In Curlews on Vulture Street, acclaimed urban ecologist Darryl Jones reveals the not-so-secret lives of the most common birds that share our towns and cities. Despite the noise, heat, dust and fumes, the ceaseless movement, light and toxins, many birds successfully live their lives among us. And not just furtively in the shadows. Ibis steal our lunch, brush turkeys rearrange gardens and magpies chase us screaming from near their nest. From his childhood in a country town noticing blackbirds and sparrows to studying brush turkeys in the suburbs, Jones shares a fascinating story of curiosity, discovery, adventure and conflict, played out in city streets and backyards. He also provides rare insights into the intimate lives of some of our most beloved and feared, despised and admired neighbours. You’ ll never see magpies, curlews, ibis, lorikeets and cockatoos in the same way again.

Darryl Jones is a Professor of Ecology at Griffith University in Brisbane, where for over 30 years he has been investigating the many ways that people and wildlife interact. He is particularly interested in why some species are extremely successful in urban landscapes, while many others are not, and how best to deal with the ensuing conflicts. More recently, he has been trying to understand more about the humans that also live in cities in large numbers, and how they engage with nature.

Preface 1 Blackbirds on Inglis Street 2 Mousebirds on Soba Drive 3 Peaceful doves on Coorong Street. 4 Scrub turkeys on Regency Court 5 Magpies on Shottery Street 6 Lorikeets at Corina Leagues Club 7 Cockatoos on My Bird Feeder 8 Curlews on Vulture Street Afterword Notes and sources Acknowledgements