Archive for the 'Birds' Category

When asked to name a favourite bird it is very hard picking just one or two species; I like so many different kinds of birds. Instead, I decided to list 26 Favourite Birds, one for each letter of the alphabet. I’ve also included a reason for my selection.

Birds I like:

1. Apostlebirds – I love the way they work together as a family.
2. Babblers – I love these clowns of the bird world.
3. Chats – these beautiful little birds add a splash of colour to the Australian bush.
4. Doves – especially the Peaceful Dove for its quiet, hypnotic call.
5. Egrets – they are so graceful, so elegant, so patient and so white.
6. Firetail Finches – so much stunning beauty packed in such a tiny body.
7. Gannets – their amazing diving abilities while fishing wins them my Gold Medal every time.
8. Harriers – their slow, patient searching for their next meal is so graceful.
9. Ibis – seeing flocks of hundreds heading home to roost in the setting sun is an inspiring sight.
10. Jacky Winters – their graceful flitting from a fence post to catch an insect on the wing deserves a place in poetry.
11. Kingfishers – like a bright iridescent blue dart piercing the pond’s stillness.
12. Lapwings – handsomely dressed like gentlemen going to the ball.
13. Mistletoebirds – a splash of red in the drab leaves of a gum tree in the Australian bush.
14. Nightjars – secretive by day but bold by night.
15. Owls – deadly in their silent approach to prey.
16. Pardalotes – such friendly and approachable residents of our garden.
17. Quail – such beautiful, cryptic markings.
18. Rainbow Bee-eaters – so many colours on just one bird.
19. Sittellas – how do they hop along the underside of a branch?
20. Terns – the masters of the wind and always such clean looking birds.
21. Variegated Wrens – such brilliant colours.
22. Whistlers – their powerful songs lift one’s spirits.
23. Yellow Robin – a friendly ray of sunshine lighting up the bush.
24. Zebra Finch – such cheerful little birds.

Okay – so I missed U and X.

I can’t think of any Australian birds starting with those letters.

Can anyone enlighten me?

I’ve been a little distracted in recent days by a writing project that I’ve been asked to undertake. It involves the birds of the Mannum district. Mannum is a small country town on the banks of the River Murray about a half hour drive north of where I live. It was once a bustling river town in the heyday of the river boat trade. It then progressed to become a centre for the nearby farming community. In more recent years it has been promoted as a tourist destination for those wanting a quiet time relaxing by or on the river.

Some time ago I was approached by a local committee, Friends of the Mannum Walking Trails. This group has been very active in setting up a series of walking trails in the town and along the river. One of their aims is to encourage both locals and visitors to take a greater interest in the bird life of the town and the wetlands associated with the river. That’s where they needed my help.

Over the last week I have been busy preparing a mock-up of a pamphlet that can be placed in tourist centres in order to encourage people to go birding. This has required some writing about the birds of the area and the inclusion of a selection of bird photos illustrating the text. This is the first time I’ve ever done anything like this and I was quite pleased with the result. The committee was most impressed too, so I must be on the right track.

Interestingly, my research has shown that there is precious little in the way of resources like this in South Australia. Perhaps there is a writing niche waiting to be filled.