Book review: Australian Falcons

Dr Stephen Debus has authored a fantastic new book, Australian Falcons: Ecology, Behaviour and Conservation, which has been recently published by CSIRO Publishing and should be an invaluable resource for raptor biologists, birdwatchers, and all those that work with raptor conservation.

Australia has six falcon species, and as William Riddell notes in his Foreword, ‘with large eyes and dark moustachial markings denoting vigilance, and their distinct tomial tooth, falcons are stunning creatures’. Pictures of these remarkable birds are included in the book, with photography by David Whelan.

With their position at the top of the food-chain, falcons are important indicators of ecosystem health. This book features chapters on the Nankeen Kestrel, Brown Falcon, Grey Falcon, Black Falcon, Peregrine Falcon, the Australian Hobby, and the falcon-like hawk – the Black-shouldered Kite.

For each of these falcons, Dr Debus provides extensive detail on their identification in the field, habitat, distribution and population, behaviour, breeding, diet and social organisation. There is a further chapter dedicated to the falcon breeding cycle, along with commentary on the threats facing these birds.

The availability of comprehensive information about falcons, such as contained in this book, should be a force for good, for those involved in their conservation.

Dr Debus has studied Australia’s raptors, including falcons, for over 40 years, and is an honorary research associate in zoology at the University of New England. Dr Debus is the author of Australasian Eagles and Eagle-like Birds, Australian Birds of Prey in Flight and Birds of Prey of Australia, and he was previously awarded BirdLife Australia ’s D.L. Serventy Medal for ornithological publication.

For more information visit: https://www.publish.csiro.au/book/8058/