A renowned bird expert and author, the Black Hill resident initiated a program to preserve the Norfolk Island subspecies of the southern boobook owl 30 years ago.

"The population [of the sub species] had fallen to one female," she told Gang-Gang. "After studying the species we decided the New Zealand boobook [subspecies] was the closest match.

"We brought in two males and they bred successfully. As a result there is still a small population of [indigenous] boobooks on Norfolk. They are the island's top predator and it would have been sad to have lost them."

Ms Olsen does more than make history however. Her latest project has involved popularising knowledge of the evolving perceptions of Australian predatory birds since the arrival of Europeans.

Her "Australian Predators of the Sky" showcases just a small fraction of the thousands of wonderful sketches, paintings and drawings of Australian birds of prey that are tucked away in the vaults of the National Library of Australia.

The book, as you might expect, is a National Library of Australia [NLA Publishing] release and lives up to the usual high standards.

If you guessed, from glancing through the text, that the author had done this type of thing before, you would be correct.

Ms Olsen has authored more than 20 books to date and I suspect there could be quite a few more to come.

An Associate Professor in the Research School of Biology at the ANU, she has spent much of her life in Canberra and said the work of an ornithological researcher was more exciting than some might think.

"I've always been interested in animals and was one of those kids who picked them up and brought them home," she said.

One of her more exotic finds [from an Australian point of view] was the squirrel she rescued while her father was working in Washington DC.

Another mammal, the water rat, was Ms Olsen's first research subject when she started work with the CSIRO.

"They are beautiful animals, not marsupials but Australian natives, that are well adapted to their environment with webbed feet and are quite intelligent," she said.

Studying water rats was less physically and emotionally demanding than investigating the private lives of Australia's raptors, a job that has involved being "cold, wet and scared" and occasion.

"Abseiling [down to nests] by yourself can be pretty scary," she recalled. "I don't know if I'd be allowed to do that today.

"I used to go out on Lake Burrinjuck in a little motor boat, a "tinnie", and it could get very choppy."

The birds themselves would occasionally take umbrage at having a human being poking their noses into private family matters as well.

"It can be pretty thrilling to have a peregrine go whizzing past your ear because it thinks you are too close to the nest," Ms Olsen said.

"Birds get to know you and the more you bother them the more they will bother you and the closer they will come."

In writing her latest book Ms Olsen was keenly aware of the significance of birds of prey such as falcons, hawks and eagles in mythology, totemism and heraldry.

"I think a part of this has to do with respect," she said. "Birds that hunt have to be smarter than their prey. Yes, there is an arms race but the predator has to stay ahead [or it will starve].

"These are not flock birds, they don't hunt in groups; they are proudly independent and represent strength, security and power. You either love them or hate them."

I don't think there is the slightest doubt that Ms Olsen falls into the former camp.