Australian Backyard Birds

Hard Cover. 48 Colour Pages

In the new book Australian Backyard Birds, author, Myke Mollard's signature illustrations and engaging text bring kids up close and personal with over 150 of Australia’s colourful and characterful backyard birds.

These birds are most commonly seen in our gardens and surrounding bush and parks. The birds are not only beautifully drafted, but the accompanying text also vividly describes their lifestyles and habits. The wonderment of these stunning creatures, delivered in an engaging cinematic punch, will excite the imaginations of children for life, and fully engage any adult with a love of birds.

Myke Mollard is a children’s educator, illustrator, author and designer—just some of his creative talents. He began his career in graphic design, branding management and producing commercials for TV. He later found outlets for his passion for educating kids about the world around them, both in person in classroom and online settings, and via his books which he fully writes and illustrates himself.

Of Australian Backyard Birds, Myke says ‘It is now my favourite book! After a long time illustrating and writing I’d found myself so immersed in the work that I forgot what I’d illustrated and produced. When I received my printed copies, I was blown away! Australian Backyard Birds is a tribute to the Gould Society and years of birdwatching.

As a child growing up, I spent many hours in the garden observing and learning about birds. As an adult I collect bird books, film and photograph birdlife—it’s an undying passion of mine. In COVID lockdowns I filmed my resident Tawny Frogmouths (featured inside and on the back jacket of this book) in flight, preening, nesting, raising their young, hunting and feeding.

I rescued two Magpie babies after a spring storm and spent hours helping an injured Magpie recover from a window collision. Birds are truly fascinating, adaptable, personable, and resilient and our backyards can be places to connect with nature. They can be places of science, fun and interaction with the great outdoors—a safe place for kids and nature. The book encourages kids to get out in nature and become eternally curious about common backyard birds.’

One of Mike’s first books, published in 2008, was the best-selling A-Z of Australian Bush Creatures which sold 85,000 copies in the early 2010s. He is also the author of Australia's Dangerous Creatures, Australia's Endangered Creatures and Australian Dinosaurs and Mega Beasts.