Customer Reviews

Kea, Bird of Paradox: The Evolution and Behavior of a New Zealand Parrot

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A fascinating book about a fascinating parrot. New Zealand's kea is a highly social parrot that survives through its ability to learn instead of relying on instinct. It is the world's only alpine parrot and the only parrot that preys on sheep. Based on extensive field study, this book offers an indepth look at kea society and evolution. Although it is written by scientists, it is both easy and entertaining to read. It should appeal to parrot lovers, ornithologists, and anyone interested in island evolution and ecosystems in general.

"Kea, Bird of Paradox" is both the story of one of the world's most fascinating parrots and the record of an overwhelmingly complex and competent long-range field study conducted by the two authors. A warning though: "Kea" is not "pop science." It is the effort of two highly well-educated and professional scientists, unabashedly targeted at audiences interested in learning something about the world around them without all of the fluff and rhetoric of pop science. Their writing believes that it is possible to investigate even as politically-sensitive (yes, even in 1999) a subject as evolution with objective restraint, respect, and careful method. And their success is evident on every page of their book - "Kea" may be overlooked by much of the public, but it remains to the scientific community a fascinating gem with genuine implications and an often-wry (but never absent) detached passion for the subject. I recommend it highly to anybody out their looking to learn a bit from a good story, great research, and a positively unbelievable bird.

For those interested in this topic, I would also suggest looking into the later research conducted by Professors Diamond and Bond. "Kea" can be, in many ways, considered the base upon which the rest of their careers were built - and their work contains other extremely important conclusions about evolutionary flexibility and the development of sociality. Also: much of the later work of the duo is much more readable than "Kea," so those who found this book a bit dry may find some respite there. This sort of writing is not for everyone, but for the people it is for it is a genuine pleasure to read.

I loved this book. The Kea is a fascinating animal and the book gives you insight into not only its entertaining behavior, but also it's origin. Geology, geography, and biology all play a role.

Books about nature topics are often dry, but the detail is necessary and frankly rewarding. People should learn about the environment by delving into it, getting a view of cause-and-effect, just like with politics and the economy. As the human species is facing serious problems, issues of nature and the environment will become as newsworthy as anything else. This book gets you in the proper mindset.

As a naturalist and native of New Zealand, I was eager to purchase this book about one of my favorite New Zealand creatures, the kea. I must, however, express my disappointment. This book is not only flawed in places (especially concerning the kea's behavior), but it is also exceedingly dry.

The kea may be an interesting bird, but this book is not. As painfully tedious as a college textbook, this book lacks personality. If you need information on the kea, stick to your internet browser and spare yourself the time.

Forced to read this for a project - couldn't. I made up stuff rather than finishing this. Not too pleasant experience. go buy a parot instead. Its probably less anoying.