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A Field Guide to the Wildlife of the Falkland Islands
Written and illustrated by Ian J. Strange; hardback, 188 pp.
Unfortunately the publishers, HarperCollins have not seen fit to keep this excellent field guide in print. It was first published in 1992, and deserves a new edition. We list it here to encourage you to locate a second-hand copy, or put the pressure on HarperCollins. Falkland Islander Ian Strange’s well-informed text is complemented by his delightful water-colours and line drawings.
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A Visitor’s Guide to the Falkland Islands (2nd Edition)
By Debbie Summers; spiral bound, paper,130 pp.
This comprehensive guide covers the 20 landing sites or islands that welcome visitors. These range from Stanley, the capital, which these days is home to some 80 percent of the population of around 2,500, to places like West Point and Barren islands, with populations of 2 and 4 respectively! In each case there is a general description of the site, with historical information, a good map, and details of the geology, vegetation, and wildlife.
The Falkland Islands have a remarkable range of wildlife – for example, the world’s largest populations of rockhopper and gentoo penguins, as well as black-browed albatrosses and southern giant petrels. There are many other seabirds, shore, and land birds, to entice the birdwatcher, and breeding populations of dolphins and three species of seal. There are no native trees, but there are 171 species of flowering plants, of which 13 are endemic.
The majority of the sites are only visited by cruise ships, but there are several that have comfortable accommodations and can also be reached by light plane. Conservation is a topic highlighted throughout this book, which was published in partnership with the Falklands Conservation organisation.
There is much to see, whether it’s the 113,000 pairs of black-browed albatrosses (the world’s largest colony) stretching for three miles along the seashore of uninhabited Steeple Island, or the excellent historical museum in Stanley.
Debbie Summers was born in Stanley and gained a degree in tourism management at Leeds University in the UK. She has worked in various posts related to tourism and wildlife in the islands. Her book is copiously illustrated with her own and other people’s photographs.
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