United States
£ GBP
A highly personal account of a phenomenal, once-in-a-lifetime adventure that saw Bruce and his wife, Lynn, embark on a year of travel and birding across the entire continent in a camper van. Their aim was to see Australia, but also to keep a list of the birds that they saw together. That list began with two Gang-gang Cockatoos flying over their son's yard in Torquay, Victoria and ended a year later watching a lovely little Speckled Warbler on a chilly morning back in Victoria with 638 other species seen in between. An Australian Birding Year is more than a list of birds and how, and where, Bruce and Lynn got to see them. It's about the people and the places, and the joy of experiencing the stunningly diverse beauty of Australia.
R. Bruce Richardson, originally from the USA, is a semi-retired singer/songwriter and entertainer living in Lara, Victoria. He became an avid birder rather late in life and continues birding across Australia and writing about his experiences.
"An Australian Birding Year catalogues the journey of the author and his wife Lynn as they travel the length and breadth of the Australian continent birdwatching, meeting people and juggling personal and family interests along the way. The style of writing is personable, informative and humorous, and the book has appeal to virtually any reader interested in Australian natural history and in Australian travel. [...] While not a formal gazetteer of birding sites and their species, the majority of the well-known sites throughout Australia and their specialities are described, providing any reader with ideas on locations to visit. The author provides wonderful personal perspectives on the places, people and birds which further enriches the book. The book offers something for everyone interested in Australian birdwatching and provides real insights into the considerations needed for anyone planning a large-scale birdwatching trip to this huge and diverse continent."
– Jonathan T. Coleman, Ibis
"The story is superb, and the descriptions of birds, places and people are all original and engaging, and I love the asides and the wise and imaginative comments that Bruce works in on just about every page. The little asides that he tosses in are all gems and they add to the value and charm of the book. I love the story, I love Bruce's unique perspective on every topic, and I would like to make sure I get that point across."
– Kenn Kaufman, Kaufman Field Guides
