"Bird's Eye View" is a quite amazing book by Matakana resident Maria Gill and with photographs by noted natural history photographers Darryl Torckler and Geoff Moon.
Please excuse the colour in this photograph which has been totally distorted by my computer. You should actually be looking at rich browns and gold instead
of the blues and mauves! Apologies to the photgrapher, author and publisher.
Although published by Penguin under their children's imprint Puffin Books I personally think this will also be of great appeal to all adults interested in New Zealand birdlife. I came across it during a visit to the recently opened Puriri Tree, a store on the main road between Matakana and Whangateau about an hours drive north of Auckland.
I describe the book as amazing because using the latest avian-vision research we are shown just exactly what it is that 13 New Zealand birds see in their natural habitats.
The author has received help from world avian-vision expert Dr.Graham Martin. Some of his research findings has only recently been published in scientific journals and never before has a book shown just what a bird can see in its natural environment.
If you are interested at all in NZ birds than have a look at this book and be prepared to be amazed.I should add that there is loads of other information too on the birds' other senses and natural habitat.
Picture below of author, Maria Gill:
Maria will be at the Storylines Festival of NZ Children's Writers and Illustrators 5-10 June 2007. She will visit schools and early childhood centres around Auckland on the Story Tour, lead a writing workshop for children on the Saturday, and feature in the non-fiction area at the Auckland Free Family Day (Aotea Centre, Sunday 10 June 10am-5pm). There will be many other top NZ writers, illustrators there including Margaret Mahy, and two international guests - Shaun Tan from Australia and Mal Peet from UK. Lots of info on www.storylines.org.nz
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