Seabird Genius: The Story of L.E. Richdale, the Royal Albatross and the Yellow-eyed Penguin

This is the first biography of Lance Richdale, who achieved international fame as the father of Otago New Zealand's albatross colony, and who is also known for his research on the behavior of the Yellow-eyed Penguin. Time magazine dubbed him 'The Dr. Kinsey of the penguin world.' Lance Richdale grew up in New Zealand's Wanganui district. He took a tertiary course in agriculture in New South Wales in Australia before he returned to New Zealand to teach mainly in rural schools for several years, eventually taking a position as an inspiring agricultural instructor and nature teacher. On weekends, holidays, and evenings, Richdale undertook major, meticulous, and time-consuming research on penguins, albatrosses, and several petrel species. His study of the muttonbird was achieved during prolonged solo camps on tiny Whero Island in stormy Foveaux Strait, where the winds blew straight from Antarctica.