Newer Posts » « Older Posts 

How to be a lazy birder part 8

4 Comments »3rd January, 2007; Category: The lazy birder

This is part 8 in a series of article for The Lazy Birder.

Location: at your desk at work.

Method:

  • Stop what you are doing.
  • Look out through your office window.
  • See if you can see any birds.
  • Identify the birds you see (or hear).
  • Dream a little about how nice it would be to be out watching birds in some exotic location.
  • Slowly bring your attention back to the work you are supposed to be doing (if you can).
  • Repeat the steps above as often as you require to remain sane.

Additional activity:

  • Make a list of the birds you see or hear.
  • On second thoughts – if you do that it could be incriminating evidence that you are not working. Only you can assess the risk factor involved.

Warnings:

  • Do not undertake this activity if you have a particularly observant boss.
  • If YOU are the boss, then this activity is a good stress release.
  • If you are not the boss, this is still a good stress release – but don’t get caught doing it. Or be creative in your response to being caught (eg “It was thinking time.”)
  • This activity can be rather difficult if there is no window in your office. Using any kind of explosive device is not recommended and could be fatal.

Another useful series of 20 articles can be found by clicking on this link:

Disclaimer:

The photo below has nothing to do with this article.

It’s a rather nice photo, isn’t it? Well, I think so.

Rainbow Lorikeet

Rainbow Lorikeet

Bird Word: Duetting

No Comments »2nd January, 2007; Category: Bird Behaviour, Bird Word, Glossary
  • Duetting: a male and a female of the same species singing together, usually in response to each other, and with different song patterns. The Magpie Lark and the Pied Butcherbird are good examples of this song pattern.

The duet song of several Australian species is something one cannot really do justice to in words. One has to experience it to fully appreciate the beauty of such a song. When I first heard a pair of Pied Butcherbirds near Kalgoorlie in Western Australia many years ago I couldn’t believe I was hearing two birds singing a duet. It was magnificent. One field guide I use describes the calls as “superb slow, flute like, mellow notes.”

The Magpie Larks that frequent our garden are not quite in the same league but are beautiful nevertheless.

Magpie Lark

Magpie Lark

How to be a lazy birder part 7

2 Comments »1st January, 2007; Category: The lazy birder

This is part 7 in a series of articles called The Lazy Birder.

  • Pour yourself your favourite liquid refreshment.
  • Switch on your television.
  • Select a video or DVD about birds.
  • Place the DVD or video in the appropriate player.
  • Press play.
  • Look at the birds on the DVD or video.
  • Make a mental or written list of the birds you see – or don’t.
  • Go to sleep if you feel drowsy; the video or DVD can be replayed again later to see what you missed.
  • Check out birding shops on the internet for more DVDs and videos to buy and watch.

Another useful series of 20 articles can be found by clicking on this link:

Disclaimer:

The photo below has nothing to do with this article. I just like the photo.

Crested Pigeon

Crested Pigeon

Great Birding Moments # 28 Painted Button-Quail

5 Comments »31st December, 2006; Category: Bird Behaviour, Great Birding Moments

This great birding moment was quite unexpected. A few days ago were invited over to our friends’ farm for a meal. We had just driven out of our driveway and headed up the hill towards their farm; it’s about a half hour’s drive. We’d driven several kilometres when I had to slow down for a sharp bend in the road. As we approached the corner I observed two birds sitting in the shade of a roadside tree. I didn’t immediately identify them but as I steered around them I was aware that it was a pair of Quail.

Now quails are a family of birds I don’t often see, so just around the corner I was able to do a quick U-turn and go back for a good look. This was quite safe as it is a quiet country road. They were still sitting there in the middle of the road and I was able to pull up about 2 metres from them. It was a male and female – I assume a pair – of Painted Button-Quail, only the third time I had ever seen this bird.

They stood there for about a minute before skulking off into the grass and undergrowth on the side of the road. This made us a few minutes late for our dinner engagement, but it didn’t matter as our hosts weren’t ready when we arrived anyway.

Of course I was annoyed I didn’t have my camera with me. Will I ever learn? So to see a photo of this beautiful species you will have to click on the link below.

Link:

Bird Word: Courting Display

No Comments »30th December, 2006; Category: Bird Behaviour, Bird Word
  • Courting display: a display by either a male or female bird, or both, used to attract a mate with the aim of breeding.

Different species have different ways of attracting a mate. Some take on very attractive plumage, as in the male of the blue wrens of Australia. Others have elaborate displays with their feathers, such as the Lyrebird. Some build special structures like the Bowerbirds.

Some have a simple display of fanned tail feathers. We often see our resident male Crested Pigeons displaying by fanning out their tail feathers in an attempt to attract the female. Yet other species use song to attract a potential mate.

The courting display is a special behaviour seen from time to time in birds and is usually followed, if successful, by nest building and breeding.

Newer Posts » « Older Posts