The book attempts to cover the needs of both those beginning birdwatching and those who have a more extensive knowledge ofbirding. In the first section the emphasis is on assisting the novice birdwatcher with general background information on birds. The main section contains photographs of most land and shore birds seen in this region and should assist both the novice and the advanced bird watcher.

The area covered by this publication extends from Carnarvon in the north across to Kalgoorlie and Esperance in the south east of Western Australia. In vegetation terms. the true South West is a region known as the ‘South West Bocanical Province’; within this region lies one of the richest flora areas in the world. It certainly is not the richest birding area in the world or in fact in Australia, however some fascinating species occur in the Greater South West including fourteen species endemic to Western Australia. There are also several near endemic species and many subspecies.

The guidebook takes us past the South West Botanical Province into what is known as the ‘Mulga Region’, part of a fat greater botanical area botanists refer to as the ‘Eremaean Province’ which covers most of the semi-arid and arid regions of Australia. By doing so, it includes many species not found in the South West, including some mangrove species.

The author has not only attempted to write in a direct factual manner but also to add a slight personal aspect to the guidebook, hopefully to add some interest to the reader as much of the information is founded on nearly forty years of birding in Australia. pp. 304 colour illusts. Detailed identifiers. Out of print. #0817/0720