Author(s): Geoff Moon

NZ Natural History

Geoff Moon has been photographing New Zealand birds for over 50 years. He has pioneered techniques (including the construction of hides up to 10 metres off the ground) and piqued passions for the recording and conservation of the unique avifauna found in this country. The birds illustrated in this book are, in most cases, species of which Geoff has made an in-depth study, many of them shy creatures that become uneasy at any sign of human approach. He illustrates and the enormous amount of preparatory work he has done before finding the birds to photograph and his immense patience and attention to detail has been rewarded by some never-before-seen images at the time of photography.

Included here is, at the time, ground-breaking information about birds such as the kingfisher, which had never been photographed showing the membrane that flicks over its eye as it enters water to obtain food. GeoffÃÂÂÂÃÂÂÂÃÂÂÂâÃÂÂÂÃÂÂÂÃÂÂÂÃÂÂÂÃÂÂÂÃÂÂÂÃÂÂÂÃÂÂÂs work on moreporks was also valuable in showing what foods where fed to chicks during the night, information that was only revealed after he had developed his films. This volume of GeoffÃÂÂÂÃÂÂÂÃÂÂÂâÃÂÂÂÃÂÂÂÃÂÂÂÃÂÂÂÃÂÂÂÃÂÂÂÃÂÂÂÃÂÂÂs work records the many phases, techniques, developments, adventures and accomplishments of a man whose passion and respect for nature can only ignite the same in any reader who chooses to share his journeys. First published November 2005.