The Eastern Curlew by Harry Sadler

$29.99 AUD

Category: Nature

Every year around August, large flocks of Eastern Curlews leave their breeding grounds in the Arctic and embark on a perilous 10,000km journey to the coast of Australia. The birds cannot swim; if they become exhausted and fall into the ocean, they die. But it’s a journey they have taken for tens of thousands of years, tracing invisible flyways in the sky in what is one of the most spectacular mass migrations in the animal kingdom. Following the Eastern Curlew along its migratory path, award-winning nature writer Harry Saddler explores how these incredible birds have impressed themselves on the cultures of the countries they fly through, the threat to their survival posed by development, and the remarkable ways these birds and humankind may be entwined. The Eastern Curlew is a delightful and vivid portrait of a fascinating natural phenomenon. ...Show more

Animal: Exploring the Zoological World by Phaidon Editors; James Hanken; Nick Crumpton (Contribution by); Ross Piper (Contribution by)

$79.95 AUD

Category: Nature

Explore the beauty and diversity of the animal world through more than 300 captivating images from across time and from every corner of the globeAnimal: Exploring the Zoological World is a visually stunning and broad-ranging survey that explores and celebrates humankind's ongoing fascination with animal s. Since our very first moments on Earth, we have been compelled to make images of the curious beasts around us - whether as sources of food, danger, wonder, power, scientific significance or companionship. This carefully curated selection of images, chosen by an international panel of experts, delves into our shared past to tell the story of animal life.From the first cave paintings, extraordinary medieval bestiaries and exquisite scientific illustration, to iconic paintings, contemporary artworks and the incredible technological advancements that will shape our futures together, the huge range of works reflects the beauty and variety of animals themselves - including butterflies, hummingbirds, bats, frogs, tigers, dogs, jellyfish, spiders and elephants, to name a few.Arranged in a curated and thought-provoking sequence, this engaging compilation includes iconic works by some of the great names in zoology, such as Conrad Gesner, Charles Darwin and John James Audubon, as well as celebrated artists and photographers, indigenous cultures and lesser-known figures who have made important contributions to the study and representation of animals throughout history. ...Show more

Europe: A Natural History by Tim Flannery

$34.99 AUD

Category: Nature | Reading Level: 4 Non Fiction

It is hard to overstate just how unusual Europe was towards the end of the age of the dinosaurs. It was a dynamic island arc whose individual landmasses were made up of diverse geological types, including ancient continental fragments, raised segments of oceanic crust, and land newly minted by volcanic activity. Yet even at this early stage Europe was exerting a disproportionate influence on the world. About 100 million years ago, the interaction of three continents--Asia, North America and Africa--formed the tropical island archipelago that would become the Europe of today, a place of exceptional diversity, rapid change and high energy. Europe: A Natural Historyis full of surprises. Over the millennia Europe has received countless immigrant species and transformed them. It is where the first coral reefs formed. It was once home to some of the world's largest elephants. And it played a vital role in the evolution of our own species. When the first modern humans arrived in Europe 40,000 years ago, they began to exert an astonishing influence on the continent's flora and fauna, and now, Europeans lead the way in wildlife restoration--there are more wolves in Europe today than in the USA. This enthralling ecological history is more than the story of Europe and the Europeans, it will change our understanding of life itself. ...Show more

Urban Arboreal - A Modern Glossary of City Trees by Michael Jordan; Kelly Louise Judd (Illustrator)

$34.99 AUD

Category: Nature

Travel the cities of the world alongside some of their oldest citizens, exploring the trees of Buenos Aires to Berlin, San Francisco to Sydney, in this visually stunning, modern glossary of our city trees.Through finding a Kentucky yellowwood in Hannover, the 1,000-year-old olive trees in Athens or even the world's tallest trees that line the West Coast of North America, we come to learn the hidden histories of places that are wrapped up in these botanical giants.Brought to life by beautiful artwork, Urban Arboreal is an ode to urban trees and the cherished place they hold in the hearts of city dwellers - not least because they are vital to the very air we breathe. ...Show more

Papa Goose - One Year, Seven Goslings, and the Flight of My Life by Michael Quetting

$29.99 AUD

Category: Nature

"Papa Goose is destined to become a classic. This book has everything in it I love: great animals beautifully portrayed as individuals; cool science; drama, discovery, and personal transformation."  --Sy Montgomery, author of Birdology and The Soul of An Octopus The charming true story of one man' s journey to raise seven goslings in the name of science. In Papa Goose, Michael Quetting shares the hilarious and moving true story of how he became a father to seven rambunctious goslings--and the surprising things he learned along the way. Starting right at the beginning, with the eggs, his journey takes him from the incubator all the way to the airstrip, where he must attempt to teach the geese to fly as part of an ambitious scientific research initiative for the Max Planck Institute for Ornithology, which tracks animal migrations around the world. For the next eleven months, we follow the newly minted dad as he takes the goslings on daily swims in the lake, tracks them down when they go astray, and watches their personalities develop: feisty, churlish, and lovable. Packed with charm and humor, Papa Goose quickly draws us into the adventure as Gloria, Nemo, and the rest of the crew conquer land, water, and air. ...Show more

Bees of Australia - A Photographic Guide by James Dorey

$49.99 AUD

Category: Nature

Bees are the darlings of the insect world. It is a great joy to see these tenacious insects hard at work, peacefully buzzing from flower to flower on warm and sunny days. Many people recognise the worth of bees, as well as that they face many threats. But very few know about the diversity and importance of our native bee species. There are an estimated 2000 to 3000 bee species in Australia, yet we know very little about the vast majority of these and there are many that are yet to be described. Bees of Australia introduces some of our incredible native bees, many of which, if you look closely, can be found in your own garden. Open this book wherever you like or read it from cover to cover. The combination of photography and contributions from many of Australia's leading bee researchers allows anyone to become enthralled by our native bees. ...Show more

The Hidden Life of Trees (Illustrated Edition) by Peter Wohlleben

$49.99 AUD

Category: Nature

In his international bestseller, The Hidden Life of Trees, Peter Wohlleben opened readers' eyes to the wonders and amazing processes at work in the forest. Now this new, breathtakingly illustrated edition brings those wonders to life like never before. With compelling selections from the original book and eighty six stunning photographs of trees from around the world, this gorgeous volume distills the essence of Peter Wohlleben's message to show trees in all their glory and diversity. Through rich language highlighting the interconnectedness of forest ecosystems, the book offers fascinating insights about the fungal communication highway known as the 'wood wide web,' the difficult life lessons learned in tree school, the hard-working natural clean-up crews that recycle dying trees, and much more. Beautiful images provide the perfect complement to Wohlleben's words, with striking close-ups of bark and seeds, panoramas of vast expanses of green, and a unique look at what is believed to be the oldest tree on the planet. ...Show more

Australia's Birdwatching Megaspots by Peter & Farrell Rowland

$49.99 AUD

Category: Nature

This lavishly illustrated guide describes 55 of the best sites for viewing both common and rare species in Australia. Alongside a map of the area, detailed descriptions of each site cover the type of terrain, climate and specific spots at which certain species are likely to be encountered. A fact file f or each site lists road and rail access; entry fees and permits, facilities, nearby services, accommodation and GPS co-ordinates. Key species for each site are also listed. ...Show more

The Meaning of Birds by Simon Barnes

$22.99 AUD

Category: Nature

A gorgeously illustrated and enchanting examination of the lives of birds, illuminating their wondrous world and our connection with them. One of our most eloquent nature writers offers a passionate and informative celebration of birds and their ability to help us understand the world we live in. As we ll as exploring how birds achieve the miracle of flight; why birds sing; what they tell us about the seasons of the year and what their presence tells us about the places they inhabit, The Meaning of Birds muses on the uses of feathers, the drama of raptors, the slaughter of pheasants, the infidelities of geese, and the strangeness of feeling sentimental about blue tits while enjoying a chicken sandwich. From the mocking-birds of the Galapagos who guided Charles Darwin toward his evolutionary theory, to the changing patterns of migration that alert us to the reality of contemporary climate change, Simon Barnes explores both the intrinsic wonder of what it is to be a bird--and the myriad ways in which birds can help us understand the meaning of life. ...Show more

The Wonderful Mr Willughby - The First True Ornithologist by Tim Birkhead

$37.99 AUD

Category: Nature

From the author of Bird Sense, a biography of Francis Willughby, the man who pulled the study of birds out of the dark ages and formed the foundations of modern ornithology.Francis Willughby lived and thrived in the midst of the rapidly accelerating scientific revolution of the seventeenth century. Trav eling with his Cambridge tutor John Ray, they decided to overhaul the whole of natural history by imposing order on its messiness and complexity. It was exhilarating, exacting, and exhausting work. Yet before their first book, Ornithology, could be completed, Willughby died in 1672. Since then, Ray's reputation has grown, obscuring that of his collaborator. Now, for the first time, Willughby's story and genius are given the attention they deserve. In his too-short life, Francis Willughby helped found the Royal Society, differentiated birds through identification of their distinguishing features, and asked questions that were, in some cases, centuries ahead of their time. His discoveries and his approach to his work continue to be relevant--and revelatory--oday. Tim Birkhead describes and celebrates how Willughby's endeavors set a standard for the way birds--and indeed the whole of natural history--should be studied. Rich with glorious detail, The Wonderful Mr Willughby is at once a fascinating insight into a thrilling period of scientific history and an authoritative, lively biography of one of its legendary pioneers. ...Show more

The Secret Network of Nature: The Delicate Balance of All Living Things by Peter Wohlleben

$29.99 AUD

Category: Nature

'Peter Wohlleben doesn't merely look, he sees. Let's all learn as much from him as we can, and quickly.' Rosamund Young, author of THE SECRET LIFE OF COWSDid you know that trees can influence the rotation of the earth?Or that wolves can alter the course of a river?Or that earthworms control wild boar po pulations?The natural world is a web of intricate connections, many of which go unnoticed by humans. But it is these connections that maintain nature?s finely balanced equilibrium.Drawing on the latest scientific discoveries and decades of experience as a forester and bestselling author, Peter Wohlleben shows us how different animals, plants, rivers, rocks and weather systems cooperate, and what's at stake when these delicate systems are unbalanced.The earth's ecosystems are too complex for us to compartmentalise and draw up simple rules of cause and effect; but The Secret Network of Naturegives us a chance to marvel at the inner workings and unlikely partnerships of the natural world, where every entity has its own distinct purpose.And the more light that is shed on relationships between species, the more fascinating nature's web becomes. ...Show more

Written in Stone : Reading the Rocks of the Great Ocean Road by Philomena Manifold

$54.95 AUD

Category: Nature