On the weekend i went on a walking circuit near the grant's picnic area in the dandenongs near melbourne and on the way back i heard what sounded like over 5 lyrebirds calling territorially and they all sounded somewhere near the track further on.
when i walked further into a gloomy bit of forest i was amazed to see a mother lyrebird with a toung one and they were within metres and surprisingly tame. i did get photos but none came close to a reasonable shot but i was still very happy to see these beautiful birds which i very rarely see.
Wow if there was a like button here ....I'd be clicking it Owen. Lucky you , you will have to go back and find them again and get some pics for us .
Sunshine Coast Queensland
I only ever saw one mate and thats when I was 10yrs old, I never forgot that.
I was only listening to them on youtube the other day, unreal birds......good onya mate, half your luck seeing them.
I know a place where there are heaps of lyrebirds and they are surprisingly tame. (In fact the residents consider them a pest because they dig up things.) The last time I went there I managed to see several birds and I was able to get pretty close. I also heard quite a few impressive calls.
Considering that most of my experience with them has been brief glimpses as they scarper off the road as I turn a corner, this was pretty amazing.
I managed to take this crappy video on my camera:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZoviTdxyUCU
- soakes
soakes
Olinda, Victoria, Australia
thanks guys.
birdie unfortunately the forest is so gloomy that the camera settings have to be on a slow shutter speed because of the big lens so the photos will either turn out blurred with correct light or sharp but way too dark that you can't see anything.
soakes your video was great and it was good to watch a lyrebird digging out in the open. they are very good at digging for food aren't they.
tassie their songs are amazing and to hear them in the forest is even better because you can hear multiple birds calling and it sounds amplified in the echoing forest.
Cheers, Owen.
Just watched your clip Soakes.....good one mate, you got me started again I had a look at some others too I am addicted to their amazing displays.
Owen I am going to get down there and have a look for them, I will have plenty of time on my hands now to slip off for a few days and driving certainly does not worry me.
Hi Owen,you obviously had a good day doing that walk.If you go back there, I'm sure you will find the birds again.To see a Lyrebird with a young is great. Those birds are used to lots of people, this is the picnic area, where the Tourists go to feed the Parots. Lyrebirds are quite common in the Dandenongs, we have them around our place. As soakes said, most of the time you see them crossing the road,mainly at dusk.But that is not as good, as seeing them from as close as you did.It would be great to go back, and take some photos! @Soakes, I liked your video. Those Lyrebird feet are made for scratching, and they do some pretty good running too!
M-L
I just had a look at it too Soakes...... great clip. I have never heard them or seen them .
Well done for finding them Owen, do you have a flash? Can't remember what camera you use! (old age) was it the same as mine...1000D?
You aren't telling me anything about the gloomy forest LOL I spend hours torturing myself in them :')
Sunshine Coast Queensland
birdie i use a pentax k10D and it does have a flash but it did nothing in the wet gloomy forest - the lens only pinpoints a small area of light so the flash will become useless.
Cheers, Owen.
What lens are you using?
Sunshine Coast Queensland
Anather good place to see Superb Lyrebirds is at Badger Weir, Yarra Ranges National Park, about 7km from Healesville.
Bryan
Great Bryan. Isn't that tail just magnificent..would so love to see one.
Sunshine Coast Queensland
Unreal mate !!!! I am envious, excellent shots champ, thx for sharing.
At Badger Weir, always can see a few of them along the walk paths, especially early in the morning or evening. Sometime near the carpark. But its quite difficult to get close enough to get a good photo. There are many female Lyrebirds there, but I still can't get a nice picture.
Bryan
bryan great shots, don't know how you took such good pics.
i love the one with the male displaying his tail.
birdie the lens is a sigma 100-500mm.
Cheers, Owen.
Hi Owen, I was lucky that day.
I was sitting beside a footpath, having a drink.
Then I saw it walking slowly towards me. I didn't move, just start taking pictures, unfortunately most of the photos were not clear. When it starts to put on the display, I noticed there is a female further in the bush.
That was the only time I ever encounter a Superb Lyrebird dancing in their natural environment.
You can see a few Lyrebirds around the Badger Weir everyday. But very difficult to get a good angle to take a nice photo. They always behind the bush. :(
There are some other birds there too. Australian King-Parrot, Crimson Rosellas, Kookaburras and etc.
Bryan
thanks for the info bryan. i would love to see a male dancing.
maybe one day..
Cheers, Owen.