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Takahē

Bird of Dreams

Alison Ballance

Longlist finalist 2024 Ockham New Zealand Book Awards, general non-fiction category

Takahē, is the inspiring story of the rediscovery and then recovery of the takahē, one of New Zealand’s most intriguing native birds. Once thought extinct, in 1948 Geoffrey Orbell found a small population living in a remote valley in the Murchison Mountains of Fiordland. Alison Ballance charts the history of the Takahē Recovery Programme and the struggle to get the population to grow. After many setbacks, they have in recent years managed to build up a healthy population, which will pass 500 birds in 2023. This beautiful illustrated book is full of fascinating stories about the biology and lifestyle of this delightful bird.

$59.99

In Stock

ISBN: 9781988550473 Product code: 6313 Categories: ,

Description

Takahē are ‘strange and wonderful avian beasts’, big purple-blue birds with a striking red beak and legs. Once thought extinct, they were famously rediscovered in 1948 by Invercargill doctor Geoffrey Orbell, who found a small population living in a remote valley in the Murchison Mountains of Fiordland. In this book Alison Ballance charts the history of the Takahē Recovery Programme, the longest-running species conservation programme in New Zealand, and perhaps even in the world. After many set-backs, and decades when those dedicated to saving the bird struggled to get the population to grow, they have in recent years managed to build up a healthy population, which will pass 500 birds in 2023. Full of fascinating stories about the biology and lifestyle of this delightful bird, summed up ‘as a food-obsessed, serially monogamous (mostly) devoted partner and parent, whose teenage kids stick around to help raise their younger siblings’, this beautiful illustrated and inspiring book will appeal to anyone with an interest in ornithology and the natural world of New Zealand.

Additional information

Weight 1.65 kg
ISBN

9781988550473

Pages

320

Size

250 x 200 mm

Format

Hardback with dustjacket

Author

Alison Ballance

Published

May 2023

Download: High res cover; Low res cover

Listen to interview with Alison for the podcast The Outlet Southland

Read the review on NZ Booklovers website

Read the review in Waikanae Watch

Read the review on the Kete website

Read the review  CORNZ website

Read review in the magazine 1964

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