| Peter Rowland, Angus McNab & John Harris| John Beaufoy Publishing | 2021 | Paperback | 384 Pages | 500+ colour photos, 28 colour maps | ISBN: 9781913679033 | £24.99p
The Publisher’s View:
Rainforests in Australia are found in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, the Northern Territory and Western Australia. This beautifully illustrated guide explores 51 wildlife watching sites in 22 bioregions around Australia, with over 500 colour photographs and 28 maps. Sites are generally open to the public, (some may require permits). Detailed descriptions of the key vertebrate and invertebrate species that can be found in the rainforests are given, to enable easy identification and as a tool for the reader to gain a deeper understanding of their habits and biology. Concise information on each site includes location descriptions, GPS coordinates, travel options and distances, relevant fees and permits, and an overview of some of the main tracks and trails.
The Authors:
Peter Rowland is a passionate wildlife conservationist, educator, nature photographer and traveller. Peter is a Whitley Award-winning natural history writer who has authored and contributed to over a dozen books on Australian wildlife, published several scientific research papers on the birds of Australia and New Guinea and is a regular columnist for the Australian Geographic Magazine.
Angus McNab is a wildlife ecologist who attained an MSc in Zoology, studying endangered rainforest frogs in the wet tropics of North Queensland. Undertaking surveys, research and monitoring programs, he has gained experience in each of Australia’s rainforest regions, working on the diverse range of wildlife that inhabit these unique areas.
John Harris is the Principal Zoologist of Wildlife Experiences, an ecological consultancy and wildlife tourism business. He worked as a teacher for nearly 20 years before branching out into a career that encompassed his lifelong passion for nature and education. He works as an ecological consultant on projects across Australia as well as leading tours to see Australia’s unique flora and fauna.
Fatbirder View:
Let me reveal my immediate bias… I love Australia and have enjoyed birding there a number of times and its birdlife is fantastic. I have seen very few other species apart from a couple of lizards, a few frogs and toads and some mammals. Perhaps, had I seen this book I might have encountered more, on the other hand I’m pleased I didn’t meet any of the numerous venomous snakes!
This is well thought out, and well presented, guide which covers all the states where rainforest still exists giving lots of background as well as info on individual forests and all the wildlife you might encounter there.
It is easy to use thanks to the colour-coded page edges and attractively laid out and well-illustrated with good photographs throughout.
If you get to Aussie you’ll want this with you… and even if you don’t you will find much to enjoy visually and a great deal of information as well.
Fatbirder