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Penny Olsen

The books are ordered by publication date with the most recent at the top.

Australian Predators of the Sky

Penny Olsen

2015

"This book begins with fascinating descriptions by award-winning natural history author Penny Olsen on the discovery and illustration of birds of prey in Australia, and their characteristics and ecology, followed by full-colour illustrations of each species by a variety of artists, accompanied by intriguing notes about the birds. 'Australian Predators of the Sky' comprises over 200 striking paintings, lithographs and engravings of all 34 Australian species-25 diurnal birds of prey such as eagles, hawks and falcons, and nine owls such as hawk-owls and barn-owls."

Louisa Atkinson's Nature Notes

Editor: Penny Olsen

2015

"Presented in the style of a sketchbook, and organised by season, 'Louisa Atkinson's Nature Notes' teams Louisa's beautiful drawings and paintings of Australian plants, animals and birds with short extracts from her nature writings. The book includes an essay about Louisa Atkinson's life and milieu by nature and science writer Penny Olsen."

An Eye for Nature: The Life and Art of William T. Cooper

Penny Olsen

National Library of Australia

2014

"In the work of artist William T.Cooper, platypuses swim in green underwater worlds, waves throw up blankets of spray, embers glow in the aftermath of a bushfire, a Thylacine emerges from the shadows, sniffing the air. But it is his paintings of birds which set Cooper apart-his raucous cockatoos, colourful parrots, animated turacos and flamboyantly displaying birds of paradise. Often placed in meticulously studied landscapes, these intricate bird portraits reveal Cooper's close observation not only of his subjects' appearance, but their habits, poses and behaviour. In this biography, Penny Olsen traces the path of Cooper's life and art-from his childhood spent in the bush, to his teenage years as an apprentice taxidermist at Carey Bay Zoo and, later, to his work as a window dresser and landscape artist. She documents his fruitful partnership with wife and collaborator Wendy Cooper and his extensive travels in Australia and abroad in pursuit of his subject."

Cayley and Son: The Life and Art of Neville Henry Cayley and Neville William Cayley

Penny Olsen

2013

"The classic field guide What Bird Is That? has been known to bird enthusiasts throughout Australia for decades, ever since it was first published in 1931. It was written and illustrated by Neville William Cayley (1886–1950), son of artist Neville Henry Cayley (1854 - 1903) who, before him, had also had dreams of publishing a 'big bird book' - a comprehensive publication on Australian birds - but it never came to fruition. Cayley and Son charts the lives and works of this Australian father-and-son pair of bird artists."

Flocks of Colour

Penny Olsen

National Library of Australia

2013

"What name could be a more apt description of Australia than 'The Land of Parrots', a name inspired by late sixteenth-century maps showing a southern region labelled 'Psittacorum regio'? This beautiful book takes a close look at parrots in Australia, from the first published illustration of an Australian parrot - a Rainbow Lorikeet collected live on Cook's 1770 voyage - to William T. Cooper's twentieth-century watercolour of the elusive Night Parrot. With introductory essays by ornithologist Penny Olsen, Flocks of Colour covers two and a quarter centuries of discovery and illustration of Australia's avifauna. It features a rich portfolio of images of all the Australian parrots, by various artists including John Gould, Edward Lear, Neville W. Cayley and William T. Cooper, selected from the collections of the National Library of Australia."

A Botanical Life: Robert David Fitzgerald

Penny Olsen

2013

"Robert David Fitzgerald (1830–1892) was a successful colonial surveyor who had arrived in Australia in 1856 as a young Irish immigrant of 25. He was employed by the Lands Department in New South Wales and, although he was an exemplary public servant, he was also one of the last of the Victorian-era gentlemen scientists: an avid naturalist, ornithologist and skilled taxidermist. In 1864, while searching for birds to add to his collection, he was inspired by the discovery of a clump of Rock Lilies (Dendrobium speciosum) to collect a number of other orchid specimens in the area. Over the following years, Fitzgerald devoted his leisure time to botanical illustration and documented the orchids of Australia, publishing his discoveries in his internationally acclaimed work, Australian Orchids. In so doing, he corresponded and engaged with some of the great thinkers of his time, including Ferdinand von Mueller, George Bentham and Charles Darwin. A Botanical Life presents a short biography, followed by a portfolio section of more than 100 stunning full-colour images of flowers painted by Robert David Fitzgerald."

Collecting Ladies: Ferdinand Von Mueller and Women Botanical Artists

Penny Olsen

2013

"Around 1870, Ferdinand von Mueller (1825–1896), the greatest Australian botanist of the nineteenth century, began to advertise in several newspapers across Australia for 'lady' plant collectors. While only about ten per cent of Mueller's astounding 3000-strong network of collectors were women, this was extraordinary at a time when women typically had little recourse to science or contact with men outside their circle of friends. The profiles and artwork of 14 of Mueller's coterie of women collectors are presented in Collecting Ladies. Included are Fanny Charsley, Louisa Atkinson, Annie Walker and Ellis Rowan for whom Mueller made time to assist in pursuit of their own botanical passions. He identified the plants they painted and provided letters of introduction to publishers and scientists. Louisa Anne Meredith had her own literary career but was honoured by Mueller with what she called an 'immortelle', an everlasting daisy. Fanny De Mole, Margaret Forrest, Rosa Fiveash, Gertrude Lovegrove, Harriet and Helena Scott all benefited from the milieu Mueller created. Together, these ladies produced some of the most beautiful books and botanical art in Australia in the nineteenth century, covering all the Australian colonies."

Bird Anatomy for Artists

Natalia Balo

BFineArt

2013

"This informative textbook for bird artists is a comprehensive survey of the complete bird from head to tail. The book is full of masterly illustrations that are clear and easy to understand, including black and white working drawings, examples of the artist's field studies and exquisite colour illustrations. The examples are mostly of Australian birds. Every part of the bird's body is outlined in detail with informative text and helpful drawing instructions."

Have You Seen My Egg?

Penny Olsen and Rhonda N. Garward

2013

Our Nest Is Best!

Penny Olsen and Penny O'Hara

2012

Stray Feathers: Reflections on the Structure, Behaviour and Evolution of Birds

Penny Olsen and Leo Joseph

2011

"Stray Feathers showcases some of the remarkable adaptations of Australian birds. A brief introduction describes how evolution shapes form and function, followed by a series of vignettes illustrating the wondrous variety of forms and functions shaped by evolution. For example, did you know that Barn Owls can hunt in absolute darkness and that cuckoos commence incubation before their egg is laid? Sections include anatomy and physiology; the senses; giving voice; tongues talking; plumage; getting around; finding and handling food; optimising foraging and feeding; reducing competition; using ‘tools'; communicating; quality vs quantity; courtship; nests; parental care; chicks; and living together."

A Flutter of Butterflies

Michael F. Braby and Penny Olsen

2011

"A Flutter of Butterflies is a stunning showcase of illustrations of Australian butterflies and moths held by the National Library of Australia. The artists' works span the years from the 1770s, through the early colonial period to the turn of the twenty-first century, and capture a range of styles and purpose, from taxonomic description and identification to purely decorative. Included are some of Australian most-loved artists, including Louisa Anne Meredith, Marian Ellis Rowan and Charles McCubbin. Common to all is a deep appreciation of Australian Lepidoptera and a meticulous approach to its depiction. In bringing together over 200 years of drawings and paintings of Australian butterflies and moths, this beautifully illustrated book is an enduring tribute to these fascinating insects."

Upside Down World: Early European Impressions of Australia’s Curious Animals

Penny Olsen

2010

"In Upside Down World: Early European Impressions of Australia’s Curious Animals, author Penny Olsen describes how this ‘miscellany of the curious’ fuelled the rage for Australian natural history amongst the upper classes of Europe, bringing income and, occasionally, fame to its collectors and documenters. In the colony itself, however, it contributed to wholesale destruction of animals and their habitats and, in some cases, led to their extinction. Upside Down World is lavishly illustrated with early European images, most held in the National Library of Australia collection and some of which have never before been reproduced. Scattered throughout are fascinating and colourful descriptions of species from collectors’ and naturalists’ journals, showing us how the scientific knowledge of Australian fauna evolved."

The Best Nest

Adapted by Penny Olsen

2010

Based on a 1945 book by C.E. Stamp "Birds with their own nests agree, theirs is the best that could possibly be." Includes illustrations by Neville Henry Cayley, Betty Temple Watts, Ebenezer Edward Gostelow and Elinor Archer.

A Brush with Birds: Australian Bird Art from the National Library of Australia

National Library of Australia

2008

"The paintings of Australian birds in A Brush with Birds are by artists whose work is represented in the National Library of Australia. They span the years from first settlement to the 1970s, telling us about the times as well as the birds, and showing how the style of bird art has evolved. This book is lavishly illustrated with vibrant and luscious art and it includes the stories of the artists behind the paintings."

The State of Australia's Birds 2008: A Five Year Review

Compiled by: Penny Olsen

2008

"The 2008 report focuses on trends in bird populations as revealed by about 50 long-term monitoring programs running for up to 40 years. Thousands of volunteers, coordinated by a handful of individuals and groups, collected much of the data. This is an extraordinary expression of concern for Australia's birds and their habitats. Without such long-term commitment, how are we to understand which bird species and communities are truly in trouble, where to focus conservation efforts, what environmental management works and whether our management of the land is sustainable? Although the report deals with birds, the findings have much broader implications for nature and society - birds are indicators of national quality of life. The latest results show that populations of many common bird species are in decline, evidence that the natural environment is continuing to be eroded through over-use, underinvestment in its care and restoration, and undervaluing of its importance."

Glimpses of Paradise: The Quest for the Beautiful Parakeet

Penny Olsen

2007

"Glimpses of Paradise: The Quest for the Beautiful Parrakeet follows the story of the Paradise Parrot, beginning in 1844, when John Gilbert spotted it on the Condamine River in Queensland. Gilbert wrote to his employer John Gould, in London, describing his find as 'without exception the most beautiful of the whole tribe I have ever seen in Australia'. Gould named it the Beautiful Parrakeet. But squatters had already begun to claim the parrot's country and by the 1890s the parakeet had disappeared from the record. Ornithologist and journalist Alec Chisholm believed that the bird, then known as the Paradise Parrot, still survived. In 1918, he launched a search. In 1922, the first and last photographs of the parrot were taken and the last confirmed observation was in 1928 - yet claims of sightings continue. In this highly illustrated and informative book, author Penny Olsen takes us on a journey of discovery. The story of the Beautiful Parrakeet - the jewel of the parrot family - is one that combines elements of natural history, human curiosity for the rare and unobtainable, and the true facts of the mystery surrounding the bird's fate."

Spirit of the Wedge-Tailed Eagle: The Art of Humphrey Price-Jones

CSIRO

2007

90 pages with colour and b/w illustrations including reproductions of 30 colour paintings.

The State of Australia's Birds 2007: Birds In A Changing Climate

Compiled by: Penny Olsen

2007

"Climate change is bringing mixed news for Australia's birds. Some species will benefit, others will be disadvantaged over and above the other long-standing threats they face. We don't know how quickly birds can adapt to the changes, but we think that many will and we know that some won't. To facilitate adaptation, connectivity is the catch-cry: reconnecting natural landscapes and habitats and connecting biodiversity to carbon policies and procedures."

Wedge-tailed Eagle

Penny Olsen

CSIRO Publishing

2006

"Australia's Wedge-tailed Eagle belongs to the family of eagles, which together span the world. Eagles are powerful predators, with exceptional powers of flight and sight. They may kill to survive, but they also sleep, play, enjoy a bath, make tender parents, and form lasting relationships. This book gives a comprehensive overview of Australia's largest true eagle and one of the country's few large predators and scavengers. First appearing in Aboriginal rock-paintings more than 5000 years ago, the Wedge-tailed Eagle was little more than a curiosity to the early European settlers. The book traces the subsequent changes in perception - from its branding as a vicious sheep killer to an iconic species worthy of conservation - and covers distribution, habitat, hunting, relationships, reproduction and chick development. A final section deals with threats to the existence of this magnificent bird."

The State of Australia's Birds 2006: Invasive Species

Compiled by: Penny Olsen, Andrew Silcocks and Michael Weston

2006

"Australia has hundreds of invasive plants and animals, both native and introduced. Some were brought purposely, others hitchhiked; the majority have taken the many opportunities offered by human alteration of the landscape. Invasive species are considered to be the greatest threat to biodiversity after habitat loss; they also exact a massive toll on agricultural production. This fourth report in the SOAB series presents examples of just a few of the issues and opinions concerning invasive species in Australia, particularly as they relate to birds. The problems are complex and the management options limited. Invasive species are widely regarded as second only to habitat loss as the greatest threat to birds. Yet, only rarely is the real impact of invasive species known. Further, the effectiveness of control actions against invasives is seldom measured in terms of the reduction in the environmental or economic damage caused."

The State of Australia's Birds 2005: Woodlands and Birds

Compiled by: Penny Olsen, Michael Weston, Chris Tzaros and Andrew Silcocks

2005

"This third annual report focuses on woodland birds. Woodlands once covered one-third of the continent. The 'great Australian bush', with its kookaburras and magpies, is part of our national identity. Yet, in the south much of the bush has given way to agriculture. In the north, the trees may remain but savannas are degraded by livestock grazing, the effect of which is exacerbated by invasive grasses in combination with inappropriate fire regimes. It should come as no surprise that woodland plant and animal communities are the most threatened in the nation. Clearing reforms are welcome and restoration is underway, but temperate woodland remnants continue to erode and bird species losses seem probable in coming years. Across the northern woodlands, seed-eaters will continue to decline unless grazing, invasive pasture grasses and fire are better managed. In the agricultural lands the situation is critical, with cessation of incremental clearing, lessening of grazing pressure and restoration of woodlands priorities for action. This includes the return of structural and spatial diversity: trees, shrubs, litter, ground cover and other elements in a patchy mosaic."

The State of Australia's Birds 2004: Water, Wetlands and birds

Compiled by: Penny Olsen and Michael Weston

2004

"This report examines the status of birds associated with Australia's wetlands at both national and regional scales. It highlights the main threats they face, the species in need of attention, and the national and international efforts to protect them. The performance of governments is examined by their response to the identification of species of high conservation concern in the Action Plan for Australian Birds 2000."

The State of Australia's Birds 2003

Compiled by: Penny Olsen, Michael Weston, Ross Cunningham and Andrew Silcocks

2003

"SOAB 2003 is the first in a series of reports summarising the fortunes of Australia's birds. It presents population trends and changes for Australian birds over various time spans - some extending from the 1960s - leading up to the present. It is intended that this introductory SOAB report sets the baseline for five-yearly overviews, informed by the Ongoing Atlas of Australian Birds and many other monitoring programs. These overviews will be interspersed with themed reports on topics such as habitat change, freshwater birds, seabirds, shorebirds, and the fate of birds on islands."

Feather and Brush: 300 Years of Australian Bird Art

Penny Olsen

2001

"This volume traces the 300-year history of bird art in Australia, from the crudely illustrated records of the earliest European voyages of discovery to the diversity of artwork available at the start of the 21st century. It is a history inseparable from the development of Australian ornithology. Against a background of establishment of the country itself, naval draftsmen, convicts, officers, settlers, naturalists, artists and scientists alike contributed both to the art and to science. Driven by the excitement of discovery and description of new and exotic birds, the illustration of Australian birds flourished in the late 18th and 19th centuries, then fell into neglect. In recent decades, increasing interest in the environment has led to a revitalization of the art. A wealth of contemporary Australian artists has tuned their attention to birds and never before has wildlife illustration been so varied and accessible. There are over 250 images representing 94 artists in the book. Some are well-known, others are published for the first time. All have been selected for their merit, be it ornithological, historical or artistic. The book links the greats of yesterday - including Ferdinand Bauer, Edward Lear, George Raper, John Lewin, the Goulds and the mysterious Port Jackson Painter - with some of the finest wildlife artists working in Australia today, many with an intimate knowledge of the birds in the field."

Australia's Pest Animals: New Solutions To Old Problems

Penny Olsen

1998

"Provides an overview of pest animal problems in Australia and promotes the use of scientifically based strategic management that is humane, cost-effective and integrated with ecologically sustainable land management."

Australian Birds of Prey

Penny Olsen

1995

"Authoritative natural history and biology of these raptors, with comprehensive identitification information and illustrations to each species. Ecology, reproduction, nutrition, behaviour, health and conservation issues are all included, along with the interaction of the birds with humans."

Handbook of the Birds of the World, Vol. 2: New World Vultures to Guineafowl

Edited by Josep Del Hoyo, Andrew Elliott and Jordi Sargatal

1994

Penny Olsen was the co-author of the chapter on falcons and caracaras.

638 pages, 60 colour plates, 302 colour photos, 590 distribution maps. This volume covers: New World vultures, osprey, hawks & eagles, secretarybird, caracaras & falcons, megapodes, chachalacas, guans & curassows, turkeys, grouse, New World quails, partridges & pheasants, and guineafowl.

Birds of Prey and Ground Birds of Australia

Editor: Penny Olsen, Francis Crome, Jerry Olsen

The National Photographic index of Australian Wildlife

Angus & Robertson

1993

Australian Raptor Studies

Editor: Penny Olsen

1993

Papers originally presented at the Australasian Raptor Association conference on September 21st-22nd 1989."

Falcons And Hawks

Penny Olsen

Facts On File

1992

"The Great Creatures of the World series details the lives of some of the most intriguing animals with vivid photographs and fun-to-read text. This spectacular volume offers young readers a fresh and exciting understanding of the world's smaller birds of prey."

Birds Of Prey

Editor: Ian Newton, Penny Olsen

Merehurst Press / Silverwater / Facts On File / Murdoch Books

1990

Reprinted in 2000 by Weldon Owen

Reprinted in 2001 by Fog City Press

"Describes various kinds of eagles, hawks, condors, ospreys, falcons, and vultures, provides information on their characteristics, behavior, and range, and explains why many face extinction."

1990 edition


2000 edition