Have You Seen My Egg?

Olsen, Penny

National Library of Australia

What name could be a more apt description of Australia than ‘The Land of Parrots’, a name inspired by late sixteenth-century maps showing a southern region labelled ‘Psittacorum regio’? This beautiful book takes a close look at parrots in Australia, from the first published illustration of an Australian parrot—a Rainbow Lorikeet collected live on Cook’s 1770 voyage—to William T. Cooper’s twentieth-century watercolour of the elusive Night Parrot. With introductory essays by ornithologist Penny Olsen, Flocks of Colour covers two and a quarter centuries of discovery and illustration of Australia’s avifauna. It features a rich portfolio of images of all the Australian parrots, by various artists including John Gould, Edward Lear, Neville W. Cayley and William T. Cooper, selected from the collections of the National Library of Australia, The foreword is by Joseph Forshaw, a world expert on the parrot family.

Flocks of Colour

Science & Math

Nature & Ecology

Natl Library of Australia

An Eye for Nature: The Life and Art of William T Cooper

Description Feather and Brush traces the 300-year history of bird art in Australia, from the crudely illustrated records of the earliest European voyages of discovery to the diversity of artwork available today. It is a history inseparable from the development of Australian ornithology. Against a background of establishment of the country itself, naval draftsmen, convicts, officers, settlers, naturalists, artists and scientists alike contributed both to the art and to science. 
Driven by the excitement of discovery and description of new and exotic birds, the illustration of Australian birds flourished in the late 18th and 19th centuries, then fell into neglect. In recent decades, increasing interest in the environment has led to a revitalisation of the art. A wealth of contemporary Australian artists has turned their attention to birds and never before has wildlife illustration been so varied and accessible. 
Stunningly illustrated, Feather and Brush contains over 250 images representing 94 artists. Some are well-known, others are published for the first time. All have been carefully selected for their merit, be it ornithological, historical or artistic. The book links the greats of yesterday - including Ferdinand Bauer, Edward Lear, George Raper, John Lewin, the Goulds and the mysterious Port Jackson Painter - with some of the finest wildlife artists working in Australia today, many with an intimate knowledge of the birds in the field.

Feather and Brush: Three Centuries of Australian Bird Art

Arts & Photography

History & Criticism

CSIRO Publishing

Australia's Wedge-tailed Eagle is the country's largest true eagle and one of our few large predators and scavengers. It is closely related to the other large eagles of the world: the Golden Eagle of Europe and North America, the Imperial Eagle of the Palearctic, the Tawny and Verreauxs Eagles in Africa, the Indian Black Eagle in Indo-Malaysia, and Gurneys Eagle in New Guinea.

Spirit of the Wedge-Tailed Eagle: The Art of Humphrey Price-jones

Price-Jones, Humphrey

Describes various kinds of eagles, hawks, condors, ospreys, falcons, and vultures, provides information on their characteristics, behavior, and range, and explains why many face extinction

Birds of Prey

Crafts, Hobbies & Home

Pets & Animal Care

FACTS ON FILE+

A celebration of these small birds of prey discusses such key aspects of their natural history as their evolution, their variety around the world, habitats, hunting habits, diet, mating and reproduction, migratory patterns, and more.

Falcons and Hawks (Great Creatures of the World)

Teen & Young Adult

Checkmark Books

The extraordinary wildlife of Australia has long held a special fascination for people throughout the world. Now international authority Penny Olsen offers the definitive work on Australia's spectacular birds of prey. In describing Australia's twenty-four species of birds of prey, Olsen relates their complex biology to the continent's unique geography and ecology. She explains why species such as the Nankeen Kestrel and Brown Falcon can range widely from coastal cliffs and river valleys to arid grasslands and wooded hillsides. She describes why others, such as the Red Goshawk, Pacific Baza, and Brahminy Kite, have ranges dramatically limited by their dependence on particular habitats and types of prey. Throughout, she focuses on important conservation issues that effect the well-being of raptors in the wild. She also describes their interactions with humans and recent advances in the care of sick and captive birds.

Australian Birds of Prey: The Biology and Ecology of Raptors

Univ of New South Wales

For well over a century, the Night Parrot lured its seekers into Australia’s vast, arid outback. From the beginning it was a mystery bird. Fewer than 30 specimens were collected before it all but disappeared, offering only fleeting glimpses and the occasional mummified body as proof of its continued existence. Protected by spinifex and darkness, the parrot attained almost mythical status: a challenge to birdwatchers and an inspiration to poets, novelists and artists. Night Parrot documents the competitiveness and secrecy, the triumphs and adventures of the history of the bird and its followers, culminating in the recent discovery of live birds at a few widely scattered locations. It describes what we are now unraveling about the mysteries of its biology and ecology and what is still left to learn. Complemented by guest essays, illustrations and photographs from a wide variety of sources, this book sheds light on Australia’s most elusive bird. Features: - The story of one of the most elusive and enigmatic birds in the world; the "Holy Grail" of birdwatching - Documents the impact this mysterious bird has made on our society, drawing from an eclectic range of materials including scientific articles, newspapers and ephemera, art and literature, and historical images and accounts - Author Penny Olsen is one of Australia’s leading ornithologists

Night Parrot: Australia’s Most Elusive Bird

History

Australia & Oceania

Feather and Brush&nbsp;traces the history of bird art in Australia - from the simple engravings illustrating accounts of the earliest European voyages of discovery to the diversity of artwork available today. It explores the early European approach, in which naval draughtsmen, officers, convicts, settlers, naturalists, artists and scientists alike contributed both to the art and the science of ornithology, through to a wealth of contemporary artists who feature birds in their works. This book contains more than 400 images, representing the work of 158 artists; some well-known, others published for the first time. The illustrations have been selected for their interest, whether ornithological, historical or artistic. They range from classical to quirky, decorative to functional, monumental to intimate. Together they demonstrate the rich history of Australian bird art, as it evolved in Europe and Australia, and continues today, along with the trends and technologies of the times. This second edition includes new and revised chapters, and features about 200 new artworks, including some by Indigenous artists. Cultural sensitivity Readers are warned that there may be words, descriptions and terms used or referenced in this book that are culturally sensitive. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people should be aware that this book contains images and names of deceased persons. Features: <ul> <li>Includes over 400 beautiful, full-color images, including some rare and never-before-published illustrations.</li> <li>Features 158 artists, both historical and contemporary.</li> <li>Explores the history of the role of bird illustration in ornithology, bird watching and conservation.</li> <li>This second edition features revised text, additional chapters, and around 200 new artworks.</li> </ul> Features the contemporary artists: Frank Thomson Morris; John Wolseley; Frank Knight; Humphrey Price-Jones: Mulku&#7753; Wirrpanda; Pamela Griffith; Pete Marshall; Glenys Buzza; Syd Tunn; Peter Langdon; Gail Higgins; Richard Weatherly; Ona Henderson; Susan Skuse; Steve Morvell; Annelise Howes; Janet Luxton; Katherine Cooper; Peter Trusler; Peter Marsack; Nicolas Day; Kim Franklin; Peta Boyce; Elizabeth Cogley; Jeff Davies; Oscar Giammichele; Vida Pearson; Robert Mancini; Greg Postle; Catherine Lidden; E.A.O. Darby; Nicola Dickson; Brian Looker; Prue Sailer; James Hough; Sally Elmer; Philip Farley; Tony Pridham; Brett Jarrett; James Luck; Natalia Balo; Sally Edmonds; Robin Wingrave; Katherine Castle; Vanessa Richardson; Mel Hills; Emma Lindsay; Mal Chambers; Geoffrey Carran; Belinda Kurczok; William Ritchie; Sebastian Galloway

Feather and Brush: A History of Australian Bird Art

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