aussiebirder

The bush is alive with sound once more as breeding season begins for the smaller to medium sized passerines. We do include Cockatoo and Lorikeet which have a longer period stretching over more months. One of the most notable signs, other than the very continuous and musical calls of the Golden Whistler seeking its mate, is the bright breeding plumage of the Superb Fairy-wren, a tiny fast moving insectivorous bird found along the east coast o Australia. Many birds develop breeding plumage just before they breed and nest, as it attracts the females to the male. It was lovely hearing the male and female calling to one another in their high pitched call.

The Ultra Violet rays are strongly reflected by the males iridescent bright blue plumage which are only visible to the eye of the female causing her to be attracted to the males. Click on image to enlarge it.

This why the male (shown here) having transformed back into his non breeding or eclipse plumage, no longer attracted the females in numbers to breed leaving the male to happily enjoy a faithful relationship with his wife and fledglings. The male retains his blue tail throughout life.

It is always lovely to see the latest Spring wild flowers emerge which include the first Flannel Flower for the season and more of the bright Handsome Bush-Pea and River Rose.

Two interesting sounds of Spring were heard from two of our returning migratory birds having returned to breed in our park from the far north of the continent – The Olive-backed Oriole and the Fan-tailed Cuckoo.

Here are the sounds we heard of both birds:

Fan-tailed Cuckoo calling

Olive-backed Oriole calling

The tiny Brown Gerygone was another Spring bird moving about with its partner in toe, soon to be nesting also. This bird makes a sound similar to its name: ‘ger-ig-on-ee, ger-ig-on-ee’

Brown Gerygone calling

It was interesting that while we rested at the table some 3 km into the rainforest we saw this beautiful specimen of an Australian Raven just resting in the grass a few feet from us. It was opening its beak which often means it is suffering from the heat, though it was not very hot, so not sure if it was well, hoping it has not contracted H5 M1. Notice the hackles below the chin which identify and differentiate it from the other Crow species found further north.

Lastly, this young Laughing Kookaburra landed right in front of my feet only inches away and grabbed and swallowed a worm it has seen from a tree over ten metres away. Their amazing binocular eyesight was able to detect its tiny form in the grass, when we could not even while standing near the worm. Unfortunately it had swallowed the worm before I could photograph the action. However, the bird had no fear and just sat and looked up at me for several seconds before flying off.

The Kookaburra, Raven and Fairy-wren are also featured in my most popular book release “What Birds Teach Us” which is available here online OR at the NSW National Parks and specific Regional Visitor Information Centres throughout Australia as well as Harry Hartog Bookstores. It can be bought here online in my secure PayPal store where postage and packing is included in the one price.

Life is characterised by seasons. In a similar way to the repetitive nature of the four that we experience each year, we experience changes in our lives marked with the Spring-Summer of growth, productivity and new beginnings; the Autumn change with sometimes fearful doubtful forebodings of instability of approaching loss and unwelcomed change; Winter, the winter of the soul and its grief and sense of loss and depressive thoughts, a time of stepping outside of what we know as the present and its pain and reassessing our new position as we embrace the change which we will bring anew into our future and next coming Spring season. It may on the other hand just be a time of rest, holiday, a time of reassessing one’s life or direction and making appropriate changes. This is often marked with a life interval with a lack of progress and growth. I deal with these issues in my self help counselling book filled with useful life skills for teens and young adults “Flight of a Fledgling” which is also available online. Click on image to find out more.

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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, 2026