I had an interesting time on my morning walk yesterday as I heard the local Lori brigade screeching their heads off. From the same direction I heard two Whipbirds calling. As i approached they both got noisier and these Loris were really going off at the two Whipbirds that were deep in a thick shrubby tree. I got really close and stayed for ages and the variety of calls was really different than the norm, making me think they could be young birds just practising. I had the camera at the ready and watched and saw plenty of dark shadowy movements and the occasional white cheek, but no way could I get a shot off with those cagey little b@#$%^&'s!!! :')
It was lovely to listen to anyway and here are the shots of the Lorikeets who were very indignant at the verbal intrusion on "their" territory.
Wow those colours look amazing against the darker background.
Interesting observation Birdie.
Yes, it was very interesting, and I love to watch and try to work out behaviours. There are a variety of weird variations of calls from various different species around my home just now. I can only put it down to the young birds starting to practise. Pied Butcher Birds in particular sound as if their voices are breaking at times lately! But this group of whipbirds is definitely new to that area and the calls are shorter and of a different pitch to normal.
Last night when I returned home I found the noisiest group of Noisy Miners absolutely going off at the treed area near my front gate.
They were high up on top of the canopy and butchers and maggies were joining in. I grabbed my camera and was hoping for a BOP but it turned out to be a poor little possum who had been discovered ! I took a few shots but it was dark inside the foliage so they aren't worth showing here.
I wish I knew more about the nature of bird song and behaviour.
Sunshine Coast Queensland
Wow, that is an amazing observation. I have a lot of whipbirds around my place (but I have not come close to getting a photo of one) but I don't have lorikeets.
I too am beginning to pay attention to the various bird calls that I hear at different times of the year; maybe in about 40 years I'll know what it's all about.. :)
- soakes
soakes
Olinda, Victoria, Australia
Ha ha Soakes, I just hope I can still hear them in the forty years it will take us to learn about them!!! You can understand why the definition of the expert used to be said to be "the person who knows more and more about less and less until he knows nothing about anything at all"!!!!
The whole point here I guess is, that if I hadn't been walking past daily in the same patch of bush then I would not be able to observe and document the differences. makes you realise that the scientists who are out their researching have to do a lot of repeated observations.
Sunshine Coast Queensland
Interesting story. I like to hear the story behind the photo. I'm also glad that we get some of the most beautiful birds in the world in our backyard.
Great shots! Love the first image, especially the slight glint of red in its iris!
Poor whipbirds, and they're so shy.
Taz
Hi Taz, nice to see you back here. Where have you been? and more importantly...got any pics to show us????? LOL
Sunshine Coast Queensland
lol great to see you again Birdie :)
I've been studying (yes, in the summer holidays. Final year is very important), and now I'm supposed to do some more studying (as I'm back at school) but I refused, got bored and escaped to... here :D I'll pop up every now and then.
Being cooped-up at home, I don't think I have much photos to share. My apologies.
As for you Birdie, keep up the great work and take lots of photos :) They're spectacular :D
Taz
Hi, let's start a campaign:--) "free Tazrandus":-(
M-L
Wow! Nice shots birdie and great story behind them to- there always great stories behind the great photos on this forum. Love the sound of rainbow lorries when they're young. There is thousands of them around my area lately competing with the grass parrots who were here first.
Poor Tazrandus, I know how you feel, but I can still escape to here too know we've got new laptops... YAY! =)
Hi cooee, I can put you on my list of people "to free", I'm forever good to stand up for the oppressed,(have some experience!). I'm interested in your stories, there is nothing better, than a good story, I love it! Every person on this planet has a story to tell!!! Come on, tell us one..... Marie-Louise
M-L
Aww thanks Araminta and cooee ;D But seriously I shouldn't complain, whiny students complain about homework all the time. It's my final year so I'll be out of there soon and to really have my efforts pay off for all those years at school pay off, I'll have to study pretty hard.
Checking out the other Lorikeet photos now, the latest ones with the rituals appear to have a very interesting story behind them ;)
Taz
Yay good for you Taz.... you go your hardest for it ! It is a relatively short period of time when compared to the rest of your life though many of us don't see it that way when we are in the middle of it!! :')
Araminta... vive la revolution!!! Some things in us never die do they??? LOL
Sunshine Coast Queensland
Hi birdie, you are sooo right, just this afternoon I called the Police to a car. This poor elderly Lady was locked in the car. She was hot and stressed! Police, RACV, CFA, and an Ambulance turned up. This will cost the daughter (or son?), I can not stand by, seeing anyone (or animal!) suffer!! "Vive la Revolution" Hi Taz, good luck for the last year of school!!!! But once you're done with school, I can tell you what I think about the Australian Education System. (Remind me!) Cooee, I don't remember, where you live, but I like your way of seeing things. I don't know what makes me think this, but I have a feeling you like stories to explain things as much as I do? The stories handed down to me from my grandmother, have helped me to understand life and the world!We all need stories, they are the dreams of the past, and the hope for the future!
M-L
Yes! Thanks for your support Birdie! :D
Taz
Am I risking the guillotine here Araminta if I remind you that ... it is the only education system we have and while we might like to make changes, we are damn lucky to have it? LOL
Sunshine Coast Queensland
Ce n'est pas moi qui vas te guillotiner!LOL. That's why I won't say more! (You and I could have a discussion about it one day?) If we end up with young people like Taz and cooee, I'm happy!!
M-L