Fiji Nature

A Guide to the Birds of Fiji & Western Polynesia (including American Samoa, Niue, Samoa, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu and Wallis & Futuna) by Dick Watling. ISBN 9829047016. Recommended retail price $45

A Guide to the Birds of Fiji & Western Polynesia is a completely revised and reformatted edition of the widely acclaimed Birds of Fiji, Tonga &Samoa and includes, in addition, the atoll nations of Tuvalu and Tokelau. The guide has detailed species accounts for the 173 species with confirmed records in the region and notes on a further 22 species with unconfirmed records. Every breeding bird and regular migrant is illustrated on 16 full color plates. Encouraging conservation of birds is a specific objective of this book, and so in a chapter 'Conservation" up-to-date information on the conservation status of the region's avifauna is provided with an overview of past and present threats, and priority conservation needs.

Another chapter, 'Ornithology of the Region: an Overview' provides an informative background to the study of the region's birds. Small though they may be, the islands of the region have plenty to offer the interested birder with 54 endemic or 'near endemic' species (and over 100 endemic subspecies). How to best see these and the other birds is fully covered in a chapter 'Birding in the Region.' Hard cover, 272 pages. Published in 2001.

 Birds of Fiji. 1. Land birds. By Dick Watling, illustrated by Chloe Talbot-Kelly. Recommended retail $10, our price $9.

This foldout field guide is designed by a field ornithologist for use in the field. It folds readily into the section on the required environment. The illustrations are taken from The Birds of Fiji, Tonga and Samoa also by Dick and illustrated by Chloe. I recommend buying the book for your library and the poster guides (see below) for your field trip to Fiji.

Birds of Fiji. 2. Sea & Shore Birds by Dick Watling illustrated by Chloe Talbot-Kelly. Recommended retail price $10, our price $9.

This super little guide is the companion to Dick’s land birds of Fiji described above. The pocket poster guide format works really well. It folds readily into either the section on seabirds or the shore birds. I recommend buying the book for your library and the pocket poster guides for your field trip to Fiji.

Birds of the Fiji Bush by Fergus Clunie, illustrated by Pauline Morse. Published by the Fiji Museum. Recommended retail price $15.

There are more than 70 species of native land birds in the Fiji Islands, 58 of which are established native residents. A remarkable proportion of these - no less than 40% - are not found anywhere else in the world. With the possible exception of Dick Watling, Fergus Clunie knows more about Fiji's land birds than anyone else does.

With 72 full-color illustrations and 13 black and white drawings, Birds of the Fiji Bush identifies every species of land bird known to occur in the Fiji Islands, and backgrounds their life histories. Soft cover, 142 pages. This edition published in 1999.

Diving and Snorkeling Guide to Fiji by W. Gregory Brown. Recommended retail price $16.99..

Fiji provides some of the world’s best diving and this slim volume tells you why. Experienced underwater photographer W. Gregory Brown takes you on an underwater journey to 21 of Fiji’s prime dive sites. Some of the information is no longer quite current (Mariah’s Cove has been cyclone damaged for instance) but is still useful for the land-based diver. Most of the photographs are superb. Some of the Fijian spelling leaves a little to be desired but the book is recommended for any diver/snorkeler heading to Fiji. Soft cover, 90 pages.

Fiji's Natural Heritage by Paddy Ryan. Published by Exisle Publishing. ISBN 0-908988-14-1. Recommended retail price $39.95.

"A superb - and most importantly - a comprehensive survey of all aspects of the rich natural world of Fiji. This is the sort of guide that anyone with curiosity about the land, the plants and animals around them is constantly seeking, and so rarely finds. It's a book that will, I am sure, be constantly consulted and treasured." - Sir David Attenborough.

I wrote and photographed this book so you can't expect me to be unbiased. There are over 500 color photos and a lot of useful information packed into the 288 pages of this hard cover book. Fiji's Natural Heritage represents extraordinary value for money and the only reason we can offer it at this price is because New Zealand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade have bought a copy for every school in Fiji and the Seacology Foundation have paid to have it translated into Fijian.

The first edition was published in 1988 to critical acclaim. Twelve years later we've learned much more about Fiji's unique ecosystems and I have taken many new photos. The end result, thanks to my many learned friends, is probably the most comprehensive popular book on any Pacific Island ecosystem. I can only describe this book as a labor of love and by far and away the best work I've ever done.

Reserve your copy now by e-mailing us immediately and I will sign your copy with whatever dedication you like. Hard cover, 288 pages.

Click here for reviews of Fiji's Natural Heritage.

Click here for illustrations from Fiji's Natural Heritage

Herpetofauna of Fiji, Field Guide to by Clare Morrison. ISBN 9820105579. Published by the Institute of Applied Sciences, University of the South Pacific. Recommended retail price $20.00.

At last a field guide to complement Dick Watling's poster series on birds. Fiji has long lacked comprehensive field guides for the enthusiastic naturalist or serious biologist; A Field Guide to the Herpetofauna of Fiji is a welcome addition to the ranks. Written by Clare Morrison, who grew up in Fiji, it includes full color photos of every known Fijian species. Immodesty forces me to admit that a number of these shots are mine. Many of my friends and colleagues helped Clare put this together and the accumulated knowledge makes for a wonderful guide made accessible by Dr. Morrison's succinct text. It is so good to see someone give a little back to this wonderful country.

Soft cover,  121 pages

Mai Veikau: Tales of Fijian Wildlife by Dick Watling with illustrations by Ian Rolls. Recommended retail price $13, our price $12.

This delightful book is based on a series of nature columns Dick wrote for the Fiji Times and Herald. Each chapter describes a different animal or plant. We get to read about fiddler crabs, head lice, the stinging salato tree and a variety of other equally interestng topics. Where relevant Dick includes Fijian legends. The book is illustrated with fine pencil and water colour paintings by Ian Rolls. Soft cover, 160 pages. Free postage.

Click here for images from Mai Veikau by Dick Watling

Click below for links to related books

Birds of Hawai'i and the Tropical Pacific: A Field Guide to by H. Douglas Pratt, Philip L. Bruner, and Delwyn G. Berret. Illustrated by H. Douglas Pratt