South Australian ornithology 1802-99

Monday 16 July 2012

South Australian ornithology 1802-99

Presented by Dr Andrew Black

The scientific study of birds in pre-colonial and colonial times was generally the domain of experts in Europe but explorers observed birds and sometimes collected specimens that were found to be new. John Gould visited the colony in 1839 and made several discoveries but, although he described about a third of Australia’s songbirds, one small group largely escaped his scrutiny. The growth of ornithology in South Australia will be illustrated by reference to that group, to the role of the museum, to three remarkable parrots and three bird-collectors of varied notoriety.

Andrew Black is an Honorary member and three-times president of the South Australian Ornithological Association (founded 1899). He has been an Honorary Research Associate at the South Australian Museum since 2004 and has an on ongoing research interest in the ecology and taxonomy of grass wrens. With colleagues he is presently reviewing the distribution and taxonomy of South Australia’s birds and the history of the South Australian Museum’s bird collection.

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No.*BTddocDateTopic, Speaker, Detail
35116/7/2012

South Australian ornithology 1802-99

Presented by Dr Andrew Black

The scientific study of birds in pre-colonial and colonial times was generally the domain of experts in Europe but explorers…

Legend

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