aussiebirder

This week following our Federal Elections we learn how important team work is to achieving our goals. I have previously referred to the excellency of the male Australian Wood Duck as a father and how he stays with the one female to breed and live for a lifetime. And how he faithfully remains with her throughout the life long process, defensing, protecting, training and assisting his life-long companion in all the chores of father and husband hood. You may recall the video below.

There is another less common bird seldom seen, which also pair for life and have a committed relationship to sharing their lives together. Likewise this it is a grazing duck called the Australian Shelduck.

These bird are always found together in pairs, the female is distinguished with her white eye ring and rich chestnut chest plumage. The female cares for the nest while the male stands guard and keeps intruders at a distance protecting and defending the nest, as well as his female and the young brood when they are growing. The name Shelduck is thought to be derived from a Celtic word meaning ‘Pied Waterfowl’. This photo was taken on a farm in country NSW beside a dam where both these ducks grazed alongside cows and beside a flock of Plumed Whistling Duck.

The most numerous numbers of Shelduck my wife and I have seen in our travels all over Australia has been on Rottnest Island 19 km west of Perth WA. Many families were seen on our visits there. It is famous for its very cute unique native animal called the Quokka which is endemic to the island. These little furry marsupials have learned to beg from tourists. A Dutch explorer who first sighted them thought the island was inhabited with large rats so he called it Rat Nest Island which is Rottnest in Dutch.

Back to the Shelducks. These ducks graze on the lakeside green grasses and as well as marine crustaceans, fungi and insects. Rotto has about a dozen freshwater lakes which these birds enjoy. Here are some families and flight shots. Notice the male flies above the female in protective position, lovingly covering her as he treasures his lifelong partner. We can all learn from this.

Here are some of the families resting by the water.

The Shelducks have a long iridescent green speculum on the rear edge of each wing. Speculums are common on many of our Australian ducks. The Pacific Black Duck has a very noticeable and beautiful speculum which changes from green to purple at different angles of light. You can just see a fraction of the speculum on this male’s wing as he takes off. It is often not seen when they fly, the red arrow indicates where it can be seen.

Have a wonderful week and enjoy being out and about . If you are new to birding make sure you visit my Home Page and check out my birding tips and reasons why birding is a healthy hobby. You will also find tips on setting up a bird bath and how to make it attract birds, as well as a special page called Birder Sanctuary which shows how The Lord Jesus uses birds to teach us wise and helpful life skills, much of which is the practical wisdom taught today in psychology, counselling and emotional and mental health, copied from long standing Biblical truths, but without the important faith, hope, love components in the Christian Gospel.

Many bird species display excellent examples of monogamous co operative parenting, where both partners not only share the tasks of nesting and raising the young but also spend time together during the non breeding season. In most species it is male parent that teaches, feeds and instructs the juvenile birds as they follow him around, watching intently what he does. It is now realised in behaviour studies in the high order birds that almost all behaviour is learnt from their significant parent, as it is for us. However, birds are also very similar to humans in that they show affection and have attitude and display varying personalities.

Sadly, like never before since the world wars, we live in an unprecedented age of absent fathers due to broken marriages, poorly parented men, selfishness, lack of responsibility, failure to encourage and affirm children. We fathers and grandfathers need to be able to say sorry when we are out of line, to say “I love you”, to hug and tell the child how much you love them. To show interest in their interests and support them emotionally, attending their school and sports events, affirming them using encouraging words of appreciation.

Most of all, and often overlooked is the reality that if we want to teach our child how to love, show respect, encourage, be happy and feel safe – see how you display love and respect to your partner in front of your children. Model the behaviour and respect and love for them, and they will catch it far better than saying it. They need to see it modelled in your behaviour, as well as seeing you Present. What many men do not realise is that children especially daughters get their sense of self worth and affirmation from the father, as God commissioned fathers to be the loving caring affirming family representative of Himself here on earth to their children and wife. I know I repeat myself with much of this teaching but we need to remind ourselves, as I do myself.

How you love your spouse will teach children not only how to love, but what sort of partner they may naturally desire for themselves. Happy, joyful, positive and hopeful children reflect the homes they come from. Remember most of your communication is displayed through your body language and expressions not your words. It is how we make them feel that will imprint their minds and emotions for the rest of their lives, especially in those early formative years from birth to around eight years of age.

How does a Kookaburra make a nesting Sulphur-crested Cockatoo feel when he sees the Kookaburra calling on unattended nests in search of eggs and young nestlings ? Alarmed and stressed ! The Kookaburra has done nothing bad on this occasion to these nesting Cockatoos, but their is an emotional history that remains for ever, with a fear that their nest will be raided. Children likewise develop emotional history which causes them to behave in either healthy or unhealthy manners.

“Grandchildren are the crowning glory of the aged;   parents are the pride of their children.” – Proverbs 17:6 (NLT)

Are our children proud of us of who we are and the image of God’s love we have modelled to them as they grew up ?

“Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged.” – Colossians 3:21 (NIV)

As fathers we need to be aware: Children are sponges soaking up everything and feeling everything from every action and word. Every moment we are being observed and assessed by our children we are teaching them how to live and behave and feel often without a word of instruction.

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Adv. Dip. in Counselling and Family Therapy.

Member of Birdlife Australia

To introduce people to our unique Australian birds,

And learn from them how to live a healthy and happy life.

NOTE: All photos, videos and music used on this website are photographed, composed, performed  by the site owner and remains his copyrighted property, unless otherwise stated. The use of any material that is not original material of the site owner is duly acknowledged as such. © W. A. Hewson 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025.