COVER STORY: BOOKS
I HAVE never read such a comprehensive and detailed book on a single parrot genus as this new and impressive volume from Australia. It is also impressive physically, with 740 pages of incredibly detailed, often very scientific, but nevertheless interesting and easily read text. It is lavishly illustrated throughout, with high-quality colour photographs, and excellent charts and tables. Weighing in at 2.8kg, it is definitely not a pocket reference book!
Written by avian veterinarian Dr Rob Marshall and animal behaviourist and photographer Tailai O'Brien, together with several secondary contributors, it was understandably 20 years in its conception, and 10 years in actual incubation, before finally hatching earlier this year.
The book is divided into nine sections, with the first seven dealing with the natural history, habitat and…
