Reviews

Wingspan November 2009

Thirty years have passed since the publication of Roy Wheeler’s The Birds of Victoria and Where to Find Them.  In that time, there have been great changes to the populations of both birds and bird watchers, creating a need for an up to date replacement for Wheeler’s work, long out of print. This book has now arrived in the timely and welcome form of Where to See Birds in Victoria.

The book is brought to life by a large number of superb photographs of both birds and landscapes, taken by a number of very fine photographers.

Part Two of the book, called the Bird Finding Guide, is an annotated list in alphabetical order of all the birds on the Victorian list. These are classified as Common, Moderately Common, Uncommon, Rare or Vagrant. There is a short description of each species’ preferred habitat, followed by a list of the localities covered in Part One, where it is likely to be found. This is a brilliant concept and makes it very easy to pick out at once a likely locality to find a particular bird.


Where To See Birds In Victoria is an attractive, informative, well-researched and much needed book, which will be used by almost every birdwatcher in Victoria and will surely run to many editions. The editing has been expertly done.

I have been birding in Victoria for a very long time but had no idea of the whereabouts and richness of many of the places covered in this book. To me, it is an eye-opener and I suspect that it will be the same for a host of other birdwatchers. This is an intensely practical book, one to be used as well as enjoyed, and I see it having a long and successful presence in the bookshops of Australia.

David Hollands

Author Birds of the Night: Owls, Frogmouths, and Nightjars of Australia and Eagles, Hawks and Falcons of Australia.

Wild March – April 2010

In the potluck game of birdwatching, this book is a welcome find. Compiled by experts, it lists over 40 prime Victorian areas for finding birds. Full colour maps break up the state into easily identifiable bio-regions. The accommodation and direction sections are a bonus. The photography is very high quality, while the bird finding guide caters for the more experienced. A guide to inner Melbourne areas will suit those who can’t travel...
...Combined with a comprehensive field guide, this handy little book will make life a little easier in the often slow and patient art of twitching.

Sam Morley