The Bird Watcher's Library

THE S.A. ORNITHOLOGIST 151 THE BIRD WATCHER'S LIBRARY By BRIAN GLOVER Books about birds are legion, covering Ornithological Research Group, 1967). every conceivable aspect of the subject, and Species list with range, habitat, status and varying from excellent to decidedly indif- distribution map. ferent. The aim of this paper is to suggest A HANDLIST OF THE BIRDS OF books from which the Australian bird SOUTH AUSTRALIA WITH ANNOTA- observer can select a basic library of greatest TIONS (1962) by H. T. Condon, with Sup- value as an aid to identifying and studying birds. Such books come under a number of plement in S. Aust. Ornith. 24 pt. 4, 1965. categories, the principal ones being Area Bird Species list with taxonomy, status, distribu- Lists, Field Guides, Handbooks, Bird Study tion. Out of print; a second edition in and References to Literature. preparation. As a further aid a list of books and publi- A SYSTEMATIC LIST OF THE BIRDS cations in the S.A.O.A. library is appended. OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA by Whittell Most of these are available on loan to rnem- and Serventy (Govt. Printer Perth, 1948). bers. Species list with taxonomy and range. TASMANIAN BIRDS (3rd. Edn.) by I. AREA BIRD LISTS Michael Sharland (Angus and Robertson, A considerable number of these have been 1958). Actually a small handbook with brief published, either as separate publications or descriptions and notes on status, distribution, in journals; here I do not go beyond the food, nest, eggs, habits, etc.; a few illustra State or territory level. All States and Fe tions (photographs). deral territories except Queensland have a LIST OF NORTHERN TERRITORY published bird list. BIRDS by G. M. Storr (W.A. Museum THE OFFICIAL CHECKLIST OF THE 1967). Species list with range, status, etc.: BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA, (2nd. Edn., and references to taxonomy. 1926), (plus supplements published from time to time.in The Emu). Published by the FIELD GUIDES Royal Australasian Ornithologists Union (R.A.O.V.) , this is out of print and generally Probably the ultimate in field guides are considered out of date, and few authors of those of Roger Tory Peterson, of which his books still adhere to it strictly. Bird names Field Guide to the Birds of Britain and in the literature are becoming very confusing Europe, (revised edition) co-authored by to the amateur and a new official checklist is Guy Mountford and P. A. D. Hallam urgently needed. The 1926 Checklist is at (Collins, London, 1966) is a typical example. present being reprinted by the State Library Every specie~ is illustrated, mostly in colour, of South Australia. at rest and III flight where appropriate; aU birds in a plate are in similar poses with A FIELD LIST OF THE BIRDS OF lines pointing to distinctive features 'which CANBERRA AND DISTRICT (1966), are also lis!ed on the page opposite the plate. compiled by the A.C.T. branch of the The text glVe:; field description, voice, habitat R.A.O.V. Species are listed in tabular form and map of European range. with keys to localities and habitat; there is a novel method of showing occurrence and There is no true field guide to the birds of abundance throughout the year. Australia (although at least two are believed A HANDLIST OF THE BIRDS OF to be in preparation) or of any State or Ter NEW SOUTH WALES by Arnold R. Mc ritory, although there are very good field guides to the waders, hawks and ducks (see Gill (N.S.W. Fauna Protection Panel, o~ 1960). Species list with status, habitat and b:low).. Most the books used to identify birds III Australia are more in the nature distribution. of small handbooks, so it is appropriate to A HANiQLIST OF THE BIRDS OF VIC deal with both field guides and handbooks TORIA by W. Roy Wheeler (Victorian together, below. 152 THE S.A. ORNITHOLOGIST HANDBOOKS ferent orders, families, etc. Coloured and For an excellent example of handbook one black and white illustrations and photographs can go no further than the five volume H and do not cover all species. book of British Birds by Witherby, Jourdain, Cayley and Leach are complementary to Ticehurst and Tucker (Witherby, London, each other and are the only books generally 1943). The distinguishing features of orders, available that deal with all Australian birds. families and genera are listed, then under Certain groups are inadequate from the field each species is a complete coverage of taxo identification point of view - e.g., migratory nomy, habitat, field characters and general waders, sea birds, etc., but these are covered habits, voice, display and posturing, breed by other publications. ing, food, distribution, migration, distribution A HANDBOOK OF THE BIRDS OF abroad, description (detailed, of all plumage WESTERN AUSTRALIA (3rd Edn.) by D. phases of both sexes) and characters and L. Serventy and H. M. Whittell (Paterson, allied forms. A coloured plate shows all Brokensha, Perth, 1962). The Kimberley plumage phases; there are drawings of special Division is excluded. By far the best book features and half-tone plates of related birds of its type published in Australia. An excel in flight where appropriate. A tremendous lent field description of each species, plus dis amount of information is packed into several tribution, nesting and general notes. Although pages of small type about each species - a there are not many illustrations certain 'dif life history study in miniature. ficult' groups such as sea-birds and waders The only Australian bird books that give are very well described. anything resembling this type of coverage TASMANIAN BIRDS (3rd Edn., 1958) would appear to be Immelmann's Australian by Michael Sharland - see under Section 1. Finches and Frith's Waterfowl in Australia, although a number of others give some of this B. Covering Groups of Birds information in very condensed form. BIRDS OF THE OCEAN (2nd Edn.) by W. B. Alexander (Putnam, 1955). First II. AUSTRAUAN FIELD GUIDES AND published in 1928 this is probably still the HANDBOOKS best book of its type for anyone undertaking A. Covering Australia, States, etc. an ocean voyage. There are notes on fami Such books as Gould's The Birds of Aus lies, and individual species under ~escrip tralia (1840-1869), N0:th's. Nests an4 Eggs tion, Range and Notes. Most species are of Birds Found Breeding zn Australia and illustrated by drawings and photographs. Tasmania (1890), Campbell's Nests and Eggs SEA BIRDS OF THE SOUTH PACIFIC of Australian Birds (1901) and Mathews' OCEAN by P. P. O. Harrison (H. G. Walters The Birds of Australia (1910-1927), now ex Ltd., Narbeth, Pembs., Wales, 1962). A use pensive collector's items, contain a wealth of ful companion to Birds of the Ocean for information on our birds and anyone under ocean travellers. Contains descriptions, notes taking a special study of a species or gro~p on special identification features, range, ge would do well to visit one of the major neral notes, etc., and 39 illustrations. libraries and study them. (North is in the FIELD GUIDE TO THE BIRDS OF S.A.O.A. library). NEW ZEALAND by Falla, Sibson and Tur WHAT BIRD IS THAT? (4th Edn.) by batt (Collins, 1966). Useful in Australia Nieville W. Cayley (Angus and Robertson, particularly for sea-birds and waders. 1966). All Australian birds illustrated in FIELD GUIDE TO THE WADERS (3rd colour, although often too small and to.o Edn.) by H. T. Condon and A. R. McGill crowded. The birds are grouped under habi (Bird Observers Club, Melbourne, 1965). tats which can cause some confusion. The Small but excellent. All species illustrated text gives meanings of scientific names, distri (most in flight and at rest) and described. bution, nest, eggs and general notes. WATERFOWL IN NEW SOUTH AN AUSTRALIAN BIRD BOOK (9th WALES by the C.S.I.R.O. and N.S.W. Edn.) by J. A. Leach (Whitcombe and Fauna Protection Panel. See below. Tombs, 1958). Brief descriptions of all ~us tralian species; very short notes on habIt<;t, AUSTRALIAN WATERFOWL by M. C. food, nesting, range, etc. Essays on the dif- Downes and Ina Watson (Fisheries and Wild- THE S.A. ORNITHOLOGIST 153 life Dept. of Victoria and I.C.I. of A. & N.Z. and extra-Australian species, fully illustrated. Ltd., 1960). A bulky collector's item. Both small but excellent field guides to the Several books of the field guide type on Anatiformes. All species illustrated in flight various groups of birds are under prepara and at rest. Texts cover a range of infor tion by the Bird Observers. Club. mation including identification. WATERFOWL IN AUSTRALIA by H. III. BIRD STUDY J. Frith (Angus and Robertson, 1967). A The term bird study covers a very wide comprehensive handbook of the Anatiformes. field and I do not intend to even attempt to list all of the large number of books that FIELD GUIDE TO THE HAWKS (4th come into this category, or to deal with books Edn.) by H. T. Condon (Bird Observers on specialised subjects such as banding, pho Club, Melbourne, 1966). Small but excellent. tography, etc. All species illustrated (wing patterns, some also perched) and described. Books on bird study vary considerably in quality and value to the Australian bird ob AUSTRALIAN PARROTS (1938) by Ne server. The good quality books range from ville W. Cayley. Long out of print. the light but stimulating A Guide to Bird AUSTRALIAN PARROTS IN CAPTI Watching by Joseph' J. Hickey (Oxford, VITY by Alan Lendon (The A;ricultural 1943) to very scientific works such as A Society, London, 1951).

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