Night Parrot: Australia's Most Elusive Bird

For well over a century, the Night Parrot lured its seekers into Australia's vast, arid outback. From the beginning it was a mystery bird. Fewer than 30 specimens were collected before it all but disappeared, offering only fleeting glimpses and the occasional mummified body as proof of its continued existence. Protected by spinifex and darkness, the parrot attained almost mythical status: a challenge to birdwatchers and an inspiration to poets, novelists and artists.

Night Parrot documents the competitiveness and secrecy, the triumphs and adventures of the history of the bird and its followers, culminating in the recent discovery of live birds at a few widely scattered locations. It describes what we are now unraveling about the mysteries of its biology and ecology and what is still left to learn. Complemented by guest essays, illustrations and photographs from a wide variety of sources, this book sheds light on Australia's most elusive bird.

Features:

- The story of one of the most elusive and enigmatic birds in the world; the "Holy Grail" of birdwatching

- Documents the impact this mysterious bird has made on our society, drawing from an eclectic range of materials including scientific articles, newspapers and ephemera, art and literature, and historical images and accounts

- Author Penny Olsen is one of Australia's leading ornithologists

Author: Penny Olsen
Publisher: CSIRO Publishing
Published: 12/21/2018
Pages: 340
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 2.00lbs
Size: 9.60h x 6.70w x 0.80d
ISBN: 9781486302987

About the Author
Olsen, Penny: - Penny Olsen is an Honorary Professor in the Division of Ecology and Evolution, Research School of Biology, The Australian National University. During her career as a research scientist she increasingly turned her hand to writing about Australian wildlife, its history, researchers and illustrators. She is the author of nearly 30 books and 120 research papers.

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