RFI: New Zealand

["Ross Silcock" <>]

Hi all:
I agree with Brent on the seabird guide by Parkinson; how often do we get to
ID seabirds sitting on land??  I was very disappointed to see so few flight
shots. I still think Heather and Robertson is far and away the best book on
NZ birds; I'd go so far as to say it's the best readily available field
guide for seabirds, at least for the South Pacific, Tasman, and Southern
Ocean.
On Chambers' Locality Guide, it probably could be improved with better
layout and organization, but it's still a useful guide to places (as Brent
said, the list of places in the back is a great improvement over the first
edition), and thus a worthwhile compliment to Heather and Robertson.  This
type of book goes out of date very quickly, though, especially when dealing
with such rare endemics as many of NZ's are. A NZ book along the lines of
Thomas and Thomas would be a good thing!
Ross

Ross Silcock
First Express Insurance
P.O. Box 369
Sidney, IA  51653

http://firstexpressinsurance.com