Vincent Serventy facts for kids
Vincent Noel Serventy (born January 6, 1916 – died September 8, 2007) was an Australian author, ornithologist (someone who studies birds), and conservationist (someone who works to protect nature). He was also honored with the Order of Australia for his important work.
Vincent Serventy's Life and Work
Vincent Serventy was born in Armadale, Western Australia. He was the youngest of eight children. His parents had moved to Australia from Croatia.
He studied geology and psychology at the University of Western Australia. Before becoming a famous writer and filmmaker, he worked as a researcher for CSIRO (a science agency in Australia) and as a teacher.
Vincent loved birds! In 1942, he joined the Royal Australasian Ornithologists Union (RAOU). He helped lead the group in Western Australia for many years, from 1943 to 1959. In 1946, he became a lifelong member of the Wildlife Preservation Society of Australia. He even served as its president for a long time.
In 1956, Vincent bought a movie camera. He started making documentary films about nature. This led to Australia's very first television show about the environment, called Nature Walkabout, which started in 1967.
His hard work for nature was recognized with important awards. In 1974, he received the Australian Natural History Medallion. In 1976, he was made a Member of the Order of Australia. This award honors Australians for their achievements and service.
In 1985, Vincent Serventy helped a group called the Conservation Council of Western Australia. They were trying to stop a big road from being built through a special natural area called Trigg Regional Open Space. This area was important because it had rare bushland, including trees and plants that stretched from the sea. It was also a home for local animals and birds that travel long distances. Vincent spoke publicly about how important this land was to protect.
Vincent Serventy's older brother, Dom Serventy, was also a well-known Australian bird expert.
Books by Vincent Serventy
Vincent Serventy wrote many articles about nature and protecting the environment. Here are some of his books:
- The Archipelago of the Recherche. Part 2: Birds (1952)
- The Australian Nature Trail (1965)
- A Continent in Danger (1966)
- Nature Walkabout (1969)
- Southern Walkabout (1969)
- Around the Bush with Vincent Serventy (1970)
- Dryandra. The story of an Australian forest (1970)
- The Handbook of Australian Sea-birds (1971) (written with Dominic Serventy and John Warham)
- Australia’s World Heritage Sites (1985)
- The Desert Sea. The Miracle of Lake Eyre in Flood (1985)
- Flight of the Shearwater (1996)
- An Australian Life. Memoirs of a naturalist, conservationist, traveller and writer (1999)
