Jade Craven

Book Review: Wildlife Of Australian Rainforests

Jade Craven · August 30, 2021 ·

Wildlife of the Australian Rainforests isn’t the type of book I would typically read. I prefer guides dedicated to specific regions or species. However, I found myself really enjoying this guide.

This book focuses on significant wildlife-watching sites in rainforests across Australia. It gives readers an overview of entire ecosystems.

It is a comprehensive and inspiring read that will give naturalists many ideas for new places to visit.

Photographic Field Guide to Australian Frogs

Jade Craven · July 5, 2021 ·

I used to overlook the the frog sounds I heard when walking along the river or visiting my parents bush block. I started paying more attention and tried to identify species that I found. I quickly realized that that frog identification is quite complex and nuanced.

Photography Field Guide To Australian Frogs is one of the books I’ve been using to increase my understanding of frogs. It is a comprehensive guide that gives readers the tools to confidently identify the frog species found in Australia. It can be a lot of work, but it is an interesting journey.

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Book Review: Wild Mushrooming – A Guide For Foragers

Jade Craven · April 12, 2021 ·

There has been a growing interest in foraging for mushrooms in Australia, but, until recently, there wasn’t a dedicated resource targeted towards local foragers. There were multiple guides targeted towards overseas markets; however, there was a real safety risk when applying that knowledge to local ecosystems.

Wild Mushrooming fills a need with Australian readers. The guide advocates a slower approach by teaching readers to confidently identify a smaller number of species rather than have a superficial knowledge of many species.

This guide has the potential to revolutionise how fungi enthusiasts and foragers view fungi.

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Birding Australias Islands

Jade Craven · April 20, 2020 ·

Australia is home thousands of islands. Not all of those islands are close to the mainland; some are actually closer to other countries. This is magic if you are a birdwatcher. These islands represent a diverse range of birdlife that can increase the hardcore twitchers checklist.

Birding Australia’s Islands is the first book dedicated to twitching the birds on Australias islands. Author and birdwatcher Sue Taylor recounts her adventures visiting 23 Australian islands. She shares her personal account visiting the islands and seeking out rarities.

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Book Review: All About Butterflies Of Australia

Jade Craven · April 13, 2020 ·

Butterflies are a fascinating yet complex insect. Most of the books about butterflies are field guides, which means they focus on providing the resources for identification.

All About Butterflies Of Australia takes a different approach. The goal is to capture the readers’ imagination and encourage them to observe the butterflies in their local environment. The book is both practical and beginner-friendly. I highly recommend this to any butterfly enthusiast.

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