Wildlife of the Australian Rainforests: A State-by-State Guide is a lavishly illustrated guide to 51 significant wildlife-watching sites in 22 bioregions around Australia.
Rainforests are found in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, the Northern Territory and Western Australia. Sites are generally open to the public, (some may require permits). Detailed accounts of the key vertebrates and invertebrates that can be found in the rainforests are given, to aid in their identification and as a tool for the reader to gain a deeper understanding of their habits and biology. Concise information on each site includes location descriptions, GPS coordinates, travel options and distances, relevant fees and permits, and an overview of some of the main tracks and trails.
Peter Rowland is a passionate wildlife conservationist, educator, nature photographer and traveller. Peter is a Whitley Award-winning natural history writer who has authored and contributed to over a dozen books on Australian wildlife, published several scientific research papers on the birds of Australia and New Guinea and is a regular columnist for the Australian Geographic Magazine. Angus McNab is an ecologist, author, wildlife guide and photographer, with an MSc in Zoology. Undertaking wildlife surveys, ecological research and threatened species monitoring programs for the past 15 years, he has gained experience with each of Australia’s faunal groups and each of the major rainforest regions. John Harris is the Principal Zoologist of Wildlife Experiences, an ecological consultancy and wildlife tourism business. He worked as a teacher for nearly 20 years before branching out into a career that encompassed his lifelong passion for nature and education. He works as an ecological consultant on projects across Australia as well as leading tours to see Australia’s unique flora and fauna.
Specifications • 229 x 152 mm (9 x 6”) • 384 pages • 110,000 words approx. • 500 photographs, 28 maps
• ISBN 978-1-913679-03-3 • £24.99 (UK), A$49.99 (Australia) paperback • Available
A Naturalist’s Guide to the Lizards of Australia, featuring 280 of Australia’s most beautiful, unusual and commonly encountered lizard species, provides a thorough introduction to the land of the lizard.
Stunning photographs from Australia’s top nature photographers are accompanied by detailed species descriptions, which include nomenclature, size, distribution, habits and habitat. The user-friendly introduction covers the geography and climate of Australia, types of habitat, and details of orders and families. Also included is an all-important checklist of all of the lizards of Australia encompassing, for each species, its common and scientific name, which state it is present in and its IUCN Red List status.
Scott Eipper is a herpetological consultant, author and wildlife photographer,
who works with his wife Tyese, in their business Nature 4 You. As part of his role Scott conducts wildlife surveys, emergency removals and educational displays. He has written books, papers and numerous articles on Australian herpetofauna.
Tyese Eipper is a wildlife photographer who works with her husband in their business Nature 4 You. With over 18 years experience working with snakes and other reptiles across Australia, Tyese is the collection manager of Nature 4 You. She has written various articles on Australian herpetofauna.
Published in association with AUSTRALIAN GEOGRAPHIC
Specifications • 180 x 128 mm (7 x 5”) • 176 pages • 40,000 words approx. • 300 photographs
• ISBN 978-1-913679-06-4 • £12.99 (UK), A$29.99 (Australia) paperback • Available
The 100 Best Birdwatching Sites in Australia is about having fun birding. It contains the author’s personal selection of 100 of the best birdwatching sites in all states, territories and islands of Australia. The sites are chosen for the large number of species or the large number of special birds to be found in each one. In some cases the sites are quite specific, such as Hasties Swamp, some are huge (Lakefield National Park), some are lengthy (the Strzelecki Track) and some cover a whole district, such as Katherine.
Sue Taylor’s engaging narrative describes the efforts she goes to in search of particular species. For each site she covers the type of habitat, which special species may be found there and when is the best time to visit. She lists four birds to look out for. Photographs show the site and two of the species that inhabit it whether as residents or as seasonal visitors.
Sue Taylor is a keen birdwatcher and twitcher. She has seen over 800 Australian birds on her travels throughout Australia and its territories. After a series of administrative jobs, she embarked on a freelance writing career in 1998 and has since written short stories, newspaper articles and five books on birdwatching. She is also the author of Birding Australia’s Islands, published by John Beaufoy Publishing.
Specifications 210 x 180 mm (8¼ x 7”) • 224 pages • 58,500 words approx. • approx. 350 photographs +
100 thumbnail maps
• ISBN 978-1-913679-10-1 • UK £19.99/A$39.99 paperback • Available
A Newsworthy Naturalist: The Life of William Yarrell is a biography of William Yarrell (1784–1856), an influential naturalist at a time when natural history was becoming an important factor in 19th century society. He wrote two important books: A History of British Fishes and A History of British Birds, still being quoted as the authorities well into the next century and admired today, especially for their delightful wood engravings. He was a member and sometime Treasurer, Secretary and Vice-President of the Zoological, Linnean and Entomological Societies. He was known to, and greatly admired by, the leading naturalists; Charles Darwin sought Yarrell’s advice on several occasions. In addition to his key role as an organiser and disseminator of knowledge about the British fish and bird fauna, Yarrell also conducted significant original scientific research, being perhaps best known as the first person to recognise Bewick’s Swan as a separate species from the Whooper Swan, naming it Cygnus bewickii after his illustrious ornithological predecessor.
Yarrell owned the London newsagency, Jones and Yarrell, with his partner, Edward Jones from 1803 until 1850. They held a royal warrant and supplied the Houses of Parliament as well as royalty with newspapers.
Besides his work on natural history and running the newsagency, he was a popular figure with his friends, renowned for the good food and wine served at his convivial dinner parties, and he was a prolific correspondent.
Christine E. Jackson worked as a qualified librarian (A.L.A.) before retiring and writing on bird art. She breaks new ground with each title – pioneering studies first of bird illustration, then bird art, and also Fish in Art – and the biography of Yarrell is no exception. She is an occasional consultant to both auction houses, Sotheby’s and Christie’s, London. She has authored 16 books on biographies of naturalists and the history of bird illustration, as well as numerous articles. She transcribed or abstracted all of Yarrell’s correspondence as the basis for this first study of his life and work.
A Newsworthy Naturalist is published in association with the British Ornithologists’ Club
Specifications • 230 x 152 mm (9 x 6”) • 272 pages • 84,000 words • approx. 60 line drawings, 12 plates, 4 portraits
• ISBN 978-1-913679-04-4
• £25.00 hardback with
jacket
• Available
The World’s Great Rail Journeys is a portrait in words and photographs of over 50 of the world’s most exciting, unusual and exotic railway journeys, including North America, Europe, Africa, Asia and Australasia. Each journey is accompanied by a route map and is described in terms of the technical challenges of the construction of the track as well as the stunning views to be seen while travelling on the trains. One of the most famous, the Orient Express route from Paris to Istanbul, is historical and no longer possible as a single journey but full details of how to trace the route today accompany the description of the original concept. Other journeys are included because of the exciting countryside they pass through, such as the spectacular railways in the Canadian Rockies, or the challenging nature of the route, such as India’s Darjeeling Himalayan Railways, or the Indian Pacific which runs across Australia from Perth to Sydney.
The World’s Great Rail Journeys is perfect for all railway enthusiasts, whether actual or armchair travellers.
Brian Solomon was editor of Pacific Railnews for several years before becoming a freelance writer and photographer. His work has appeared in numerous railway publications and he has authored more than 44 books. He has travelled to ride and photograph railways in more than 30 nations around the world. For this book he has brought together a team of expert contributors, all with first hand experience of the journeys.
Specifications:
• 260 x 215 mm (10¼ x 8½”) • 208 pages • 47,000 words • 160 photographs + 45 maps • ISBN 978-1-912081-77-6 • £25.00 hardback • Publication October 2022
A Naturalist’s Guide to the Mammals of Sri Lanka is a photographic identification guide to 92 land and 30 marine mammals, representing 90 per cent of all mammals in Sri Lanka, and providing a perfect for guide for residents and visitors alike.
Over 300 high-quality photographs from Sri Lanka’s top nature photographers are accompanied by detailed species descriptions, which include nomenclature, size, distribution, habitat and viewing tips. The user-friendly introduction covers climatic zones, topography, top wildlife sites, night safaris and where to watch marine mammals. Also included is an all-important checklist of all of the mammals of Sri Lanka encompassing, for each species, its common and scientific names.
Gehan de Silva Wijeyeratne is one of Sri Lanka’s most high-profile wildlife personalities. He is passionate about Sri Lanka’s natural history and has authored and photographed over 370 articles for national and international newspapers and magazines on Sri Lankan biodiversity, travel and business topics. His many books include Wild Sri Lanka and the Photographic Field Guide to the Birds of Sri Lanka as well as other titles in the Naturalist’s Guide series on birds, trees, flowers, and butterflies and dragonflies, all published by John Beaufoy Publishing.
Specifications:
• 180 x 128 mm (7 x 5”)
• 176 pages
• 40,000 words approx.
• over 300 photographs
• ISBN 978-1-912081-44-8
• £11.99 paperback
• Available
A Naturalist’s Guide to the Butterflies of Australia is an introductory photographic identification guide to 280 butterfly species commonly seen in Australia. It is suitable for all levels of naturalist, and is perfect for resident and visitor alike. High-quality photographs from Martin Purvis and from Australia’s other top nature photographers are accompanied by John Nielsen’s detailed species descriptions, which include nomenclature, size, distribution, habitat and habits. The user-friendly introduction covers the structure and life cycle of butterflies and their behaviour as a key to observing them. Also included is an up-to-date checklist of the butterflies of Australia encompassing, for each species, its common and scientific names and its IUCN status.
The fully updated third edition includes extensive updates to the text, taxonomy and many new images of the species covered.
John Nielsen is an entomologist by training with over 20 years’ experience working in biosecurity and medical entomology. Passionate about butterflies since childhood, he has observed and photographed them for over 30 years, with his favourites being the Swallowtail family and the genus Morpho from South America.
Martin Purvis was so obsessed by butterflies as a small child that his class’s nature table was full of jars of caterpillars that his Mum wouldn’t let him keep at home. With the advent of digital cameras, he began photographing butterflies, and over the last 20 years his little collection of butterfly photos has, without him understanding quite how it happened, evolved into a website comprising around 9,000 photos.
Specifications:
• 180 x 128 mm (7 x 5”)
• 176 pages
• 45,000 words approx.
• 300 photographs
• ISBN 9781917879118
• £12.99 paperback (UK), A$29.99 including GST (Australia)
• November 2026
An Australian Birding Year is 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.
Kenn Kaufman said, “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.”
The book 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.
Specifications:
• 229 x 152 mm (9 x 6”)
• 372 pages
• 45,000 words approx.
• approx. 145 photographs
+ 10 maps
• ISBN 978-1-912081-38-7
• £19.99 (UK),A$39.99 paperback
• Available
A Naturalist’s Guide to the Birds of New Zealand is an introductory photographic guide to 250 bird species in New Zealand, including the most commonly seen, resident and endemic species. Designed for all levels of birder, it is perfect for locals and visitors alike. High-quality photographs from one of New Zealand’s youngest nature photographers are accompanied by detailed species descriptions, which include nomenclature, size, distribution, habits and habitat. The user-friendly introduction covers climate, vegetation, biogeography and the key sites for viewing the listed species. Also included is an all-important checklist of all of the birds of New Zealand encompassing, for each species, its English, Māori and scientific names, local status, and threat level, updated in 2026.
The fully revised third edition features the latest research and over 100 spectacular new photos of Aotearoa New Zealand’s birdlife.
Oscar Thomas spent his school years volunteering for conservation organizations, advocating and raising awareness for Aotearoa New Zealand’s unique birds. Born in Auckland, Oscar now resides in Dunedin after completing a Master’s in Ecology at the University of Otago, and works as an expedition guide to remote destinations like the Subantarctic Islands to share wildlife with others.
Specifications • 180 x 128 mm (7 x 5”) • 176 pages • 35,000 words approx. • 200–300 photographs
• ISBN 9781917879071 • £12.99 paperback (UK), NZ$29.99 including GST • Available
A Naturalist’s Guide to the Trees of Sri Lanka is a photographic identification guide to 125 tree species most commonly seen in Sri Lanka, which is perfect for resident and visitor alike.
Over 350 high quality photographs from Sri Lanka’s top nature photographers are accompanied by detailed species descriptions, which include nomenclature, size, distribution and habitat. The user-friendly introduction covers geography and climate, the different habitats and tree structure.
Gehan de Silva Wijeyeratne is one of Sri Lanka’s most high profile wildlife personalities. He is passionate about Sri Lanka’s natural history and has authored and photographed over 370 articles for national and international newspapers and magazines on Sri Lankan biodiversity, travel and business topics. His many books include Wild Sri Lanka and the Photographic Field Guide to the Birds of Sri Lanka as well as other titles in the Naturalist’s Guide series on birds, and butterflies and dragonflies, all published by John Beaufoy Publishing.
Specifications • 180 x 128 mm (7 x 5”) • 176 pages • 40,000 words approx. • 300 photographs
• ISBN 978-1-912081-48-6 • £11.99 paperback • Publication October 2019