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 REV 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

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

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 Koala: A Nation's Icon by Karin Cox

$4.99 AUD

$34.99 (85% off)

Category: Animals

The Koala: A Nation's Icon celebrates this furred eucalypt dweller with the teddy-bear-like appearance that captures the affections of tourists and locals alike. This book will inspire readers to look out for, love and cherish our native Australian Koala. Along with them, we too, share a common, fragile existence on this abundant planet. Perhaps Koalas remind us of our own fragility, stirring our conscience and human spirit to further protect and conserve our precious, natural environment before it is too late. ...Show more

Esther the Wonder Pig by Steve Jenkins

$9.99 AUD

$19.99 (50% off)

Category: Animals

In the bestselling tradition of Marley and Me, a funny, heartwarming and inspiring true story about how one little pig changed her owners' lives forever. When an old friend contacted Steve Jenkins out of the blue and begged him to take in a 'micro' piglet, he couldn't say no. Though he knew his partner wouldn't be thrilled about him taking in yet another stray, the idea of having a cute little pig to care for was simply irresistible. Little did he know, that decision would turn his and Derek's lives upside down. It turned out that as adorable as she was, there was nothing 'micro' about Esther, and as she grew and grew, Steve and Derek realised that they had actually signed on to raise a full-sized commercial pig. Within three years, dainty little Esther grew to a whopping 600 pounds (270 kilograms). After a rollercoaster ride of growing pains and a lot of pig-sized dramas, it became clear that Esther needed more space, so Steve and Derek made another life-changing decision: they bought a farm and opened the Happily Ever Esther Farm Sanctuary, where they could care for Esther and offer refuge to other animals in need. Inspired by their adventures with their not so little pig, Steve and Derek have become two of the world's best known and most successful animal rights activists, alongside the magnificent Esther, who has hundreds of thousands of fans around the world. Best of all, Esther the Wonder Pig shows how families really do come in all shapes and sizes. ...Show more

Our World, Their World DVD

$9.95 AUD

Category: Animals

Wild Babies by Traer Scott

$19.99 AUD

$45.00 (55% off)

Category: Animals

Bestselling author and photographer Traer Scott captures the magic and wonder of a young animal's first weeks of life in this heartwarming collection of photographs. Featuring portraits of more than 30 baby animals, Wild Babies provides a glimpse into the rarely seen world of newborn creatures. From ram bunctious little kangaroos and fluffy fox cubs to a wide-eyed elephant seal pup and a tiny painted turtle, these playful images are paired with engaging text that highlights the remarkable moments in wild infants' first days as they learn to eat, walk, swim and fly. Animal lovers will delight in these close-up shots and fun trivia celebrating the unique personalities of irresistibly cute creatures navigating their way out into the world for the very first time. ...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

Dogs of the National Trust by Amy Feldman

$9.99 AUD

$19.99 (50% off)

Category: Animals

The partner to 'Cats of the National Trust', this book tell the stories of the dogs associated with NT places. From the canine companions of historical figures to the dogs that help the NT's rangers today - not to mention the turnspit dogs that kept the meat moving at Lacock - hounds of every shape and size take pride of place. Meet dogs with famous owners such as Virginia Woolf, Agatha Christie and Winston Churchill (who will always be associated with bulldogs, but in fact was a keen poodle man...).  ...Show more

Africa by Parragon

$14.99 AUD

$29.99 (50% off)

Category: Animals