Great Birding Moments # 29 Crested Pigeon
Crested Pigeon
Sometimes things just go right.
I have spent many frustrating hours chasing – or waiting – for birds to sit just right for a photograph. Just the right pose, at the right angle, with the right light and everything in focus. It doesn’t always happen. Quite often in fact.
So when it all comes together and all the conditions are right AND the photo turns out nicely, it is a bonus. It becomes one of those Great Birding Moments. The pigeon in the photo above came for a drink at the bird bath. It must have seen me moving in the sun-room preparing to take its photo. It almost looks as if it was trying to pose for me. Click on the photo to enlarge the image.
Related articles:
- Great Birding Moments – and archive of wonderful birding moments.
- Pigeons and Doves – more articles about pigeons and doves.
Birding in Nepal – some frustrations
Feral Pigeon in Kathmandu
One of the aspects of visiting Nepal in 2006 that excited me was the propect of seeing many birds for the very first time. This was my first trip overseas and for months before I studied field guides to help me identify the birds, first in Thailand and then in Nepal.
At first I was quite disappointed with the birding I was able to do. I soon realised that watching birds was not my main purpose in visiting these countries, so any birds I did see were a bonus. Secondly, I realised very quickly that identifying birds in a strange country is not easy. Even though I had studied the field guides for many months, getting an ID for some birds was very hard. Third, trying to identify and photograph a bird from the back of a moving elephant, or in the lurching back seat of a 4WD or bus, or while gasping for air when staggering up the track towards Mt Everest IS NOT EASY.
So, in that context, the photo above was a bonus. This Feral Pigeon (Rock Dove) posed for me beautifully on a the ledge of part of a temple in Kathmandu. Still, I didn’t exactly travel a third of the way around the world to see and photograph a common bird I can see just by stepping out my front door at home. [Sigh]
What would I do differently?
The next time I go overseas I will go with different plans and different expectations. I will not expect to be able to identify every bird I see. That takes much experience and knowledge. I will also schedule in more times to just go quietly and not in a rush – certainly not on the back of an elephant – though that is a handy place to be when confronted by a tiger (which I didn’t see) or a rhino (which I did see).
Professional Guides:
While I did have the expertise of a professional birding guide for some of the time at Chitwan National Park, most of the time I was left on my own when birding. In many Asian countries, birding guides are relatively cheap to employ for a morning or even for a day. Their local knowledge is vital, plus you have the bonus of helping to give employment to a local person which in turn helps a struggling economy.
Related articles from my travel blog:
- Himalayan Monal – national bird of Nepal.
- Another rhinoceros – and some birds too
- Canoe trip – and many birds
- An early morning birding walk – it’s hard in the fog!
- Royal Chitwan National Park – complete with a list of birds I saw.
Link:
- Trevor’s Travels – my blog about my travels in Australia, Thailand and Nepal.
Peaceful Doves in our garden
Several days ago I was writing at my desk in the office when I heard the unmistakable call of a Peaceful Dove in our garden. It sounded like it was in the tree right outside the office. The camera often resides within reach and so I was on my way outside in seconds. Sure enough, a single Peaceful Dove was in the tree but my approach was a little too noisy or rapid.
Peaceful Doves can be a little flighty at times. This one quickly flew a short distance away to another tree further from the house. This time I was a little more cautious. I was able to get four or five shots before it decided to head off towards a patch of scrub next door. Unfortunately, the light was all wrong and the resulting photos are not worth keeping. Instead, I have posted a photo of a Peaceful Dove seen last year in the walk-through aviary at the Cleland Wildlife Park.
Peaceful Dove, Cleland Wildlife Park
Peaceful Doves cannot be classed as resident in our garden, but they are reasonably frequent visitors. We love hearing their soft “doodle-doo” call as we work outside. Peaceful doves are widespread throughout the eastern and northern halves of Australia.
As a little aside, I find it quite remarkable how often their call is featured in the background of Australian films or television shows.
Spotted Turtledove comes to drink
Spotted Turtledove
It is interesting to see the parade of birds coming to drink at our bird baths, especially on a hot day. We’ve had many really hot days in the last few months, with many days over 40C (104F) and some as high as 46C (115F). It is the birds that suffer terribly during these stiflingly hot days so we feel pleased that we are offering them just a little respite from the oppressive conditions.
Introduced Species:
Spotted Turtledoves, an introduced species in Australia are one of those quiet, unassuming species that cause very few problems in our parks and gardens. They are found in coastal eastern and south eastern Australia as well as parts of south western Western Australia and Tasmania. Here in Murray Bridge they are relatively common throughout the city in parks and gardens. They are a breeding resident species in our garden. They don’t often come to the water to drink, but hot days are an exception.
Spotted Turtledove
Speeding Bronzewing Pigeon
Common Bronzewing Pigeon
Most people who take an interest in birds know that the fastest bird is the Peregrine Falcon. In a stoop (dive) it can reach speeds of over 200kph and perhaps as fast as 300kph. Most other birds are quite pedestrian by comparison.
Common Bronzewing Pigeons and their cousins the Brush Bronzewings have always amazed me with their speed as they dart through the mallee scrub near here in Murray Bridge. I did not realise just how fast they are able to fly until recently.
We were returning from a visit to Lowan Conservation Park about 40 minutes drive northeast of home. The roadside vegetation is mainly mallee trees, typical of many roads in this area. Our approach disturbed a Common Bronzewing from the side of the road. It proceeded to fly at speed about twenty metres in front of the car. I was driving at about 90kph and was only steadily gaining on this speeding bird. It gradually veered off the road a little but still kept flying along parallel to the road. On catching it I slowed down and kept pace with it at about 85kph until it decided to veer off for a rest. In all, it must have covered at least 500 metres at this speed.
Brush Bronzewing Pigeon