I spend many many restorative hours tramping over this wide brown land chasing as many of Australia’s 850+ bird species as I can. And if I don’t see them, I think of all the wonderful places that I’ve been anyway. That aside, I have seen over 620 species and I haven’t been to any of the offshore islands such as Norfolk, Lord Howe, Christmas, Macquarie etc.
I speak about birds and birdwatching and I lead tours of amateurs and afficianados alike, locally and to India, a country I’ve visited many times. Check the tabs here and see things that I’ve written about birds, musings on birdwatching and bird activities.
Night parrot stories is a film (see it on SBS at 8.30 pm on Christmas Eve, 2017) , a Facebook page and treasure troves of tales in the minds of many birders in this wide brown land. Both adjectives apply, as the distribution of these birds has opened up considerably since their rediscovery in the Diamantina and where they are found is typically very very brown.
No-one plans like the Loudmouths plan. In this case, we’re off to Boodjamulla in June/July 2018 to look for Kalkadoon grasswrens, Carpentarian grasswrens, Lilac-crowned fairy wren, Sandstone shrike thrush and more. This takes planning and where better to plan and plan often than some eatery and drinkery?
The bird world was agog in 2013 when details of the rediscovery, in the Diamantina, of the night parrot emerged. Since there the population number and range has extended. Those good years across the centre within the last decade have helped, the spread of feral cats hasn’t. Some serious conservation is now going on to secure the species.
Isn’t it odd how every cat owner will tell that their cat doesn’t eat birds. If it’s a cat, it eats birds, period! That’s what they do. If you must have a cat, and that’s a big if, make sure that it isn’t where birds are. There’re many good designs for cat runs, make one and put your cat in it. Check this article from The Conversation for reasons why.
Loudmouths fall under the spell of the Night parrot. This was just Search the First! And we reckon we’re on the right track and we’re having fun while searching.
You’re a Night parrot? I’m from the government and I’m here to help you. This is the official statement regarding this most elusive of species.
Night parrot dreaming says it all – many a birdo has dreamt of finding a night parrot. Many have tried but none succeeded until John Yound found some in May 2013. This article by Simon Mustoe was written the year earlier.
Night parrots have been in people’s imagination for a long time. This article is from the S A Ornithologist and was printed only a decade or so after the last authenticated sighting of the ‘fat budgie’.
Birdwatchers span a range of shapes, sizes and approaches. At one end, you’ll see some in their various shades of Kathmandu merchandise, camouflaged from head to toe in khaki and sensible hats, with $2000 Swarovski or Zeiss binoculars and twitching in their earnestness. And then there are the other kind, the irreverent chaps (and they are mainly chaps) out for a good time in the bush. You can find somewhere on the continuum where you’ll fit, so do yourself a favour, take the advice in this handy introduction and I’ll see you out there.
Bird names range from the bleeding obvious to the quite evocative and then to the delightful. Then there are drongos and loons, dotterels today and plovers tomorrow and sensitive Collingwood supporters. Here is some musing on bird names.