Three days without birds
I’m back.
It has been a while since my last post. I’ve been here most of the time but I’ve been very busy coping with life. My studies have distracted me for many weeks now, but I can finally see the end of my course work.
Then I had a short stay in the local hospital. Kidney stones are no fun. Over that now, thank goodness. Then my wife had a stay in hospital. Between us we are keeping the local health services gainfully employed.
When I came home again I suddenly realised I’d gone 3 days without seeing a bird. There was a window in the room I was in, but the patient I was sharing with didn’t open the curtains much because he generally wanted to sleep. I knew there was something missing from my life those three days, and it wasn’t until I returned home to a garden full of birds that I realised what it was.
We are in the middle of winter now in South Australia and the bird life has diminished somewhat at present. Despite the cold conditions there is still enough activity around to keep one interested. That is one of the wonderful things about birding as a hobby. There will always be some birds around, and there’s always some form of activity. One just has to take a thirty second break from work and look out of the window to enjoy what is fluttering around or flying by. I’d certainly hate to work in an office where I couldn’t see out a window.
Enjoy the birds in your life.
Happy birding.
Can birds see colours?
This week I had an interesting question from a reader: Can birds see colours?
She also asked what colour flowers birds are most attracted to. This is a fascinating topic, one I am far from qualified to answer in full.
Yes birds can see colours – in fact, they can see colours far more intensely than humans. Scientists have only recently discovered the vast range of colours that birds can see, and most are completely beyond what humans can see or imagine. The reason for this is that humans have three cone cells in the retina while birds have four cones. In real terms, one could say that humans are virtually “colour blind” compared to birds.
For a good discussion on this topic go here:
http://www.csulb.edu/labs/bcl/elab/avian%20vision_intro.pdf
As far as what colour flowers birds are most attracted to, there is no simple answer. In my very limited understanding of the topic, birds are attracted more to the ultraviolet patterns on flowers rather than the colour that we see in our limited range of perception.
This is a vast and interesting topic. Thanks to Emilie for asking the question.
Rainbow Lorikeet
Colombian National Bird
This blog is about Australian Birds found in the natural environment. You wouldn’t believe the number of requests I get for advice on how to look after birds, and about caring for caged birds.
But I digress.
At the moment my family is focused very much on the South American country of Colombia. This is because our son and daughter in law are there to meet their Columbian son whom they are adopting. It is an exciting time for us; our first grand child.
Yesterday, when looking for something else – as you do – I found a reference to the Colombian National Bird. I didn’t realise that the Andean Condor was their national bird. Good choice – such a magnificent bird and truly one that is worthy of national bird status.
The bird also features on the Coat of Arms of Colombia.
Bird photography runs in the family
It seems that the love of bird photography runs in the family.
My son has some new photographic gear that he loves using. On a recent visit home he proudly showed me his new equipment: a Canon EOS 40D digital SLR.
Nice camera – bit on the heavy side for my liking, but one can really get into the photo game with gear like that.
Anyway, Simon has been posting a few of his bird photos on his blog. Here are some recent posts that include bird shots:
- Munro park / Tunks Park– (north Sydney
- Parrots at Tunks – King Parrots
- Lane Cove National Park
- Kookaburra on the clothes line – a stunning close up photo
And here is where I wrote about my camera and bird photography:
Great photography site
There are thousands of excellent photography sites on the internet. A local one I’ve discovered recently is Tony Crittenden’s Photography site. Tony has hundreds of excellent photographs of birds, animals, flowers, reptiles and several other topics.
It is well worth a visit – and lingering for a while over some of his excellent shots of wildlife, both here in Australia and overseas.