On the Trail of the Plains-wanderer: A precious Australian bird by Rohan Cleave illustrated by Julian Teh

"They are the only member of their family tree. No other bird exists like them anywhere on the planet. 

This is why the Pains-wanderer is so important."

This is a wonderful new Australian book about a very appealing and rare little ground bird. Just before I discovered this book, I visited Deniliquin in Southern New South Wales and while I was there I read a report in a local newspaper about the Plains-wanderer. Later I discovered that in 2021 the town held an art exhibition to raise funds to help save this endangered bird. 

Here is one example of a painting from the fund raising event:

The cover illustration of On the Trail of the Plains-wanderer is so striking. Compare it with this photo from eBird.

Julian Teh really captures the personality the Plains-wanderer but without reducing it to a comic character. The page where we are given an aerial view of the cracked red earth is especially powerful (this is used on the back cover too) and the spotlight scene creates a very effective page turn. The horizon line gives a strong sense of the landscape – the vast plain where this rare bird lives. The tussocky grass looks almost tactile. 

This tiny bird is now only found in western Victoria, eastern South Australia and in the western Riverina region of NSW. You can hear it here. 

Image source: Birds in backyards

Scientific name: Pedionomus torquatus

Conservation status in NSW: Endangered

Commonwealth status: Critically Endangered

Threats - loss of habitat; farming practices and overuse of chemicals; predators such as birds of prey, foxes and feral cats.

The Plains-wanderer is a small quail-like bird standing about 12-15 cm tall and weighing 40 to 95 grams. Both sexes have straw-yellow legs and bills, and their plumage is mainly fawn with fine black rosettes. The larger female is easily distinguished by her prominent white-spotted black collar above a rich rufous breast patch.

Further reading:

Bush Heritage Australia

NSW Office of Environment and Heritage

eBird.com

Nature Conservancy

Reading more about Julian Teh, I discovered he is a natural history photographer and illustrator.  On the Trail of the Plains-wanderer is a 2023 Notable book in the Eve Powall (non fiction) category. Watch the trailer on the publisher (CSIRO) page. 

Bookseller details about this book:

• Introduces kids to the life of the Plains-wanderer - an ancient bird species that is unique as it is the sole member of its family.
• Because of its evolutionary uniqueness and risk of extinction, researchers have ranked the Plains-wanderer as Australia's most important bird and the fourth most important bird species in the world.
• The Plains-wanderer has been nicknamed the Goldilocks bird, as they are quite particular about their habitat.
• The books shares a message of hope, highlighting how farmers are working with researchers to make their properties just right.
• Explores how Zoos are helping save the Plains-wanderer with captive breeding programs and creative thinking.

Here are some other fabulous books published by CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation).