This book encourages people, including beginners, to study birds. To assist this it gives simplified descriptions and tells them where to look. It also takes them to some of New Zealand's most attractive scenery and bird habitats. 

The approach of this book is both via the bird and the locality. It is the complete bird-watching package wrapped in one. Over 180 birds and over 300 places are documented, this creating a wonderful New Zealand journey. 

• Find and identify over 180 native and introduced birds

• Use check lists provided for many areas

• Discover New Zealand's best accessible birding localities for each species

• Find how to get to these best accessible localities

• Use the excursions in the back as a way to plan your New Zealand birding holiday

• Identify birds using colour photographs taken by leading New Zealand bird photographers

• Use simple descriptions and conspicuous features and characteristics of each bird to help with identification

• Identify the differences between similar species

• Find New Zealand's unique bird habitats

• Use sketches to help sort up some of the more difficult seabirds

PLACES

Go to the back of the book for 68 pages of bird-watching places. These start at Cape Reinga in the north of the North Island and proceed down through both islands to Stewart Island.

These places give an opportunity to view a large range of species. All are accessible unless stated in the text. Descriptions of how to get to them are explained although good maps of New Zealand would need to be obtained to be used in conjunction with the written descriptions.

(The pictures below, taken by Rafael Valentino, are indicative of the types of localities a birder will encounter in New Zealand on any of the excursions in Birds of New Zealand - Locality Guide. The pictures below are not actually reproduced in the book although the cover picture is by him.)

EXCURSIONS

Use the excursions in the back to give you a quick journey around parts of New Zealand with birding interests in mind.

DISCOUNTS

People birding in New Zealand should have this book. Ask your bookshop for it or if it is not available buy direct from the below address. From the below address discounts are available for larger orders.

Tell your birding friends about this book and if in New Zealand and in need of help contact the author at the below address.

REVIEW

The first edition of this book was regarded by one well known US birding company as the
best locality guide in the world. Over half of the first edition went to overseas locations
and it was used by birders who subsequently toured New Zealand looking for its birds.
The second edition, although slimmer in style and without the small maps of the first edition,
nevertheless describes a further 14 bird species and is packed in the back with over 300
birding locations which take the birder right around New Zealand. These locations are
over above those recorded with each species individually. If you want to learn your
New Zealand birds and then locate them, there is no other book quite like this one.
We certainly recommend it as the book which provides everything in the one package.
John Gale - past chairman - Miranda Naturalists' Trust

ARUN BOOKS
21 Puriri Ave, Orewa, Hibiscus Coast, NEW ZEALAND
 
Price NZ$35 + postage
 
Update 17/7/06. This book is now low in stock, however a new edition is due out in the new year.
 
Phone    +64 9 427 5336
Fax        +64 9 427 5669
email: as_chambers@xtra.co.nz

Email your order or write to the above address.

Visit these related websites:-

• Tui Song Homestay
• Silktail Lodge,Fiji
• Rafael Valentino Photography