The Australian Capital Territory is a treasure trove for naturalists, despite being without a coastline, without rainforest or without deserts. A wealth of biodiversity is found there, due to the close proximity of three major habitat types: the great western woodland grassy plains bump up against the inland edge of the coastal hinterland mountain forests, while the whole south-eastern Australian Alps system reaches its northern limit in the Brindabella Ranges. Each of these habitats has its ...

Join QI's expedition into the animal kingdom to encounter 100 of its most remarkable subjects. Marvel at the elephants that walk on tiptoe, pigs that shine in the dark, and the woodlouse that drinks through its bottom.Albatrosses can fly non-stop for ten years without touching the ground. Box jellyfish have twenty-four eyes. Geese mourn their dead. Koalas don't drink. Monkeys pay to look at porn. Lobsters live for a century. Mice sing while having sex. Spiders can fly....

This ebook edition does not include illustrations.An awe-inspiring journey through the eons and across the globe, in search of visible traces of evolution in the living creatures which have survived from earlier times and whose stories speak to us of seminal events in the history of life.The history of life on Earth is far older – and far odder – than many of us realise. In ‘Survivors’, acclaimed author Richard Fortey traces this history not through fossil records, but in t...

The ideal portable companion, the world-renowned Collins Gem series returns with a fresh new look and updated material.This is the perfect pocket guide for keen birdwatchers and nature enthusiasts to identify the diverse range of birds that inhabit their gardens.Authoritative text and beautiful photographs show the distinguishing features of each bird, including information on each species' feeding, behavioural habits, breeding, voice and population. An extensive introducti...

A memoir of a love affair with the forest and her native Australia, White Beech is Germaine Greer's most personal book yet'A powerful account of Greer's attempt to reverse the calamitous environmental impact of Australian history on one patch of land ... Greer remains a winning, funny, indomitable figure throughout, and it is fascinating to follow her as she works through so much of her messy, complicated relationship with Australia' F...

Jemima Parry-Jones has devoted most of her life to working with animals, primarily birds of prey. This eBook, written with vast authority, takes the whole subject of falconry further. Jemima explains some of the motives behind the sport of falconry, the background to captive breeding, and shows how to approach both in a practical and ethical way. Details are given on the most suitable birds, on how to care for birds of prey, preventative medicine, treatment and rehabilitation to the wild o...

'a controlled and literate work that earns its emotional peaks' - Saturday Paper'a delight' - The AustralianA memoir about staying in one place, told through trees, by the award-winning author of MR WIGG, NEST and WHERE THE TREES WERE."The understorey is where I live, alongside these plants and creatures. I tend the forest, stand at the foot of trees and look up, gather what has fallen."This is the story of a tree-c...

Life on planet earth is not weirder than we imagine. It"s weirder than we are capable of imagining. In this breathtakingly audacious book, Simon Barnes opens our eyes to the real marvels of the planet we live on.

Fly-fishing in all its forms is the fastes-growing participatory field sport in the world. Whether you’re hoping to catch trout, tigerfish, yellowfish or queenfish, there is little to match the sheer joy of fishing with a fly rod. Whether you’re standing waist-deep in a raging river estuary fishing the saltwater, or wading slowly into the calm waters of an inland lake, the thrill of casting a perfect line is unmatched. Africa is one of the world’s most exciting fly-fishing destinations. De...

Highly practical, up-to-date, expert advice whether you are just starting out or already keep pigeons and doves.

East Africa comprises a range of habitats that provide living space for more than 360 diverse species of mammal. These vary in size from the massive elephant to the tiniest bats, shrews and mice.This compact guide covers all of the common and some of the less common mammal species of the region. For each species it offers:• key identification features, behaviour, diet, breeding biology, occurrence and size• clear, full-colour photographs• track illustrations...

Spectacular Snakes of Australia showcases these beautiful creatures which play such an important part in our biodiversity. It portrays most of the species found in Australia, such as tiger snakes, copperheads, brown snakes, death adders and sea snakes, up close and personal. It also includes some unique photographs, such as the hatching of scrub pythons, that offer a rare glimpse into their more intimate lives. The informative text, based on the latest research, describes the reproductive bio...