the 'man-eater' and exposes the devastating effects of the fishing industry on shark populations: In 2018 only four people died in shark attacks while we killed 100 million sharks. At once a journey through the misunderstood world of sharks and an urgent call to protect them, Emperors of the Deep celebrates these iconic predators that continue to capture our imagination - and that desperately need our help to survive. devastating effects of the fishing industry on shark populations: In 2018 only four people died in shark attacks while we killed 100 million sharks. At once a journey through the misunderstood world of sharks and an urgent call to protect them, Emperors of the Deep celebrates these iconic predators that continue to capture our imagination - and that desperately need our help to survive. ...Show more

The Complete Guide to Australian Birds by George Adams

$45.00 AUD

Category: Animals

This book is the most up-to-date guide to Australian birds available. Written in everyday language, with crisp, brilliant digital images taken in the wild, this authoritative guide includes- - The first entry and photograph of the previously believed extinct Night Parrot - The recently recognised as a f ull specie Lesser Sooty Owl - The Thick-billed Grasswren - All seven species of Quail-thrush - The Paperbark Flycatcher - Rare photographs of the male Superb Lyrebird in courtship display - The Bustard in courtship plumage - The male Magnificent Riflebird in its courtship dance - The first photograph of a nesting colony of Australian Swiftlets taken in a deep, dark cave in tropical Queensland . . . and much more. Beyond a field guide, this book is divided into 27 chapters, with each chapter opening with fascinating background information. The easily accessible information on each bird includes- common and scientific names, size, description, behaviour, preferred habitat, feeding habits, voice, status and breeding. Distribution maps are arranged next to the photographic illustrations of the bird. A binocular icon indicates 'hot spots' to find particular birds. All wild birds that have been regularly recorded on the Australian mainland, Tasmania and offshore continental islands and oceans, including sub-species where the differences are recognisable in the field, have been included and photographed. Features over 1400 photographs by some of Australia's best wildlife photographers, including Colin Cock, Michael Schmid, Eric Sohn Joo Tan, Duade Patton, John Anderson, Alwyn Simple, Peter Jacobs, Andrew Bell, Tony Ashton, Nolan Caldwell, Chris Wiley, Maureen Goninan, Marlene Lyelle and George Adams to name but a few. This book will be enjoyed by beginners and seasoned 'birdos' alike. ...Show more

Animals Make Us Human by Leah Kaminsky; Meg Keneally

$29.99 AUD

Category: Animals

A response to the devastating 2019-20 bushfires, Animals Make Us Human both celebrates Australia's unique wildlife and highlights its vulnerability. Through words and images, writers, photographers and researchers reflect on their connection with animals and nature. They share moments of wonder and reve lation from encounters in the natural world- seeing a wild platypus at play, an echidna dawdling across a bush track, or the inexplicable leap of a thresher shark; watching bats take flight at dusk, or birds making a home in the backyard; or following possums, gliders and owls into the dark. Hopeful, uplifting and deeply moving, this collection is also an urgent call to action, a powerful reminder that we only have one world in which to coexist and thrive with our fellow creatures. By highlighting the beauty and fragility of our unique fauna, Australia's favourite writers, renowned researchers and acclaimed photographers encourage readers to consider it in a new light. Featuring- Barbara Allen, Robbie Arnott, Tony Birch, James Bradley, Mark Brandi, Geraldine Brooks, Anne Buist, Melanie Cheng, Claire G. Coleman, Ceridwen Dovey, Chris Flynn, Nayuka Gorrie, Dan Harley, Ashley Hay, Toni Jordan, Leah Kaminsky, Paul Kelly, Meg Keneally, Tom Keneally, Cate Kennedy, David Lindenmayer, Ella Loeffler, Maia Loeffler, Jen Martin, Angela Meyer, Sonia Orchard, Favel Parrett, Marissa Parrott, Bruce Pascoe, Jack Pascoe, Sue Pillans, Nick Porch, Holly Ringland, Euan Ritchie, Antoinette Roe, Kirli Saunders, Graeme Simsion, Tracy Sorensen, Shaun Tan, Lucy Treloar, Karen Viggers, Emma Viskic, John Woinarski, Clare Wright. And photographers- Tim Bawden, Kristian Bell, Rohan Bilney, Justin Bruhn, Andrew Buckle, Matt Clancy, Amy Coetsee, Craig Coverdale, Angus Emmott, Terry Houston, Jayne Jenkins, Vivien Jones, Sue Liu, Michael Livingston, Caleb McElrea, Nick Monaghan, Richard Pillans, Gillian Rayment, Linda Rogan, David Maurice Smith, Steve Smith, Colin Southwell, Georgina Steytler, Wayne Suffield, Heather Sutton, Peter Taylor, William Terry, Patrick Tomkins, Belinda Wilson, Matt Wright. ...Show more