‘Pew pew.’
That's the call of an eastern whipbird, one of the many wonderful birds I hear living in the Blue Mountains in NSW.
Also full of vibrant native birds is a new book called, This Bird: Noticing Our Urban Birds, created to help identify and celebrate birds in our backyards, local parks and streets.
This Bird is written and illustrated by Astred Hicks in collaboration with Dr Holly Parsons, an ecologist and community educator. The book is a stunning way to connect with nature and be in the present moment.
On inviting glossy pages, This Bird includes interesting information such as bird type, appearance, bird watching tips, behaviour, habitat and a handy location map. In addition, there are also interesting focus pages, such as: ‘These Birds Are Noisy', ‘These Birds Live Among the Trees’ and ‘These Birds Are Architects’. A glossary is also included to help with unfamiliar words.
This Bird is a delightful mix of descriptive text as well as expert factual information, the elements of story and facts woven together to draw readers in. Dr Holly Parsons has provided her expertise in this book adding authority to the facts. The descriptive text includes bright examples of onomatopoeia, for instance this example describing yellow-tail black cockatoos, ‘uttering low pepper-grinder sounds while gleefully cracking and crunching their chunky food’.
I’ve admired Hicks for her design and illustration work under the name Design Cherry, including the cover and internal design for The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Extinct Animals. So I’m thrilled she has illustrated and written This Bird: Noticing Our Urban Birds. Her layout is attractive and appealing. I love the way many of the vibrant illustrations capture the movement of birds so at times it seems like they are taking flight off the page. And don’t miss the end papers, they are a treat: a delicious assortment of the birds included in the book.
In my class library, This Bird will be a most welcome addition providing a springboard of information to inform budding bird nerds. Further, if teachers are looking for a great example of a mixed text-type book, This Bird fits the bill. There are also teachers’ notes which align to the Australian curriculum.
‘Weeoo,’ Hang on, that's the sound of a male satin bowerbird. I’ve got to go and see the real thing. I wonder which bird you might spot?
Title: This Bird: Noticing Our Urban BirdsAuthor/Illustrator: Astred Hicks
Author: Dr Holly Parsons
Publisher: CSIRO Publishing, $32.99
Publication Date: 1 August 2025
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781486318452
For ages: 6+
Type: Junior Non-Fiction
