Nature Books Australia

Recommended books for naturalists

Jade Craven

Book Review: Wildlife Of Australian Rainforests

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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.

The Book Is Organized According To Bioregions

The book is sections for each state. All states bar South Australia and the ACT are included.

The rainforests are then organized into 22 bioregions. According to the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment, a bioregion is ‘a land area made up of a group of interacting ecosystems that are repeated in similar form across the landscape.’ Each bioregion is then broken up into sections featuring an introduction to the region, species profiles and significant wildlife sites.

The idea of bioregions is compelling. It groups smaller wildlife sites based on how similar ecosystems interact over a larger area. This allows you to think on a larger scale when planning trips. You can get ideas about multiple places to visit in a specific bioregion and get inspiration for further research. There were times when this didn’t quite mesh – such as The Otways inclusion in the Southern Eastern Highlands bioregion. Many animals featured in that section are found at just one wildlife site, such as the Otway black snail. This isn’t a criticism of the guide, which is a great foundation. It just shows that the book should be considered a starting point and that you should do additional research.

Bioregion information

Each bioregion is organized into:

  • An introduction
  • Species Profiles
  • Significant wildlife watching sites

Introduction

There are two pages at the start of each chapter giving an overview of that bioregion. This has a brief introduction to the region, a list of key wildlife watching sites, and key species. The key species are organized into: birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates.

The first page had a map that showed a visual overview of the specific sites. The rest of the overview had information on different habitat types.

Species profiles

The majority of each chapter is dedicated to profiles of the species found in that bioregion. There are two species profiles per page. Each profile includes a brief description and an image. The description provides identification tips, behaviour and tips for finding them.

The amount of species featured varies depending on the bioregion. Some of the larger areas had over 50 whereas, the smaller ones had just 8. A wide variety of species are featured: there is a healthy mixture of birds, mammals, amphibians, reptiles and invertebrates. The species vary from the common to the obscure; the common thread was that they highlighted something interesting about that bioregion. The invertebrates had a strong focus on butterflies and crayfish; however, they included other interesting species. I appreciated this, as invertebrates often fly under the radar for many naturalists.

Significant wildlife watching sites

The end of each chapter had smaller profiles dedicated to the significant wildlife watching site in that bioregion. These profiles cover two pages and give a brief overview of the site.

These pages include:

  • GPS coordinates
  • Key facilities
  • Services nearby
  • Tips for getting there
  • Relevant fees and permits
  • Tracks and trails

This is a pretty solid overview in a limited amount of pages. It isn’t enough for trip planning, but it will give you a lot of ideas. I especially appreciated the tips for tracks and trails to explore.

Do I recommend it?

I didn’t expect to enjoy this book as much as I did. The focus on a specific ecosystem allowed me to make connections I hadn’t noticed before and has renewed my interest in certain locations.

I recommend this book to any nature enthusiast. It is great for naturalists at all levels of experience and would make a great gift. It should be an essential guide for anyone interested in rainforests.

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Photographic Field Guide to Australian Frogs

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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. 

How is the book structured?

Most of the book is dedicated to identification keys and species profiles. The introductory section is unusually short for a field guide at just 20 pages, however it contained a lot of information. It had sections about invasive species, basic information for finding frogs and morphology.

The morphology section was particularly useful. It went beyond an overview of the external pictures: you get illustrations and photos of:

  • Frog head shapes
  • Skin texture descriptions
  • Foot structures

I found the the length of the introduction was perfect. It covered a lot of ground. The only issue is that it relied heavily on scientific language. This may make it overwhelming to beginners, who would need to return to this section often. The steep learning curve makes the rest of the book a lot easier.

I was pretty impressed with the quality of the introduction, however, the real magic happened when I got to the species profiles.

Species profiles

The species profiles are among some of the best I’ve seen in a field guide. They are detailed, well presented and are accompanied by clear photographs. Figuring out the exact species involves a lot of hard work.

This work is made easier by the keys at the started of the chapter. There is a pictorial key with tips on how to narrow the species down to its family, as well as a visual guide to how the hands and feet can aid with identification. There is also an infographic with tips on how to use the key.

The species are organized into chapters according to each family. There are four main families, as well as two chapters that feature just the one species. Each chapter has an overview of the family, information about key identification features for that family and an identification key to help you narrow it down to genus. Images are provided as part of this key where appropriate. You will likely need to refer back to the introduction to understand a lot of the terminology used, however it does get easier with time.

The species are organized according to genus. There is a one page introduction for each genus with a brief overview, information on similar genera/morpho-functional groups and a section on the key features of the genus. In more complex species, these introductions can extend to 4-5 pages. These extended sections have additional information on morpho-functional group or calls.

Each species profiles takes up one page. Two thirds of the page are taken up by a map and species information. The profile includes information on habitat, call and similar species. Half of the profile is dedicated to morphological features. Each profile includes four images. These vary according to genus, depending on what the key features are.

This guide is complex when compared to other species, such as birds. It is worth the hard work.

Do I recommend it?

I would recommend it to those who are passionate about frogs and who want to be able to identify them in the field. It is hard work and can involve a steep learning curve.

I wouldn’t recommend it to younger readers or those who have a casual interest in frogs. A Naturalist’s Guide to the Frogs of Australia would be a better fit for beginners. It features the more common species and doesn’t overwhelm with information and pictures.

This is the type of quality guide that becomes one of the guides that takes up residence in the backseat of your car for easy access. I highly recommend it.

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Book Review: Wild Mushrooming – A Guide For Foragers

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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.

How is the guide structured?

The guide is separated into four main sections:

  • Fungi Basics
  • Poisonous fungi
  • Edible Fungi
  • Recipes

This structure helps readers develop basic knowledge before heading out into the field. The authors emphasise that foraging isn’t something you should rush into; it is a skill that needs to be developed over time. The goal is to make sure you know what to avoid instead of focusing on what you can consume.

The remainder of this review examines the specific sections.

Introductory Content

Foragers need a basic understanding of fungi identification to know what features make a specimen edible – or poisonous. The authors cover a lot of basics in a few short chapters. They discuss identification basics, the rise of wild mushrooming and how fungi interact with the larger ecosystems. The information is fascinating, but not all of it is necessary to identify fungi. You can skip some of the chapters, but they do give more context to the sustainable foraging approach.

The chapter on the features of fungi is overwhelming. The way the information is structured did feel disorganised at times. The use of scientific terminology could also lead to overwhelm. It is necessary to understand the terms if you want to be confident in your identification, so you may need to return to this chapter frequently. It is definitely worth it.

Poisonous fungi

There is so much that is unknown about fungi in Australia; there are many species that are yet to be formally identified. The authors put the section on poisonous fungi before the one about edible fungi, which I believe is the right decision. This chapter emphasises the many risks of foraging and highlights the sheer amount of uncertainties. The section discusses the multiple causes of mushroom poisoning and repeats the importance of a slow mushrooming approach. The repeated warnings can be overwhelming, but it serves as a reminder that you shouldn’t forage if you aren’t comfortable with the risk and your knowledge level.

Seven individual species are featured in this chapter, as well as a section dedicated to the Paxillus involutus group. For each profile, you get:

  • An introductory page with familiar names and an overview of the species
  • One page with images of each species. The photos show the mushroom at different stages during the lifecycle, different features and what it looks like from different angles

Two extra pages go into more detail about the species, but not all of it is relevant to the forager. While fascinating, information about the history of the name or DNA analysis can add to the overwhelm. I’d focus on the distribution and Australian species paragraphs.

I would skim over some of these sections when starting on your foraging journey and focus on the images and checklist. I’d revisit the more in-depth sections and highlight the parts that are relevant for identification. However, I wouldn’t eat any foraged mushrooms until you’ve read the entire chapter and are confident with what you’ve learned.

Edible Fungi

This chapter features ten species of fungi. Most of the species have been introduced to Australia; however, some look similar to native species.

The authors worked hard to find fungi that:

  • were easy to identify and had distinctive diagnostic characters
  • had few lookalikes
  • had a strong likelihood of being found by foragers

The species profiles are organised using the same structure as the previous chapter.

Recipes

It wasn’t necessary to include recipes in a book about mushroom identification, but it is a welcome addition. There are 29 beautifully photographed recipes shared between multiple authors. The authors have a range of experiences: some are chefs, one is a mushroom inspector. In some cases, they are influenced by the authors’ home country. They all share the same passion, which is evident in the personalised tips given before each recipe.

The recipes are simple and easy to follow. In most cases, you get one page for a photo and a second with the recipe. The recipe highlights if you need to use a specific mushroom and if there are possible substitutions. They mention if the mushroom substitution will impact on the taste and share how quickly you should eat the mushroom after foraging.

The recipes have a lot of room for experimentation. The authors give hints on food that would compliment the dish. Enthusiastic foodies and amateur chefs could have a lot of fun with this chapter.

Do I recommend it?

I’ve reviewed many books for this blog – and this is one of the standouts. I would recommend this book to anyone who is keen to learn more about foraging. You will need to work hard, but the payoff is worth it.

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Birding Australias Islands

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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.

Who is Sue Taylor?

Sue is a phenomenal birdwatcher, having seen 823 Australian birds. She is also one of Australias leading authors on bird watching. You can check out her writing at A Twitchers Tale. She has authored multiple books about birdwatching in Australia.

What Islands are visited?

Sue has visited a wide variety of islands on her birdwatching adventures. Some of them are well known, such as Christmas and Lord Howe Island. Some islands were popular for general tourism, such as Kangaroo Island and Rottnest Island.

The popularity of the islands doesn’t mean that they are always practical to visit. Many islands are a considerable distance away or can only be visited as part of a dedicated birdwatching tour.

What Islands are visited?

Some of them are well known, such as Christmas and Lord Howe Island. Some islands were popular for general tourism, such as Kangaroo Island and Rottnest Island. Not all islands are practical to visit. Many islands are a considerable distance away or can only be visited as part of a dedicated birdwatching tour.

Sue Is A Brilliant Birdwatcher, But Not A Great Author

Birding Australia’s Islands focuses more on Sues experiences instead of giving tips for exploring these islands. This would have been fine if the chapters were consistent. The exception is the first page of each chapter which has a brief overview of the island. This has led to some chapters being less useful than others. Some of the accounts rely on her notes instead of her own recollections, which detracts from the tone and made the writing feel academic. This was especially noticeable on the chapter about Cabbage Tree Island, which took more of a historical perspective. A separate chapter about Raine Island was just two pages long, part of which featured Sue’s justifications about why her plane was late.

Some Chapters Had a Negative Tone

Sue’s complaints turned about to be a common theme in Birding Australias Islands. Some chapters felt like she was complaining for most of the trip. Some of it was relevant to the readers, such as difficult conditions. However, there were times where she could be quite condescending about those she deemed as lesser. Some chapters focused more on what annoyed her on a specific trip instead of focusing on the actual birds she saw. I’m a casual birdwatcher and this meant that I struggled to enjoy the book. I wanted to learn more about what to expect should I visit some of these places, not about what irritated one person.

Do I recommend it?

I do recommend it. At this point, there is no other comparable book. There are very few books about the twitching experience, let along one focused on the islands. The flaws are worth pushing through as the reader will pick up tips.

I’d recommend borrowing it from the library instead of buying it. It’s not worth re-reading.

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Book Review: All About Butterflies Of Australia

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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.

The book is separated into two sections:

  • Butterfly Facts
  • Butterfly families

Butterfly Facts

‘Butterfly Facts’ is the first section of the book. Across 50 pages, Garry Sankowsky explores the butterflies’ life cycle, what butterflies eat, defensive behaviour, and threats. The amount of information given is quite substantial, especially given the scope of the book. The pages on the pupating behaviour of caterpillars were especially fascinating. This type of information often isn’t included in a typical field guide. It helps encourage an interest in butterflies without overwhelming the reader.

The tone was very beginner-friendly. The book reminded me of Backyard Insects due to the lack of jargon. The only flaw I had was that the sentences were often too long. At times, it wasn’t easy to read, and I felt like I had skipped over information.

Butterfly Families

A large portion of the book is dedicated to identification spreads on the key species. Garry provides a photographic overview of the main butterfly families. The rest of the guide focuses on species profiles. These are organized according to family.

The length of each profile varies according to species. Some species, such as the swallowtails, get a whole page. This is mainly to accommodate the number of images. In these cases, you will get 6-8 photographs of the species at different points in its life cycle. In other cases, three species are featured on each page. These species have two photos and minimal additional information.

The description length also varies – as does the format. With the smaller profiles, you only get information on the distribution and/or host plants. Where there are two profiles on the page, there you get an additional notes section. With the larger profiles, the information isn’t organized according to the theme. The sections have the same amount of information, but it is provided as more of a narrative.

This lack of consistency was frustrating. However, I was still able to learn a lot.

Do I recommend it?

Yes. This is the first book I would recommend to all beginners. It helps you understand what you are observing with the butterflies in your area and encourages that passion. I would definitely recommend it for those who want to go beyond identification and learn more about butterflies.

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