What an enjoyable book Michael Szabo has given us with his latest publication, Wild Wellington. It’s much more than a simple guide to wildlife and wild places throughout the Wellington region. This bi-lingual guidebook is chock full of information, advice and knowledge on the amazing diversity of bird life, insects, plants, fishes and marine life and it will make you want to get your tramping boots on and explore more of the region that is often taken for granted.
I loved the whole presentation of this handy guide. It’s clear Szabo is well acquainted with the region’s wildlife as he takes us on a variety of trips; some short in urban areas, others through bush-clad hills, reserves and valleys, while other walks follow the lake or beach shores in search of the flora and fauna that can be found. Szabo also enlightens the reader about the special taonga that’s nurtured on the familiar islands of Matiu Somes, Mana and Kapiti as chapters cover the wider Wellington region as far north as the Kapiti Coast.
Each chapter covers the best time of year to visit an area; what can be found and where. From the little orange pepe para riki coastal copper butterfly that amongst all the colourful, scented flowers, find their mates by smell, to the right time of year to see the flowering of one of an abundance of native orchids that grow in the region, and to the “rare and ecologically unique high-tide species of sea-slug dubbed the ‘Smeagol gravel maggot’.”
A valuable feature of each chapter, is the addition of directions on how to get to any given location—very helpful if you’re going to rely on buses, or in some cases boats to explore, but it also shows the reader just how accessible these environments are.
Reading these pages gave me a deeper appreciation for the habitats and especially the species that live and thrive in them. It also reinforced how vitally important it is to protect and restore what we have. There are loads of lovely photographs, most have been taken by the author. I have now added trips to the islands on my bucket list, as well as visiting the alpine plant collection of more than a thousand native species and varieties of plants that can be found at the Percy Scenic Reserve. I also know where to keep a lookout for a variety of skinks and geckos.
This is not just an enjoyable guidebook for residents and anyone visiting our capital city but an important educational resource for libraries around the country.
Reviewer: Carole Brungar
Te Papa Press