| Written by Lim Kim Seng, Yong Ding Li & Lim Kim Chuah & Illustrated by Dana Gardner| John Beaufoy Publishing | 2020 | Paperback | 396 Pages | 170 Colour Plates | ISBN: 9781912081738
The Publisher’s View:
A fully comprehensive field guide to the 829-bird species of Malaysia (including Sabah and Sarawak) and Singapore. The species are clearly illustrated in over 170 plates, with many variants. The main identifying features of each species are described and key facts cover size, voice, range and status, habitat, specific country and breeding. The book also includes information on taxonomy and nomenclature, observing birds, climate, habitats, the breeding cycle, migration and conservation as well as a section on key birdwatching sites with maps.
The Authors:
Lim Kim Seng has more than 40 years’ experience of birdwatching across Southeast Asia. He is a professional bird guide and has authored more than 10 books on birds.
Yong Ding Li completed his doctorate in biodiversity conservation at the Australian National University. He currently coordinates BirdLife International’s work on migratory bird conservation in Asia, and is associate editor of Forktail: Journal of Asian Ornithology. He has worked extensively in Asia and written over 50 peer-reviewed papers.
Lim Kim Chuah is a committee member of the Nature Society (Singapore)’s bird group and one of the most experienced birdwatchers in Singapore.
Dana Gardner has illustrated over 24 books on birds and natural history. He has spent 10 years
Fatbirder View:
This fieldguide is set to join those few that are loved, admired and highly rated amongst world birders along with bird guides to Europe, North America and Australia.
The illustrations are ‘soft’ in the way that birds are yet show every detail needed for assured identification – exactly what you need in a field guide.
I am not the least surprised at the crisp species accounts and general text. Having birded on a number of times with brothers Lim Kim Seng and Lim Kim Chuah I know them to be immensely experienced and knowledgable. They are not just tremendous guides but really good company, birder’s birders if you will. Without hearing the call, I recall both brothers confidently identifying a tiny spiderhunter over 100 yards away with the naked eye! Of course, it’s one thing to find the birds (they guide and take part in bird races), another to identify them and yet another to get their clients on to the birds. Sharing that knowledge is a different skill and this book is testament to those abilities.
I know this book has been many years in the making, so it is considered, deeply researched and as broad in its scope as it is deep in its insight.
It gets my highest recommendation.
Fatbirder