Sometimes a shot presents itself that "fits", such as the following photos of a Laughing Kookaburra at Quaarlup Station in WA, a Magpie Lark at the Alice Springs Desert Park and the western Bowerbird at the Olive Pink Botanical Gardens in Alice Springs:
How apt!
This is a great post. I love to see something original and different. Great work!
Thanks for the comments Andy and Birdgirl. Yes very apt and I also enjoy those moments that bring something different, but still love the expressive close-ups and action shots as well. Bird watching and the photography we are now lucky enough to be able to access are such a wonderful part of life in the outdoors
I've succumbed to the birding bug!
Alice Springs, NT
Oh I love them rwarjing! Well done :)
I might ask to borrow the last shot sometime
Thanks Holly, and of course you are most welcome to borrow, just ask.
I've succumbed to the birding bug!
Alice Springs, NT
LOL I just thought of something it would be great for! Sara, our BIBY project officer is working on a survey of BIBY and non-BIBY members. The photo would be perfect to use in that. Can you email me a copy?
- will acknowledge you as photographer of course.
Cheers
Holly
Maybe not exactly the same, but I still like this one:
I've succumbed to the birding bug!
Alice Springs, NT
Fantastic photo! I can't quite see properly - is it at a lake or puddle or something like that?
The emu looks like it's saying "Who? Me? I AM using it sparingly!"
Hi Andy,
This is at Cape Range National Park, Ningaloo Reef area in WA, and there is a single tap for campers in about a 5 km radius to use. The animals know this is a source of water and the emus were constant companions when filling up a bucket. They did have another sign that said not to encourage the animals, but the tap wasn't in great working order and the water would pool just below the tap, which is where this emu was sitting. And yes, I agree, with your guess at its thought processes.
I've succumbed to the birding bug!
Alice Springs, NT
Were the emus wary of people? Could you get close to them? Or could they be a danger to people? I've heard that Cassowaries can attack people if they're feeling threatened. I've never seen an emu and would love to see one in the wild.
What a great series of photos. Love the kookaburra one it is like you could just ask him for information. The emu is a beauty as well.
Thanks Wanda.
Andy, the emus were not too wary of people. But, different emus behave differently. The place where I took the Kookaburra photo, had an emu that really enjoyed human company. Her name was Edna and she was a constant companion when I went bird-watching. She used to sit next to me at night as I downloaded the photos for the day. My partner would read stories to the kids in our Jayco and she would sit and listen, as well as 3-4 kangaroos. Was very funny, but a truly amazing experience. Other emus we encountered on our trip were much more skittish and ran as soon as we approached, but the emus at the tap would stand not far away and wait until we had finished filling our bucket then move in.
I've succumbed to the birding bug!
Alice Springs, NT
Great shots Richard..... actually I was thinking it would make a great new thread ...funny signs with birds on them... I have seen a few!!!! We are always so serious with our birds and it would be a bit of fun :')
Sunshine Coast Queensland
great idea and quite amusing Richard.
Cheers, Owen.
Oh Birdie, sigh, slump into chair, back of hand over forehead, my photos not serious! :-) Had thought the same thing but thought Holly may have a fair bit on her plate at the moment. My partner and I thought we should have a book titled "Bum shots of Birds" because we seemed to excel in taking photographs of birds at the complete wrong angle so they were unidentifiable! We have both learned to be a bit more patient these days. Thanks to both you and Owen1 for your comments.
I've succumbed to the birding bug!
Alice Springs, NT
By all means guys - start a thread or use this one :) I think keeping them all to one thread is probably better than a separate subforum. I can start the thread if you like?
Yeah Holly if you start it then it is generic if you know what I mean and we can all post one when we get it . Sounds good!
Sunshine Coast Queensland