With jaw-dropping endemic species such as Kiwi, Kea, and Takahe, New Zealand is a birdwatcher's paradise. For New Zealand birders and visitors to the country alike, this innovative and useful book is the perfect accompaniment to a good field guide such as New Holland's Photographic Guide to the Birds of New Zealand.
Birdwatching in New Zealand provides comprehensive information and practical advice on every aspect of birding, with chapters on key birding areas, where to find the most sought-after species, how to get close to birds without disturbing them, and the history of New Zealand birdlife. The country is one of the best in the world in terms of the abundance and diversity of its seabirds, so there is a chapter dedicated to pelagic birding, while other topics covered include bird photography, bird banding, conservation and feeding birds.
In short this is a great little guide for anyone interested in birdwatching in New Zealand, and a good gift book too. It offers essential information and tips for interested birdwatchers. The depth of the author's knowledge, with many first-hand experiences as examples, means that this book is bound to appeal to birdwatchers of all levels, and especially to those at the beginner end of the spectrum.
THE AUTHOR
Alan Froggatt is chairman of the Kapiti Mana branch of Forest & Bird, a member of the Ornithological Society of NZ, and is involved in a range of conservation initiatives on the Kapiti Coast. He writes on birding for a conservation newsletter, and addresses schools and public gatherings on conservation and birding issues. He has had wide birding experience throughout New Zealand, and has been featured in numerous international publications including National Geographic.