ORNITHOLOGICAL LITERATURE 
195 
ASKINS, Katherine Blunt Professor of Biolo¬ 
gy. Connecticut College, New London. CT 
06320, USA: e-mail: raask@conncoll.edu 
THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO FINDING THE 
BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. Second Edition. By 
Richard Thomas. Sarah Thomas, David Andrew, 
and Alan McBride. CSIRO Publishing, Col ling- 
wood, Victoria, Australia. 2011: 463 pages, 28 
black-and-white and 64 color photographs, and 77 
maps. ISBN: 978-0-643-09785-8. USD 42.95 
(paperback).—This excellent book is an expanded 
and updated version of the book by Richard and 
Sarah Thomas published in 19% (Frogmouth 
Publications. Oakington, England. 280 pages), which 
'Ct the standard for bird finding in Australia. This 
new edition with its added two highly experienced 
birdwatcher authors will once again set die standard. 
The book has a section entitled ‘States and 
Territories’ that presents hireling sites by state starting 
with Victoria in southeastern Australia, then proceeds 
tunher south to the island-state of Tasmania and then 
continues counterclockwise through New South 
Aales, the Australian Capital Territory, Queensland, 
Northern Territory, Western Australia, and South 
Australia. This edition has an added chapter with site 
guides to ‘Australia's islands and external territories.' 
which include such far Hung places as Lord 1 lowe, 
Christmas, and Macquarie islands. 
The coverage of each stale begins with a map of 
die state with the areas covered demarcated (e.g.. for 
Victoria: Melbourne area. Southwestern Victoria, 
«e,i and numerical reference to each site discussed 
"i the text. The introductory material includes a list 
"* endemic species and bird specialties of the state. 
Then follows a detailed examination of each site, in 
many eases including a map. Each site section 
includes a list of key species, and in the text the bird 
names are printed in bold face, w hich makes finding 
a particular species in the text easy. The site guide 
descriptions provide names, telephone numbers, 
e-mail addresses, or web sites of landowners or 
government offices that need to be consulted prior to 
' •siting and, where prudent, warn of potential threats 
le -g» at Fogg Dam Conservation Reserve in the 
Nonhem Territory: “(beware of crocodiles and 
‘makes)’' (page 120). Directions arc clear and 
fonci.se. For the areas that 1 know best (Tasmania, 
pans ot Western Australia, and the Alice Springs 
•trea) I found the directions excellent. 1 here is also a 
chapter on pelagic hireling w ith internet sites, e-mail 
addresses, and phone numbers provided to facilitate 
lining up pelagic trips. A substantial portion of the 
book (pages 201-393) is a section entitled ‘Bird 
Finder Guide.’ which includes a section of 64 color 
photographs of Australian birds. The photographs 
really make you want to drop everything and head 
for Australia. The bird finder guide text presents a 
paragraph (some short, some long) on each ol the 
70IH- species that occur in Australia (excluding 
vagrants and introduced species, which are covered 
in appendices). 
The species are presented in taxonomic order 
and for each family there is a brief presentation of 
interesting features of its Australian species. Each 
species account includes the range and status, and 
in many cases references the relevant sections ot 
the site guides. Appendices include, in addition to 
vagrants and accidentals and introduced species, 
a glossary of vegetation, landscape, and more 
general terms such as 'platelet,' a circular scrape 
made by buttonquail (Turnix spp.) while feeding 
in litter. A final appendix is a directory that deals 
with planning a trip, timing, arranging transport, 
accommodations, climate, and various hazards, as 
well as equipment such as CDs and field guides 
and important telephone numbers and web sites in 
each stale that might be useful. The three indices 
cover common names, scientific names, and sites. 
This book is loaded with essential information for 
anyone planning to soil out Australian birds on their 
own, or planning research on a specific group ol birds 
or in a particular area. Much has changed in the world 
of bird watching in Australia in the 15 years since the 
first edition of this book originally became available. 
The increase in communications and the ease of 
retrieving information due to advances in internet, 
cell phones, and global positioning system technol¬ 
ogy has expanded the horizons of bird watching and 
facilitated field research. The intensifying of Hoods 
and droughts in recent years, presumably a result 
of global wanning, has changed many Australian 
landscapes. The tw-o new authors of this edition have 
revisited 90% of die original sites and many of the 
changes that have occurred are reflected in this new 
edition. This is a comprehensive guide, well-written 
and well-illustrated. 1 cannot imagine planning a trip 
to Australia and not having a copy ot this book. 
WILLIAM E. DAVIS JR., Professor Emeritus. 
Boston University. 23 Knollwood Drive, East 
Falmouth. MA 02536. USA; e-mail: wedavisl 1 @ 
gmail.com 
