Australian Birds of Prey - Tapa dura

The extraordinary wildlife of Australia has long held a special fascination for people throughout the world. Now international authority Penny Olsen offers the definitive work on Australia's spectacular birds of prey.
In describing Australia's twenty-four species of birds of prey, Olsen relates their complex biology to the continent's unique geography and ecology. She explains why species such as the Nankeen Kestrel and Brown Falcon can range widely from coastal cliffs and river valleys to arid grasslands and wooded hillsides. She describes why others, such as the Red Goshawk, Pacific Baza, and Brahminy Kite, have ranges dramatically limited by their dependence on particular habitats and types of prey. Throughout, she focuses on important conservation issues that effect the well-being of raptors in the wild. She also describes their interactions with humans and recent advances in the care of sick and captive birds.

Penny Olsen is a research fellow in the Division of Botany and Zoology at the Australian National University.