aussiebirder

Firstly I want to thank those who visited me at my pre-Christmas book signing event at Harry Hartog Bookstore – Miranda last Saturday. It was a wonderful time of sharing, answering questions and introducing my books.

This week we will focus on two very peculiar endemic Australian bird species called the White-winged Chough (pronounced ‘chuff’) and the Apostlebird. Both species live in very tight family clans or communities of between 4 to 20 birds, west of the Great Dividing Range in NSW, ACT and Victoria. Each bird is actively involved in the sharing and caring of each function of the family clan, including nest building, nest sitting, raising the young and foraging. They do everything together and with 100% intentionality. They sometimes squabble over who will sit on the nest next, or raise a newborn chick. Interesting enough, both species as different as they appear are often found foraging nearby each other in their family clans behaving in almost identical fashion. Click on image to enlarge it.

Apostlebird gets its name from often being seen with a clan of around 12 birds, and so being named after Jesus’ 12 apostles in the Bible.

These birds forage for worms and insects by turning over leaf litter and foraging the around. Choughs have a threatening look about them and often can be heard squabbling among themselves as they compete to serve in the various tasks in the maintenance of the flock. Both species are often found foraging together or in close proximity. They each want to be in the action. They spend most of their day busily foraging and moving through areas of dry open eucalypt woodland on the ground, only flying to escape danger and relocate. Below note the violent leaf flicking action of the Chough clan, similar to that of the Lyrebird and other forest floor feeders.

We always found clans of both bird species at the Parkes radio telescope site in NSW, but in particular the Apostlebird that had become quite a challenge to picnicers.

Their white wing ends make for attractive contrast in flight to their dark bodies. They fly low and usually not too far from their last position.

The Chough and Apostlebird appear together in my second book Flight of a Fledgling where these birds demonstrate the value of family community. Click on the image below to find out how you can learn more about this unique book and the many Australian bird species it pictures.

Juvenile birds have brown plumage which gradually changes to immature with a mixture of brown and shiny black as seen here, eventually becoming all shiny black. The family clan all work together to build a very large round bowl mud nest (approx: 35cm diam), being the largest mud nest builder in Australia. It can take several months to build, and longer if wet weather occurs. A clutch of 3 to 5 chicks with a max of 10.

These birds bear significant stress due to the seriousness and regard they show in their care of the clan. The clan believes that they really need a particular number of birds in their clan at any given time to successfully breed and survive, so when a significant clan member dies or is killed they feel the need to replace the loss. Each bird is assigned a chick to train and care for, so no one knows who the father or mother are due to the shared arrangement, so they are all fathers and mothers.

However, one of the quirky results of their OCD like behaviour and sense of security in nesting is that they believe they must maintain their number to successfully survive. This may mean after the death of a clan member and as the opportunity arises where they encounter a different Chough clan passing by, one adult may stealthily, without being noticed, lure away a juvenile bird to their own clan. Once kidnapped, the juvenile is forced to perform all the duties of their captive clan. Sometimes clans will return and do a face off battle to get back their lost child.

In the face off both clans form a line on opposing branches and make loud angry noises and wild wing flapping to ward off the opposing clan. Finally, one side relents and leaves. These rival gang wars also may include destruction of the opponent gang’s nest and taking back the kidnapped youngster by force. Breeding failure rates do occur at times through winter when clan numbers are low so the need for recruits in new clans is vital for their clan survival, especially when sharing nesting and caring for the young. Both male and female birds share all the duties.

Have a wonderful week and enjoy your local birds and healthy walks through their beautiful habitats. If you are new to birding and are interested in taking it up as a hobby or healthy recreational activity as my wife and I have, check out my website for helpful information by perusing my Home Page.

This united family structure exemplified by both the above bird species is the ideal for good family operation and training of children in the important relationship between Privilege and Responsibility which is explained in my book Flight of a Fledgling. In the chapter on Working Together (pictured above) the proven intervention of holding a Family Council Meeting once a month is explained. As a parent and trained Family Counsellor, I know it works well, with children growing up, encouraging a loving sense of respect, fairness and responsibility.

For the above intervention to work smoothly and achieve a peaceful loving family, all fathers and husband can benefit from taking to heart Paul’s words to church Elders. In a family the father is the family elder:

“Here is a trustworthy saying: Whoever aspires to be an overseer [or also lead his family] desires a noble task. Now the overseer is to be above reproach, faithful to his wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him, and he must do so in a manner worthy of full respect.” – 1 Timothy 3:1-4 (NIV)

For the very best outcome it is desirable that the father/husband is living in the freedom, joy and peace of forgiveness of his sins through faith in the mercy and grace of the Lord Jesus Christ. Trusting in the love of God through the indwelling Holy Spirit to empower his life through whom he can prayerfully draw upon the rich resources of God’s wisdom and understanding, which God generously gives to all who ask in faith. This can only be realised when a man or woman turn away from their selfish life to embrace the loving rule of God’s Son Jesus who alone is the only Way, the only Truth and the only Life.

Much of the violence against women and children our country is experiencing in epidemic proportions, is because love, kindness and respect have not been modelled well by parents, often due to a life that lacks faith in God and promotes selfish pursuits and where the pain and hurt of parental rejection and abuse have left their stain in their broken hearts, minds and emotions.

“ The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” – Psalm 34:18

“Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” – John 14:6

<<< 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.