Acknowledgements

First and foremost, I acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the land on which I live and work. I wrote this book while on the lands of the Bunurong people, but much of it is set on the lands of the Noongar people in Western Australia. I pay homage to the rich tradition of storytelling that has existed in these places, and indeed across Australia, for millennia, and express my gratitude to First Nations peoples for generously sharing their stories.

While this book shares details about modern conservation, and the work of early European naturalists, I acknowledge that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have been caring for Country for more than 65,000 years.

Put simply, this book would never have seen the light of day if it weren’t for my agent Rochelle Fernandez of Alex Adsett Literary. I self-consciously sent a draft to Rochelle for a manuscript assessment and an honest and unbiased indication of whether it was any good. Her words of encouragement, support and work to get it in front of Affirm Press is how Birds of a Feather came to be a book, rather than just a file saved in the dark recesses of my external hard drive (which is just as well because my digital filing system is dreadful).

To Kelly Doust, Laura Franks and the entire team at Affirm Press, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for believing in this story and giving me the opportunity to share it with others. I am so grateful for the kindness and patience you’ve shown as you’ve led me through this process. Your suggestions and edits have made it a much better book, and I’ve been honoured that you’ve held the same affection for the characters as I do.

Thank you also to Sue Tredget, whose friendship and fellowship helped me through the many periods of self-doubt during the writing and editing process. And to Sarah Rood, for indulging me as I shared my ideas for the book in its infancy, for reading an early draft and for providing me with an immeasurable amount of support and encouragement.

A massive thanks to Professor Kevin Kenneally for reading the manuscript to ensure the scientific references were correct and, in the case of those I’d made up, plausible.

Many thanks to the wonderful staff at the Natural History Museum in London, who accommodated me visiting their Reading Room to see the original Birds of Australia book. Seeing John and Elizabeth Gould’s work was indeed a thrill. Thank you also to the Friends of Kensal Green Cemetery for your help with my early research.

I am so blessed to be surrounded by an army of women who have guided, challenged and supported me as I’ve transitioned from childhood to adolescence, and womanhood to motherhood, and now to this weird and wonderful time of being middle-aged. To those I’ve met in workplaces, mothers’ groups, at school and university, through my kids, in book clubs and through running and dancing, as well as those I’m related to, and those who just feel like family, I thank you. Every single one of you has enriched my life in some way and added to the tapestry of who I am. And you are all woven into the pages of this book. I am so happy my daughter is growing up at a time when she has strong female role models in the arts, politics, sport and popular culture, as well as in her immediate line of sight.

I am forever indebted to my parents for introducing me to the written word from an early age (Goodnight Moon will always hold a special place in my heart) and for your support of everything I’ve done. By writing and publishing his own fiction books, my dad, Brian Mooney, gave me the confidence to tackle my own. And my mum, Frith Mooney, has shared her love of books with me for as long as I can remember.

Thanks to my siblings, Erin, Sarah and Phil, and their partners and families for supporting and encouraging me, and for always keeping it real. And to my Bonus Mom, Kanani Oberholzer, and her extended family, and my mother-in-law, Rosalynne Sampson, for being part of my treasured intergenerational network.

The biggest thank you of all goes to my husband, Jason, who quite literally keeps the lights on (except when he turns them off when no one is in the room). You are the engine of our cruise ship, and I am so grateful for everything you do for us.

To my beautiful babies, Bailey and Chloe, I love you.