The Tribune

THE bird life of Abaco is the focus of a new book that has been published.

The Delphi Club created the 272-page, large-format, hardback book - titled The Delphi Club Guide to the Birds of Abaco - and describes it as the first of its kind in the Bahamas.

The book features more than 160 species of birds found in Abaco and its outer cays, including several species that are unique to the Bahamas.

Included are several very rare birds, such as the elusive Kirtland’s Warbler and two species never previously recorded, let alone photographed, in the Bahamas - Swainson’s Hawk and the Black-browed Albatross.

All the 300-plus photographs were taken on Abaco - many by guests visiting the Delphi Club, a micro-hotel and bonefishing lodge 25 miles south of Marsh Harbour.

The books, which weigh over 4lbs each, have been produced to the highest standards and were printed in Italy by a printer known for its work with leading museums and university presses, including New York’s Metropolitan Museum.

The book is published as a never-to-be-repeated limited edition of just 600, only 500 of which will be sold.

The rest will be given to each of the 25 schools in Abaco, to the National Library of the Bahamas, to the Minister for Education and to the 35 contributors.

The book has been written and collated by retired London barrister Keith Salvesen, known to many Abaconians for his rollingharbour.com wildlife blog, and designed by his art-publisher wife Sally.

The book also features a scientific listing of all 281 bird species recorded in Abaco since 1950, compiled by Tony White from Nassau with Dr Elwood Bracey, a Treasure Cay resident.

The books cost $145 each, and are available from The Delphi Club on 1-242-366-2222 or by emailing delphi.bahamas@gmail.com.

Part of the profits will be donated to local Abaco wildlife causes.