This magnificent work contains data collected during 30 years by the Kovacs family. It offers valuable information and describes in detail the behaviour, habitat, anatomy and the characteristics of 343 species of birds of Patagonia.
The work comprises 23 orders, 54 families and 343 bird species. In addition, it contains 750 illustrations by Carlos Kovacs which perfectly portray each of the species, facilitating their identification.
Most research and subsequent publications done in this field of Natural Science would not be possible if museums and other research centres did not house the huge collections of specimens taken from nature. This task has not been simple nor has it taken a short time. From early times many generations of undaunted and adventurous naturalists have travelled the most inaccessible places on the planet to get this valuable material, which in many cases is irreplaceable.
An example of this speciality in Argentina is the team formed by the brothers Carlos, Zsolt and Ors Kovacs and the son of the former, Carlos Mariano. They are descendants of a couple of Hungarian immigrants who came to Argentina in 1949 and settled in the locality of El Boson, province of Rio Negro.
From an early age they showed an interest in nature, which increased when they met the famous naturalist Andres G Giai, who transmitted a considerable part of his knowledge and taught them the art of taxidermy.
From that moment on they devoted themselves to collecting and preparing animals for scientific studies and exhibits in several museums and research centres of Argentina and abroad. With the passing of time they became one of the most respected teams in Argentina.
As the crowning glory of a whole life of study, chiefly of the Patagonian flora and fauna, they have turned a considerable portion of their efforts and all their knowledge towards this ambitious project: The Illustrated Handbook of the Birds of Patagonia.