Takahe: Bird of Dreams

by Alison Ballance

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.

Genres: Nonfiction, Nature, Birds

320 pages, Unknown Binding

First published January 1, 2023

Reviews

[Cate · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the history of the Takahe managed recovery programme. It is fantastically well detailed and extremely interesting if you want to know about recovery programmes and endangered species management.

It's long, but not too long and the many photos are wonderful. If you are interested in nz native wildlife then you'll love it, if you're not this isn't the book for you.

This goes hand in hand with her other book on kakapo, which is just as good.

[Leo · Rating 5 out of 5]

TW: quote using the g slur

So well compiled and accesable. The novella like start really built up basic knowledge the book uses to build upon later.

[Anthony Shorrock · Rating 5 out of 5]

they are so round