The blue duck, or whio, is one of New Zealand's ancient treasures, a beautiful torrent duck that once lived on clear, fast-flowing rivers throughout most of the country. Sadly, this is no longer the case. The blue duck belongs to the not so well known 'second tier' of endangered species (including kaka, kea, parakeets and North Island brown kiwi) whose numbers have dropped alarmingly in the last 15 years.

Whio tells the story of how a dedicated group of scientists, field workers and volunteers have set about saving the blue duck, and combines a natural history of the bird with an illustrated history of human interaction, as well as a social history of the blue duck then and now.

Heavily illustrated with superb photographs from some of New Zealand's leading wildlife photographers, this is an inspiring, delightful book.

David Young is a former journalist who now specialises as a writer in the field of history and the environment.