aussiebirder

This week we travel further north up Cape York Peninsular through the town of Laura to the Lotus Bird Lodge where we stayed in a special retreat accommodation by the small lake known in Australia as a billabong where thousands of water birds of many species gather during the dry season and harmoniously dwell together, resting on and by the water. Crocodiles can also be present at times though we did not see any on our visit. Here we rested from travelling and were well fed and cared for by Dan and Jasmine as we enjoyed a view of the lake. We also had a one hour helicopter flight over the extensive Lakefield National Park which extends out to the ocean. Click on images to enlarge.

In addition to the waterbirds we also saw the bower of the male Great Bowerbird which is found across the Top End. He collects white objects (mostly shells and stones) to decorate his bower as they match his plumage colouring. He does allow some green objects also, but if a leaf, of another colour falls into his bower he quickly removes it. He is constantly repairing and improving his bower to be at its best for a female who may visit to inspect it with intent to mate. The female does all the nesting on her own, he is merely a bower building, performing, mating machine. Note the pink neck nape marking of the active male. He did not like us being near his bower.

We also saw a Papuan Frogmouth sleeping in a tree nearby. This was another lifer, and is a larger frogmouth with a longer tail than our own Australian Tawny Frogmouth. He has flown from Papua New Guinea north of Cape York to nest.

Another lifer for us was this Black-backed Butcherbird though unfortunately we did not get a photo of it from the back. We are quite assured that its plumage identifies it well.

Now to the lake where the main attraction was. The flocks of birds tended to roost in the forest and return each morning to the same areas on the lake. The Wandering Whistling Duck tend to be more nomadic and follow their food source, as do many Top End birds in the dry season. Whistling Ducks do not quack they emit a loud high pitched whistle which can be deafening when you have a large flock. We have had to leave a lake because we could nt tolerate the whistle of the hundreds of Plumed Whistling Duck some years ago.

The large flocks were made up mainly of Magpie Geese which nest in the wet season on floating platforms of reeds, so they spend their days together in flock caring for their young. As I have shared previously these birds are in a family of their own as they are neither duck nor goose but a unique combination. They make a honking sound.

We were very blessed to see pairs of Radjah Shelduck and Green Pigmy-Goose both birds unique to the top end.

The two breeds of Egret were present, the Eastern Great Egret and Intermediate Egret.

It was lovely to see this single Glossy Ibis follow this White-necked Heron around for company. They seem to have made friends and were both alone, making each other welcome company. It is another human-like trait of many birds finding peace and security together, despite species.

We also had a small flock of Brolga land briefly at the rear of the billabong as they are quite shy of humans having a history of being hunted and killed when they existed in large number in our southern states as they inhabited the wetlands where orchards were planted. These graceful birds are featured in my previous post.

However, the feature bird being named in the lodge as Lotus Bird, is the name given to the Comb-crested Jacana which is found here in Australia and also in New Guinea. This is also known as the Jesus Bird because it appears to walk on water, but uses its very large long spindly feet to walk on water plants. We saw both juvenile and mature birds. The immature have less red in their combs.

My book ‘What Birds Teach Us’ features this unique bird and its amazing ability to carry its young to safety when it nests during the wet season. Rare photos of this phenomenon are shown in my book which is available here online at my secure checkout. This unique and beautiful book is an excellent gift, especially for a youngster learning about Australian birds. It has an added bonus of teaching a life skill through each bird. Click on the image below to find out more and/or make your purchase, it will open on a new tab.

Lastly, have a wonderful week and may you enjoy the peace and harmony these birds experience in the billabong at Laura. This is our loving Heavenly Father’s desire for each of us, that we may enjoy him and the peace of his great love, mercy and forgiveness through honestly and deliberately believing in and receiving from the Lord Jesus Christ his son who gave his life to bring us true peace and true fulfilling purposeful life with him first and therefore with everyone especially ourselves.

“The thief [Satan] comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I [ Jesus] have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” – John 10:10

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Adv. Dip. in Counselling and Family Therapy.

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To introduce people to our unique Australian birds,

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

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