The Australian Beekeeping Manual (2nd Edition) by Robert Owen

$59.99 AUD

Category: Nature Writing

Aimed at both the novice and experienced beekeeper, and supported by over 350 photographs and drawings, this is the ultimate guide to Australian beekeeping. Chapters cover equipment, including the Flow Hive; colony management; pests and diseases; extracting honey; the bee-friendly garden; entering honey in competitions; and native bees. The Australian Beekeeping Manual is the most comprehensive reference for both novice and experienced beekeepers in Australia. The accessible yet detailed text, supported by over 350 full-colour photographs and illustrations, covers all the key areas, including the beekeeping equipment needed, how to obtain bees, where to locate them in the garden, and the basics of colony management. There are also in-depth chapters on the lifecycle of the honey bee, extracting honey, creating a bee-friendly garden, entering honey in competitions, pests and diseases, native bees, and rearing queens. A feature of this 2nd edition is the addition of a new chapter on the Flow Hive. The result is an invaluable beekeeping resource that will be referred to time and again, and which can be taken out to the hive for use as an immediate step-by-step guide or read at leisure. ...Show more

100 Australian Birds by Georgia Angus

$29.99 AUD

Category: Nature Writing

100 Australian Birds is a beginner's guide to the world of birdwatching. From the outside, this strange hobby of birdwatching appears to consist of sizeable camera lenses, khaki pants that are pulled up too high, and gruelling treks in pursuit of rare bird species. But for those who haven't been scared off by jumbo field guides and excessive terminology, this book is for you. Carefully tailored to guide birdwatchers anywhere in Australia, this book reveals insights into one hundred key native specieswith lush illustrations and accessible descriptions. As well as the author's original illustrations, there are distribution maps, identification methods, behavioral information and contributions from various First Nations about the cultural significance of particular birds. 100 Australian Birds is for anyone interested in birds, culture, history or our environment, but without the geekspeak.   ...Show more

How Birds Behave: Interpreting What They Do and Why by Wenfei Tong

$39.99 AUD

Category: Nature Writing

Birds are intelligent, sociable creatures that exhibit a wide array of behaviours — from mobbing and mimicking to mating and joint nesting. Why do they behave as they do? Bringing to light the remarkable actions of birds through examples from species around the world, How Birds Behave presents engaging vignettes about the private lives of birds, all explained in an evolutionary context.We discover how birds find food, relying on foraging techniques, tools and thievery. We learn about the courtship rituals through which birds choose, compete for, woo and win mates; the familial conflicts that crop up among parents, offspring and siblings; and the stresses and strains of nesting, including territory defence, nepotism and relationship sabotage. We see how birds respond to threats and danger — through such unique practices as murmurations, specific alarm calls, distraction displays and anti-predator nest design. We also read about how birds change certain behaviours — preening, migration, breeding and huddling — based on climate. Richly illustrated, this book explores the increasing focus on how individual birds differ in personality and how big data and citizen scientists are helping to add to what we know about them.Drawing on classic examples and the latest research, How Birds Behave offers a close-up look at the many ways birds conduct themselves in the wild. ...Show more

The Wonder of Nature (Fantastic Beasts)

$49.99 AUD

Category: Nature Writing

The magical world of J.K. Rowling's Fantastic Beasts meets the real-world experts of the world-famous Natural History Museum, in an awe-inspiring exhibition devoted to the wonders of nature, science and adventure and their fictional counterparts from Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts. Fantastic Beasts- The Wonder of Nature is the official book inspired by the spectacular exhibition, shining a light on beasts in all their fantastic forms. Taking inspiration from Newt Scamander, this gorgeous colour gift book invites the whole family to explore the inspiration and links between the magic of J.K. Rowling's creatures and the astonishing real-world wildlife that has roamed the earth, seas and skies of our planet throughout history. Prepare to pore over ancient maps of sea monsters; naturalists' field notes crammed with intricately painted chameleons and caterpillars; and dinosaurs such as the mighty Dracorex Hogwartsia, the 'Dragon King of Hogwarts'. The Natural History Museum boasts one of the finest collections in the world, some 80 million animals, plants, minerals, rocks and fossils. These scientific specimens sit beside breathtaking artwork of J.K. Rowling's magical creatures; fascinating props and artefacts from the Fantastic Beasts and Harry Potter films; and stunning wildlife photography. Readers are invited to meet unicorns and merpeople, Nifflers and Bowtruckles, pythons and tigers, and observe their amazing and endlessly surprising behaviours. Each chapter begins with an original essay by a well-known writer, environmental expert or natural history scientist, offering their own unique insight into the exhibition. Uplifting and absorbing, this is a book that evokes the true magic and majesty of nature in all its myriad forms. Fantastic Beasts- The Wonder of Nature inspires us to protect our precious planet - a must-have for Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts fans of all ages, budding explorers and readers who aren't able to visit the exhibition in person. ...Show more

Bees of Australia - A Photographic Guide by James Dorey

$49.99 AUD

Category: Nature Writing

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

Celebrating Australia's Magnificent Wildlife: The Art of Daryl Dickson by Daryl Dickson

$55.00 AUD

Category: Nature Writing

Celebrating Australia's Magnificent Wildlife is a celebration of Daryl Dickson's beautiful work, informed by her passion for the conservation of wildlife and wild places. From black-winged stilts to brushtail possums, see the variety and colour of Australian wildlife contained in one wonderful book. She highlights the natural beauty of species that deserve to be saved in what is essential reading for anyone with an interest in the natural world. The work of artists crosses borders, boundaries and language barriers. Painting wildlife does not need language to explain the essence of the beauty, landscape or movement of a creature. This book can be understood and enjoyed by people of any nationality. Witness the ancient tropical forests and majestic landscapes of northern Queensland, Australia -- home to some of the world's rarest and most fascinating species. Dickson's work is inspired by the incredible diversity of flora and fauna she lives amongst, which are rich and colourful in the diverse, thriving valley she calls home. Dickson's techniques have varied in medium, from illustration to watercolour and many in between, but nature has always been the key element of her art. View a lifetime of artworks and share in her journey to becoming an artist, showcased in this large-format, beautifully designed book that is an essential addition to coffee tables everywhere. ...Show more

Dingo Bold - The Life and Death of K'gari Dingoes by Rowena Lennox

$35.00 AUD

Category: Nature Writing

Dingo Bold is a thought-provoking exploration of the relationship between people and dingoes. At its heart is Rowena Lennox's encounter with a dingo on the beach on K'gari (Fraser Island), a young male she nicknames Bold. Struck by this experience, and by the intense, often polarised opinions expressed in public conversations about dingo conservation and control, she sets out to understand the complex relationship between humans and dingoes. Weaving together ecological data, interviews with people connected personally and professionally with K'gari's dingoes, and Lennox's expansive reading of literary, historical and scientific accounts, Dingo Bold considers what we know about the history of relations between dingoes and humans, and what preconceptions shape our attitudes today. Do we see dingoes as native wildlife or feral dogs? Wild or domesticated animals? A tourist attraction or a threat?And how do our answers to these questions shape our interactions with them? Dingo Bold is both a moving memoir of love and loss through Lennox's observations of the natural world and an important contribution to wider conversations about conservation and animal welfare. ...Show more

Fathoms: The World in the Whale by Rebecca Giggs

$35.00 AUD

Category: Nature Writing

A work of bright and careful genius. Equal parts Rebecca Solnit and Annie Dillard, Giggs masterfully combines lush prose with conscientious history and boots-on-the-beach reporting. With Giggs leading us gently by the hand we dive down, and down, and down, into the dark core of the whale, which, she con vincingly reveals, is also the guts of the world. ...Show more

Field Guide to the Birds of the ACT by McComas Taylor

$27.50 AUD

Category: Nature Writing

This revised second edition of the popular Field Guide to the Birds of the ACT illustrates in colour all the birds likely to be seen in and near the ACT. It has easy-to-follow descriptions in a compact format. Only local birds are shown making this Field Guide much simpler to use than comprehensive nati onal guides. ...Show more

Field Guide to the Trees of the ACT

$27.50 AUD

Category: Nature Writing

Great Adaptations - Star-Nosed Moles, Electric Eels, and Other Tales of Evolution's Mysteries Solved by Kenneth Catania

$29.99 AUD

Category: Nature Writing

How one scientist unlocked the secrets behind some of nature's most astounding animals From star-nosed moles that have super-sensing snouts to electric eels that paralyze their prey, animals possess unique and extraordinary abilities. In Great Adaptations, Kenneth Catania presents an entertaining and en gaging look at some of nature's most remarkable creatures. Telling the story of his biological detective work, Catania sheds light on the mysteries behind the behaviors of tentacled snakes, tiny shrews, zombie-making wasps, and more. He shows not only how studying these animals can provide deep insights into how life evolved, but also how scientific discovery can be filled with adventure and fun. Beginning with the star-nosed mole, Catania reveals what the creature's nasal star is actually for, and what this tells us about how brains work. He explores how the deceptive hunting strategy of tentacled snakes leads prey straight to their mouths, how eels use electricity to control other animals, and why emerald jewel wasps make zombies out of cockroaches. He also solves the enigma of worm grunting--a traditional technique in which earthworms are enticed out of the ground--by teaming up with professional worm grunters. Catania demonstrates the merits of approaching science with an open mind, considers the role played by citizen scientists, and illustrates that most animals have incredible, hidden abilities that defy our imagination. Examining some strange and spectacular creatures, Great Adaptations offers a wondrous journey into nature's grand designs. ...Show more

Guide to Native Bees of Australia by Terry Houston

$49.99 AUD

Category: Nature Writing

Bees are often thought of as yellow and black striped insects that live in hives and produce honey. However, Australia's abundant native bees are incredibly diverse in their appearance and habits. Some are yellow and black but others have blue stripes, are iridescent green or wasp-like. Some are social but most are solitary. Some do build nests with wax but others use silk or plant material, burrow in soil or use holes in wood and even gumnuts! A Guide to Native Bees of Australiaprovides a detailed introduction to the estimated 2000 species of Australian bees. Illustrated with stunning photographs, it describes the form and function of bees, their life-cycle stages, nest architecture, sociality and relationships with plants. It also contains systematic accounts of the five families and 58 genera of Australian bees. Photomicrographs of morphological characters and identification keys allow identification of bees to genus level. Natural history enthusiasts, professional and amateur entomologists and beekeepers will find this an essential guide. Features: * Discover the extraordinary diversity of Australia's native bees, their natural history and fascinating behaviors * Includes identification keys and diagnoses for all five families and 58 genera of Australian bees * Extensively illustrated with photographs of live bees from expert wildlife photographers as well as photomicrographs of diagnostic features for each family and genus. ...Show more