First comprehensive Adelaide wildlife guidebook released

EVER wondered what bird or animal is that? Now you can find out, with Adelaide’s first comprehensive wildlife guidebook.

FEATHERED friends are firm favourites in Adelaide’s first comprehensive wildlife guidebook.

Author and urban ecologist James Smith said birds were “so accessible and so extraordinary”.

“They are just captivating creatures,” he said.

Wildlife of Greater Adelaide covers 468 species, all creatures great and small from right across the region. It was launched this week at the South Australian Museum.

“You can have possums and you can have invertebrates in your garden, but unless you go looking for them you don’t necessarily know or see that they’re there. Birds can be part of each and every day, if we so choose.”

Author James Smith with Bob, a tawny frogmouth, which features in his book Wildlife of Greater Adelaide. It launches this Thursday. Picture: Matt Loxton

Mr Smith, of Magill, helps people attract and support wildlife in their own backyards through his company fauNature, which supplies nest boxes for birds, bats, possums and gliders.

He also works part-time at the Museum’s Discovery Centre, identifying specimens for the public.

But it was a trip to the Queensland Museum, where he came across the impressive field guide Wildlife of Greater Brisbane, that inspired Adelaide’s version.

“We have an extraordinary array of wildlife, literally living on our doorstep, which we often just take for granted,” Mr Smith said.

“Hopefully this book will make it more accessible, so people can begin to appreciate what we have and perhaps engage a bit more.”

Funding from the UniSA Barbara Hardy Institute and later, the Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges Natural Resources Management Board, was crucial to the project, along with support from the Museum, local nature groups and the wider community.

Everyone can feel proud of the result, says UniSA biology Professor Chris Daniels, who is also chairman of the NRM Board.

“The huge number of contributors, both in terms of organisations and in terms of individuals makes it really quite extraordinary,” Professor Daniels said.

“It’s an utterly stunning book that really covers everything from kangaroos to the tiniest of worms that you’re likely to find ... It’s a testament to team work.”

The region is bounded by Gawler in the north, Mount Barker to the east, Goolwa and Victor Harbour in the south and the Fleurieu Peninsula in the southwest.

Originally published as First comprehensive Adelaide wildlife guidebook released