The Royal National Park

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The Mindfulness of Birding – Sharpening Our Senses

Posted by aussiebirder on January 14, 2019
Posted in: Australia, Australian Birds, Bird watching, Birding, Birds, Fauna, National Parks, Nature, Nature reserve, wildlife. Tagged: , , , , , , .

Adult with Juvenile Rainbow Lorikeet

Mindfulness is the latest therapy and lifestyle enhancement tool to be brought to the modern life improvement stage of counselling. While its various forms have their roots within a variety of belief systems and cultures, it is one of the ways designed to help people get in touch better with themselves, God (their belief system and its values) and the here and now (the present). Mindfulness as a therapy helps one learn to adapt and change unhealthy attitudes to past emotional and psychological injuries.

I personally believe that regular birding (birdwatching), nature/bush walks, what ever that may look like, assists in the process of becoming present and in the moment, connecting with our real self and the reality of the present ’round about us, thus allowing the stress and pain of the past to dispel and loose its power, and allow the new now person to be better positioned to take control of their life, and move forward. The five senses need to be engaged deliberately –  feeling, seeing, hearing, smelling and possibly tasting. 

 

Let me share why over the past 7 years or so, my wife and I, have learned to acutely train our senses (as many other birders have) when walking about, and how it develops and brings a level of appreciation previously did not enjoyed. It is interesting that when non-birding friends come walking with us that they are amazed how we can locate and photograph birds and other creatures which they have no idea are actually only feet away. The above photos show a juvenile Rainbow Lorikeet (dark mottled beak and lesser orange chest) with the adult parent. I could have easily walked past if I had not had my ears tuned in to the unusual noises coming from deep within a tree on a very hot day last week. A strange faint squeaking sound drew my attention, and after a minute or two these birds were located.

Another example was from yesterday while we took my grandson birding (binoculated of course) into the Royal National Park. We were trying to find the Azure Kingfisher to show him, which I had shown to two of my other grandsons on previous occasions, but we did not find it in its usual area along the Hacking River. Looking across the river underneath a large bush and well hidden in the dark, my wife excitedly announced a Nankeen Night-Heron, a bird we seldom see due to it being a nocturnal hunter who rests out of sight during the day. Take a look at this clip and you understand what I mean by sharpening our senses to become acutely aware of what is around us. 

Visiting another favorite reserve I walk silently along the walking track through the forest. Listening and watching for signs of movement. People passed walking and talking, the occasional one playing with their mobile phone, unaware of what they are missing around about them. This little Brown Thornbill watched them, without them even being aware it was there. This birds classic sound alerted us to its presence, though it took some perseverance to find it.

As I walked pass the shaded ponds I saw this Eastern Great Egret fishing in a mindful pose. It remained completely immobile poised for instant food retrieval. Though this bird stands out and is quite visible, the delight of watching this bird hunt its prey was quite inspiring and brought a sense of thankfulness from my heart to my Creator Father God, through whom I view the world so much more appreciatively. Watch as this bird positions itself for success, we can learn so much from birds.

Sighting
Positioning
Eating and Re positioning.
Retrieving and eating.

Here is another…

Finally, the Egret spotted me and stretched its neck high to ward me off. This is what they do to make themselves look larger and more threatening.

As the tide was becoming low I walked down to the mud flats to see if I could see the very elusive and most shy Striated Heron. Most people who look out across the mud flats would not even notice this small bird because its colour blends so well with the mud and most of the time it stands motionless, waiting for its prey. I know what to look for to locate it, and as soon as it sees me it does a runner so I have to locate it very quickly.

However, one bird most people do notice grazing on the mud flat is the White-faced Heron.

White-faced Heron

That same day I took a look at low tide on the beach where I normally observe my waders. The beach appeared empty of any birds but for Silver Gulls. I was looking intently from some distance to the shoreline but could not see anything.  I was about to walk away, and I remembered that I needed to scan very carefully, as my sight is starting to fail me, so I stood and scanned the shoreline and then I found one Eastern Curlew and one Bar-tailed Godwit, a most unexpected find, as Godwits are usually in small flocks. Wader numbers have been noticeably low this year which is disappointing. In this moment I needed to take time to look, and not impulsively glance and leave proclaiming, ‘nothing!’as I quite easily could have done, being affected by this fast moving, always busy, impatient, impulsive, often distracted I want it now age.

The more we seek to expand our appreciation of birds by investing time to stop and learn the art of being still and deliberately connecting with and tuning into our surroundings, the sooner we gain the skills to identify and see birds nearby by hearing their calls and watching their peculiar movement and characteristic shape. Like all learned skills it takes time and commitment, but the fruit of it is much more than just learning about birds. There’s the bush and forest setting, the wild flowers and plants, other native animals and reptiles, the dappling of the sun through the trees, the cool fresh breeze trembling the leaves in the trees, refreshing upon the face and of course the quiet solitude but for the joyful calls of birds. It is all part of one’s mindful experience which many have heard referred to as smelling the roses.

rainforest track

 Being alone with myself and God in the forest is therapy and healing for me, restoring and revitalizing my spirit and body. Birding is healthy and assists longevity. Check out my page on the benefits of birding. 

God says  “Be quiet [and still, so you can tune into to my presence] and know [experience the reality and wonder] of me, your God.” Extracted from Psalm 46:10.

“I will consider all your works and meditate on all your mighty deeds.” – Psalm 77:12

‘Search me, God, and know my heart;
    test me and know my anxious thoughts.
See if there is any offensive way in me,
    and lead me in the way everlasting.’ – Psalm 139:23,24

Have a wonderful week and keep out of the exceptionally hot weather. Next week we will revisit the birds around Narrabeen Lagoon Trail by special request from Jem.

Thanks so much everyone, and in particular, Janette who shared last week via email, how she has been blessed from my book. If you have not checked it out yet you can right now at my birdbook page.

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

 

Turning Over A New Leaf – The Australian Logrunner

Posted by aussiebirder on January 3, 2019
Posted in: Australia, Australian Birds, Australian wildlife, Bird watching, Birding, Birds, Fauna, National Parks, Nature, Nature reserve, rainforests, Royal National park, Sydney, wildlife. Tagged: , , , .

Female and Male Australian Logrunner

As we all launch into 2019, many of us are using this time as a waypoint from which to examine our life journey and consider what things we can do better and improve on to make our life happier and safer, and thus more satisfying. A healthy attitude of gratitude and thankfulness is vital not only to our emotional health but also in maintaining a healthy immune system. Peace, love, joy and hope are experienced through good relationships, helping to wave off the unhealthy addictive behaviors and habits which may entangled one throughout the year.

Many use the New Year as an opportunity to ‘turn over a new leaf’.  The tiny Australian Logrunner  is one unusual and very rarely seen Australian rainforest bird which spends its life turning over old leaves, and as you will see is a very fitting bird to launch my blog into the New Year, revealing pearls of wisdom. 

Male (white neck)
Female (rufous neck)

These tiny birds are endemic to the rainforests on the east coast of northern to central NSW and southern Queensland, and spend most of their life foraging in the leaf litter. They seldom fly, and if they do it is only to briefly escape danger. Their main protective features, which make them very difficult to see, other than the poor light under the dense canopy: is their size, their camouflage coloring which blends in with leaf litter and their ability to freeze and remain very still for some time when they sense danger nearby. See what I mean…

This makes detection very difficult, but can give good photographic moments.  The movement  of leaf litter on the forest floor and their unique call to one another may be the only clue to their presence, as they travel in pairs and small family groups beneath bushes, palms and shrubs.

My wife and I needed a walk on one very hot heat wave day last week, so we walked in the cool of the rainforest in the Royal National Park, one of my favorite places. As we approached the surrounding woodland, it appeared and sounded birdless, to our disappointment.  As we walked into rainforest loop track near the creek we saw a tiny object flit across the path and soon discovered this pair. We had never seen Logrunners in this forest before, though they have probably always been there. Most Australians have never seen them or would even know there was a bird by that name. The male has a distinct white throat and the female an orange rufous throat.

These birds have a unique digging action whereby they lean back on their purpose designed tail which is reinforced with stiff spines, and rapidly use their legs to kick leaves out sideways. They often dig down in one spot disappearing into a hole beneath the ground hunting for worms and other insects under the moist leaf litter. They get their name as they are often seen on or near old logs or at the buttress roots of native ficus trees as they make their nests there in holes and by the roots protected and out of sight.

Many people who have purchased my book “What Birds Teach Us” have commented when seeing my photos of the Logrunner, that they never knew of this bird. The lesson I gleaned and share is to ‘choose what you need rather than what you want.’The Logrunner can fly if it so desires to, but it gets all its needs met by staying safe on the forest floor out of sight from the clutches of larger hunting birds. My book discusses the need to be wise in our decision making, being able to discern our true needs from the selfishness of wants, and the dangers of placing ourselves in vulnerable situations which may have future repercussions and possibly cause irreparable damage both to our life and the lives of others. As I shared earlier regarding the unhealthy results of addictive behaviour, it starts with placing desire to satisfy excessive wants above satisfying valid needs. The want may or may not necessarily for some thing evil or immoral but may be simply for food, drink or electronic media etc.

My wife and I have taken this first week to consider areas we can improve on in our relationships and our life style, and correct and make changes to improve our lives for a more satisfying 2019. Stay free of addictive, compulsive and obsessive behaviour by forgiving the people in your past who have hurt you and thus make a new start. Forgiveness therapy enables one to let go of the pain of the past which continues to distort their life and attitude causing depression and vulnerability to bad choices in life. Some may need the help of a counselor to do this but many of us can start 2019 determined and focused on changing our habits with the help of an accountability person. This may be your partner, family member, close friend or therapist, that is, someone you can share your progress with who understands your goal and cares about you. However, you might want to explore the forgiveness that brings complete healing and restoration of relationships, by knowing and accepting God’s free gift of forgiveness offered each man, woman and child through faith in Jesus Christ. You can read more about this here.

“Tell your sins to each other. And pray for each other so you may be healed. The prayer from the heart of a man right with God has much power.” – James 5:16 (NLV)

“So I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man.” – Acts 24:16

May you and your loved ones enjoy a truly satisfying and peaceful New Year. If you would like to explore more of the life skills we can learn from our birds visit my Birder Sanctuary page.

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.