aussiebirder

Now that the massive deluge has passed and many thousands of people on the mid north coast of our state are in recovery mode, counting their losses from flood and rain damage which includes loss of human lives, many farm cattle as well as pets and wildlife, washed out to sea – then – the sun came out and the rain stopped.

We finally were able to visit the low tide river flats and view the Bar-tailed Godwit that have chosen to wintered over. These may include both immature Godwits born in the past year as well as adults having a rest year from the 32,000 km return journey to Siberia and Alaska back to Australia. The 6 to 8 day return journey is non stop directly over the Pacific Ocean, one of the marvels of the world, being the longest flying non stop journey by any bird or creature. Click on photos to enlarge them.

The Bar-tailed Godwit beak is curved slightly upward and when it is pushed into wet sand has pressure sensors along its edge which can detect any crabs in close proximity, which it can then use the jack-hammer technique to detect. The juveniles have darker centres to their feathers and also a rufous-buff area on chest.

These birds are slightly smaller than a Silver Gull. Godwits stand about 37 to 39 cm (15 – 16 inches) tall with a wingspan of 62 to 75 cm (24 – 30 inches). My book “What Birds Teach Us” features this bird and shares some of the facts about it being the most endurant bird. Click on the image below to find out more:

The birds that have already arrived in Siberia and Alaska would be nesting or already hatching by now producing their new years brood. As I showed in a previous post, they had already gained their breeding plumage before they flew ( as seen in adjacent image). They will return with many of their juveniles in our Spring in September. These birds never know winter, they are always in spring and summer, except when they winter over as these birds are doing. They experience the cold and harsh conditions for a season, rejoining the following years migration,

Another forager with long curved beak is our Australian White Ibis. It also spends some time on the river low tide mud flats but most of its time after the rain on wet grassy parks and paddocks pressing their beaks below for worms and insects. This small flock were grazing near the river. There were some juveniles among them. These birds have moved into the city of Sydney and have become known as Bin Chickens as they have learned how to open and rummage through garbage bins.

Enjoy your week, and enjoy some birding and stay well. If this is your first visit to my website and blog, add your email to the top of the page and become a Follower and receive a weekly email with my latest blog post where you can learn more about our Australian birds. Also search my Home Page and check out the helpful pages on Birding for Beginners. There is also a page on Learning life lessons from the birds in Birder Sanctuary. All links open in new tabs.

Anyone would be quite weary after flying 6 to 8 days non stop through wind, storm, heat and rain and never stopping to feed, refresh or rest. These Silver Gulls know how to rest after a busy morning fishing. A few Crested Tern decided to join them, some are sleeping, others just cooling off with legs in water, and other on watch. Adequate rest is just as important as work, recreation and family duties. Much of the business that leads to stress and anxiety ending in burn out and depressive illnesses is driven by deep personal and spiritual false beliefs about ourselves which we have collected throughout our early childhood, family life, school life, peers, teachers and friends. These lies or curses spoken over our lives through abusive significant people in our lives, have a lasting memory etched into our sense of value and self esteem. Jesus came to heal this condition in each of us by breaking these curses with his loving acceptance, kindness and understanding of each of us. He actually took all these curses and imperfections we have and they died with him when he died the cursed and terribly humiliating death on the Cross over 2000 years ago. Many cry out for peace, but true peace begins in our own hearts, and comes from Jesus the Prince of Peace.

Through faith in him we can know freedom from our past and newness of life, and the potential to be the person God intended us to be. We no longer have to be exhausted or restless from trying to prove ourselves, Jesus says: So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free. – John 8:36.

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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.

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