Birding is a dangerous hobby
I thoroughly enjoy going out birding.
Not only does it get me out looking at all of those wonderful birds we have here in Australia, it also gets me out there in the fresh air and gives me much needed exercise. Generally birding is a relaxing occupation.
Well – at least I thought it was a relaxing, safe and non-contact sport.
Until.
Until I read this newpaper article about a Dutch birder visiting India:
Elephant tramples Dutch Birder: The Telegraph, Kulkata, India.
Birders beware.
Is that a Cockatoo you are eating?
The Sulphur-crested Cockatoo is one of the wonderful world of parrots here in Australia. Our country has been called the Land of Parrots. They seem to be everywhere, in wonderful colours and often in huge numbers. For example, we often have flocks of 400 or more Galahs fly over our house. Bit on the noisy side, mind you, but a truly spectacular sight.
The photo at the top of this blog is of a Sulphur-crested Cockatoo taken in the streets of Adelaide some time ago. Today’s state newspaper features a photo of a Sulphur-crested Cockatoo in a different pose – being eaten by a python.
To see the photo and read the article click here: Python makes a meal out of a cockatoo.
Flamingo bashed at Adelaide Zoo
Flamingo at Adelaide Zoo
I was quite horrified to hear the news this morning about a 78 year old Flamingo being bashed by four teenagers at the Adelaide Zoo. Why would someone do this? It seems incomprehensible. What is more, the bird is blind and is the oldest Flamingo in captivity. It came to our local zoo here in the 1930s.
I took the photo above only last Friday on my most recent visit to the zoo. I am a Life Member so I visit often, mainly to see the excellent collection of birds, especially in the walk through aviaries. Having the birds up close is also great for photography, especially of species I would be hard pressed to see in the wild, let alone photograph them.
The news today is that the bird is making a good recovery. The four culprits, however, have been detained by police and stand to be fined up to $50,000 or four years in prison.
For the full story, including a video of the bird and an interview with the director of the zoo, go to this link:
- Shock over Adelaide Zoo Flamingo bashing
For more news about zoos in Australia – and around the world – go to ZooChat, an on-line forum about zoos owned by my son. It covers over 450 zoos from over 50 countries and features news and discussions about zoos. The rapidly growing gallery has over 18,000 photos.
Masked Lapwings nesting in Adelaide CBD
2 Comments »25th October, 2008; Category: Baby birds, Bird Behaviour, Birds in the News, Birds on Television, Lapwings, Nests
This is one article I should have written ages ago. I’ve been busy.
Quite a few weeks ago now there was a special item on the television news here in South Australia showing a pair of Masked Lapwings nesting on the median strip of one of Adelaide’s busiest thoroughfares.
This pair had made their nest on a triangular piece of lawn at the intersection of North Terrace (6 lanes), West Terrace (8 lanes) and Port Road (6 lanes), arguably one of the busiest parts of the Adelaide CBD. This median strip would have to be no more than half a tennis court in size and would have tens of thousands of cars, trucks buses and bikes going past only a few metres away every day of the week.
Amazing.
It was in exactly the same spot about ten years ago that saw a pair of Lapwings escorting two little balls of fluff with legs. I hope they are able to run the gauntlet of all that traffic and survive. It can be relatively quiet around 3am I suppose – if you run during changes in the lights.
Masked Lapwing
The Start of my Indian Bird List?
2 Comments »11th October, 2008; Category: Birds in the News, Birds on Television, Eagles Hawks and Kites
While watching the news on television this evening I was interested in seeing footage highlights of the First Cricket Test match between Australia and India. This match is currently under way in Bangalore, India.
Imagine my delight when part of the highlights package included some close up shots of about 15 -20 Black Kites soaring over the cricket ground.
I’ve never been birding in India. Moral dilemma: can I now start my list of Indian birds?
Black Kite at Mannum, South Australia