aussiebirder

This is the final post for this series featuring several more lifers and the important cultural and spiritual connection between one bird species and the people of the Torres Strait Islands just north of Cape York, which we visit after finally standing on the very Tip of Cape York, Australia’s most northern mainland point. This is the sign that awaits those who make the grueling climb across the rocky point.

Before conquering the Tip we went on a boat trip out into Weipa harbour, situated in the Gulf of Carpentaria in Australia’s famous bauxite mining town. Weipa has the largest bauxite producing mine in the world, and has over one hundred years of supply yet to be mined. Bauxite is used to make aluminium. It is easy to mine because most of the bauxite is near the surface. The town and its services are basically owned and operated by the Rio Tinto Weipa Alumina Pty Ltd mining company.

Here on our boat cruise along the river we observed many lazy salt water crocodiles resting also on sand bars, as well as many species of water bird. Thankfully Crocodiles only eat very infrequently, depending on the source up to a month or more due to their slow metabolism. They must remain near water to moderate their body temperatures as they are cold blooded. Click on images to enlarge.

While on this very informative trip we saw a special lifer, the large Great Billed Heron, a bird seldom seen and very wary of humans. You can see how it gets its name. It appears to have some breeding plumage also.

This Striate Heron was also seen resting. Another very shy bird which usually takes flight on sighting humans.

While we were cruising in the boat this beautiful Brahminy Kite flew over. This raptor frequents the top end and enjoys a fish diet among other foods.

Of the species of tree birds we saw a few more lifers including this tiny cute Lemon-bellied Flycatcher which was getting water from a leaking air conditioner. In these dry places it is easy to see birds when you stay nearby sources of fresh water, taps hoses, pools and rivers. This Brown Gerygone which was more grey in colour was also a sub species we had never seen which is found up here.

Of the many honeyeaters endemic to Cape York we saw two which were lifers. The Varied Honeyeater and White-throated Honeyeater.

Several bird species had far northern subspecies of the ones in Sydney. These include the Galah which has a much richer pink colouring and a light pink cone. This adult is trying to cope with terrible begging cries of the juvenile. It sounded so sorrowful and just kept on calling. The northern subspecies of the Laughing Kookaburra is slightly smaller bird. We did not get to see the Blue-winged Kookaburra while there, it flew off each time.

As well as the Sacred Kingfisher and Azure, we see more of the Forest Kingfisher in these parts. This species is found more in the forest woodlands and is not bound to water sources as much as the other species, feeding more on small reptiles, mice, worms and insects. It has more blue rather than green and white lores and chest.

Lastly, an very important feature of our journey end when we stayed on Thursday Island in the Torres Strait just above Cape York, was to learn about the connection between the Teresian Imperial Pigeon (also known as the Torres Strait Pigeon) and the native Torres Strait islanders. The Teresian Imperial Pigeon is a beautiful bird found in all the islands including coastal mainland even in Cairns esplanade. These birds pair for life and are constantly affectionate to each other similar to species of Parrot and Cockatoo, helping to preen each other and give affectionate pecks.

These birds were threatened with extinction years ago due to over hunting for meat, but are now protected and on rapid recovery. The reason these migratory birds are important to the Torres Strait islanders is that they culturally connect the islands to the mainland. through their legends about flying home to the wongai fruit or Wongai Plum (Manilkara kauki) which the birds love as do the islanders. This tree grows on Thursday Island. The birds fly daily between both, symbolising the connection between the two environments. One legend says that if you eat the wongai fruit you will always want to return to the islands, like the birds which fly daily between the islands and mainland to nest and feed.

Enjoy your week and your birds. We had the delight of watching a juvenile Grey Butcherbird spend its first days out of the nest in our courtyard around our bird baths while its father fed and protected it from our resident Noisy Minor coalition. The minors were more curious than anything and later accepted the bird into the local community. I will show footage of this next week.

Birds have played an important part in the history of many religious and spiritual cultures throughout the world for mainly good and some not so good reasons.

Birds have also been singly important for keeping the insect and rodent population under control as well as protecting fields and crops and therefore for maintaining our personal comfort, from these pests. In Australia birds are important pollinators, ensuring that trees and forest are maintained, without which many forests would cease to exist. Birds also provide a source of food for us and for many other creatures including other birds. For the most, they have been the bringer of encouragement and hope.

However, on the other hand, many species of bird suffer extinction or have been pressed toward extinction as they are culled because they are eating or destroying farmers crops or threatening farmers herds. Some even threaten humans. There are many people afraid of birds, though most birds are more afraid of them.

Solomon goes on to explain that in life we will experience the two extremes of life. Some might call it the good and evil, yin and yan, dark and light or some other opposite combination of life’s experience. However, the Bible tells us, as Solomon does, both intentionally exist because the Creator of the universe and of each of us purposed it that way for the benefit of our growth and development. It is revealed in the Christian Bible that God’s ultimate purpose is to replace our selfish nature and transform us to be like his loving Son Jesus.

The only successful way of navigating life’s unknowns is in the safety and peace of trusting in Jesus, God’s Son, who came to earth as a real man and made possible what we could not through his death and resurrection to life on our behalf.

“ God made the one [and only person] who did not know sin, [Jesus],  to be sin for us, so that in him we would become the righteousness of God [restored and forgiven to be and live as God’s own people like Jesus]. – 2 Corinthians 5:21 (NET)

<<< Back To Top of Page >>>

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.