10 December 2023

Kids' Birds of Southern Africa - Book by Hélène Loon

Learn All About The Incredible World Of Birds!

Kids' Birds of Southern Africa - By Hélène Loon (Front Cover)
Copyright: Struik Nature / Penguin Random House South Africa

I was pleasantly surprised after receiving a hand-delivered copy of Hélène Loon's latest book, Kids' Birds of Southern Africa.

A few months ago Hélène contacted me regarding the use of one of my Great white pelican images for her upcoming Kids' Bird book. As many of you will know that my Copyright and Intellectual Property Policy excludes the direct sales and / or publication rights of using any of my own photography images (with a few exceptions).

Vernon Chalmers 'Lazy Pelican' in Kids' Birds of Southern Africa - Book by Hélène Loon
Vernon Chalmers 'Lazy Pelican' Image - Top Right

With her professional approach and the fact that the pelican image will be published in an upcoming educational book project for kids left me with no hesitation for granting her permission to use one of the two images of the 'Lazy Pelican of Woodbridge Island'. I still remember capturing the pelican images in great early morning light. Indeed a few special moments followed-up a few years later with an equally special request. Many people over the years liked and commented on the image and it was more than a fair request on behalf of bird education for kids.

Hélène regularly communicated the progress of the book project with me and on receiving my personal copy from the author I was not only very pleased to see how the Great white pelican image was portrayed, but the way in which the entire Kids' Birds of Southern Africa book was organised in such vibrant and easy modern way for kids to learn more about Southern Africa's many bird species. I'm sure many adult birders will also find the book of great value to enhance their own current knowledge.

I am delighted for her for achieving this accomplishment and wishing her the very best return on the special investment she has made in the awareness and educating children about the birds of Southern Africa.

Kids' Birds of Southern Africa - By Hélène Loon
Image Copyright: Struik Nature / Penguin Random House South Africa

Also Available In Afrikaans & isiZulu

From the Publisher: Struik Nature / Penguin Random House South Africa
This lively book, jam-packed with information about more than 60 bird groups, introduces kids to the wonderful variety of southern Africa’s winged creatures – from long-legged flamingos and speedy falcons to jewel-like sunbirds and plucky hornbills, and many more.

Learn to identify different birds and discover their intriguing behaviours – how they find food, choose a mate, build a nest, raise their young and avoid predators.

An informative introduction explains birding concepts such as courtship, migration, mobbing and moulting in an entertaining way. More than 500 stunning photographs are included, with many annotated to highlight interesting features and traits. (Copyright as per Publisher's Press Release)

www.struiknature.co.za / www.penguinrandomhouse.co.za

Kids’ Birds of Southern Africa is also available in isiZulu and Afrikaans

Recommended by Birdlife South Africa and the Mapula Trust

More About Hélène Loon
Hélène Loon holds an honours degree in ornithology from the University of Cape Town. She has extensive experience in ornithological research, including crane conservation and roller monitoring projects.

Price and Availability
Recommended Retail Price: R130 - R160. The book is available at most bookshops (Exclusive Books, Bargain Books, the Kirstenbosch bookshop and online at Takealot etc.)

Hélène can be contacted on Facebook Messenger

Kids' Birds of Southern Africa - Contents

Introduction
  • What is a bird?
  • Feathers
  • Bird senses
  • Songs and calls
  • Unusual menus
  • Breeding
  • Eggs
  • Brood parasites
  • Teamwork
  • Migration 

Seabirds
  • African Penguin
  • Cape Gannet
  • African Oystercatcher
  • Terns and gulls
  • Albatrosses, petrels and shearwaters

Freshwater Birds
  • Kingfishers
  • Pelicans
  • Spoonbills
  • Hamerkop
  • Darters and cormorants
  • Flamingos 
  • Black-winged Stilt
  • Pied Avocet 
  • Jacanas
  • Herons and egrets
  • Waders 
  • Ducks and geese
  • Coots, crakes and moorhens

Groundbirds
  • Ostrich
  • Secretarybird
  • Guineafowl
  • Francolin and spurfowl
  • Cranes
  • Bustards and korhaans

Birds of Prey
  • Eagles
  • Kites
  • Buzzards
  • Falcons and kestrels
  • Vultures 

Nocturnal Birds
  • Owls
  • Nightjars
  • Thick-knees

Bush and Woodland Birds
  • Woodpeckers
  • Barbets
  • Rollers
  • Bee-eaters
  • Storks
  • Parrots 
  • Hornbills
  • Swallows
  • Swifts
  • Babblers
  • Drongos
  • Shrikes
  • Seed-eaters
  • LBJs: Little Brown Jobs
  • Turacos and go-away-birds

Urban Birds
  • Starlings 
  • Doves and pigeons
  • Bulbuls
  • Wagtails
  • Sparrows
  • Lapwings
  • Weavers
  • Sunbirds
  • Robin-chats
  • Thrushes
  • White-eyes
  • Mousebirds 
  • African Hoopoe
  • Wood-hoopoes
  • Coucals
  • Crows
  • Hadeda Ibis
  • Egyptian Goose

Picture Credits

Kids' Birds of Southern Africa - By Hélène Loon
Image Copyright: Struik Nature / Penguin Random House South Africa

Kids' Birds of Southern Africa  ISBN Numbers

ePub ISBN: 9781775848325

English ISBN: 9781775848318

Afrikaans ISBN: 9781775848332

isiZulu ISBN: 9781775848493

Published with permission from Hélène Loon, Author of 'Kids' Birds of Southern Africa'