Lost Gold, the first ever book to examine the ornithology of the subantarctic Auckland Islands, has won the Science and
Conservation category of the prestigious Whitley Awards for zoological literature.
Presented annually by the Royal Zoological Society of NSW, the Whitley Awards recognise the best publications that
profile the unique wildlife of the Australasian region. Covid-19 prevented the awards, which celebrate their 50th
anniversary this year, from being presented in-person and the announcement was made this week via the Society’s website
and social media.
Lost Gold: Ornithology of the subantarctic Auckland Islands, published in 2020 by Te Papa Press in collaboration with Birds New Zealand, is a special book-format issue of Birds New
Zealand’s journal Notornis. Edited by Notornis editor Craig Symes and ornithologist and Curator Vertebrates at Te Papa, Colin Miskelly, the book is devoted to the
birds of Maukahuka/Motu Maha the Auckland Islands, the largest and biologically most diverse island group in the New
Zealand subantarctic region.
Its 19 chapters, written by leading ornithologists, include the history of ornithological discovery; biogeography; the
impacts of introduced mammals and people; and population, ecological and genetic studies of several of the endemic or
otherwise notable birds of the island group including the Auckland Island snipe, white-headed petrel, and several
albatross species.
Bruce McKinlay, President of Birds New Zealand says the Society was proud to commission Lost Gold as a part of its quarterly scientific journal Notornis. “It is a core role of the Society to produce quality ornithological science – the Whitely Award to Lost Gold is an acknowledgement of that commitment and is greatly appreciated by the Society.”
Courtney Johnston, Tumu Whakarae Chief Executive of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, congratulated editors
Colin Miskelly and Craig Symes, as well as all the ornithologists who contributed. “This unique book and research output
is a great example of the work our curators do every day in partnership with other experts outside the museum,” she
says.
Co-editor Colin Miskelly says it is an enormous honour to have their work recognised by their many peers in the field of
zoological study and literature across Australasia. “This was completely unexpected. The large team involved in
researching and producing the book are thrilled to have their mahi honoured in this way.”
Another Te Papa Press title, Whiti: Colossal Squid of the Deep, written by Victoria Cleal and illustrated by Isobel Joy Te Aho-White, has won the Children’s Book category of the
awards.
The Whitley Awards are named for Gilbert Whitley, an eminent ichthyologist and former Curator of Fishes at the
Australian Museum. He authored over 500 publications describing a range of aquatic fauna from sharks to seahorses and
was the editor of RZS publications for many years. Whitley Certificates of Commendation are awarded to outstanding
publications in a range of categories including natural history, children’s books, magazines, field guides and technical
works for professional zoologists. The overall Whitley Medal is regarded as Australia’s highest award for zoological
publishing.
All the 2021 Whitley Award winners can be viewed here: https://www.rzsnsw.org.au/grants-awards/previous-winners/2021-winners
About Lost Gold’s editors:
Dr Colin Miskelly is an ornithologist with broad interests, including conservation ecology, biogeography, and the
history of science. Employed as a curator of vertebrates at Te Papa since 2010, Colin previously worked as a scientist
and manager for the New Zealand Department of Conservation. His research on snipe and seabirds first took him to the
subantarctic region in 1982, and has led to an ongoing interest in these remote islands and their spectacular wildlife.
Dr Craig Symes has a broad ornithological interest, with a focus, until recently, on Afrotropical birds. As an Associate
Professor at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, much of his research focused on bird communities, bird
movements and migrations, bird diets and community ecology, parrot biology and conservation, urban bird communities, and
bird-plant mutualisms focused on pollination in the genus Aloe. He is currently a science teacher in Rotorua, New
Zealand.
Lost Gold: Ornithology of the subantarctic Auckland Islands
Edited by Colin Miskelly and Craig Symes
Published by Te Papa Press
ISBN: 978-0-9951136-6-4 / 436 pages / Limpbound / RRP $55