Bird guide for New Zealand - thorough, fairly light (1 Viewer)

[Allen S. Moore]

It looks as if there are a few bird guides to New Zealand, a country that I am thinking about visiting next year on the same trip as Australia, which I have been to 4 times already. Weight will be at a premium, so I would be looking for a fairly light weight guide to the birds of NZ that is also thorough, although I'm not all that bothered about vagrants, just good coverage of the native species. Any recommendations?

 

[birdboybowley]

I think the only decent one is the 'FG to the Birds of NZ' by Heather & Robertson

http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Field-G...=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1339092961&sr=1-2

Also, when I went I just picked up a copy from the first bookshop in town....much easier!! (And probably cheaper too!)

 

[flossiepip]

If weight is at a premium, then I would leave the FG to the birds of NZ back at home and take the Hand Book to the birds of NZ Heather and Robertson. Has all you need and is much smaller and lighter. One other worth mention is the new Collins Travellers Guide to the Birds of NZ Fitter and Merton, very small with good photos, nice book.

 

[Allen S. Moore]

Thanks, BBB and Flossiepip, some books to think about there. I have recently retired and might go to Australia and New Zealand for 2-3 months to see as many places and as much wildlife as I can. That will be lots of travelling and, hence, my concerns about weight. Leaving it until I reach NZ to buy the book is an interesting idea, although I must admit that one of the pleasures of such a trip is the reading up about it beforehand! I spotted some good photographs on the internet of native birds on Tiritiri Matangi, which is really what fired up my interest.

 

[flossiepip]

Books tend to be rarther expensive here in NZ. Another one to look out for might be the new Collins FG to the Wildlife of NZ, though not all birds are in there!

 

[njlarsen]

If you are truly interested in birds, I probably would think differently: bring the best book and buy new socks etc with some regularity along the way and save the weight on these other items

Niels

 

[birdboybowley]

Tbh, a fieldguide to Oz and NZ stuffed in your bag pretty much weighs......nothing!

 

[MJB]

Thanks, BBB and Flossiepip, some books to think about there. I have recently retired and might go to Australia and New Zealand for 2-3 months to see as many places and as much wildlife as I can. That will be lots of travelling and, hence, my concerns about weight. Leaving it until I reach NZ to buy the book is an interesting idea, although I must admit that one of the pleasures of such a trip is the reading up about it beforehand! I spotted some good photographs on the internet of native birds on Tiritiri Matangi, which is really what fired up my interest.

Allen,
I endorse the advice already given, but if you are making a long trip, you might pick up some ideas from my long Oz trip here: http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=202527.

If you want any details about Oz or NZ that I might be able to help with, just PM me.
MJB

 

[Allen S. Moore]

Thanks for everyone's advice.

Allen

 

[Chlidonias]

the only real options for NZ fieldguides are the Heather & Robertson ones (Field Guide and Hand Book). They are the same book except the Hand Book is only half the size because its just the plates and short descriptive text. The Field Guide is twice the thickness because it contains a lot of information after the plates section. Every bird recorded in NZ is illustrated (apart for a few very recent vagrants).

The Hand Book weighs almost nothing so is the one you should go with if weight is a major concern. It is also easier to flick through when actually out in the field. I had a look on bookdepository.co.uk and its about twice the price on there as it is in a bookshop in NZ. http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/Hand-Guide-Birds-New-Zealand-Barrie-Heather/9780198508311