I would like to make a comment on bird identification. When I see an unusual bird in our garden I want to make sure it is the bird I think. When I saw a female Satin Bowerbird in our garden for the first time I was 99% sure of its identification. But in the past I made a wrong identification and surprised experienced birders. (It was not in Australia). They never laughed at me but were simply surprised that I should see such a bird in such a place and at such a time. I now have a field guide to Canberra birds so I would not make a wildly wrong guess but I want to have a confirmation. Unfortunately (or fortunately) I cannot keep up with modern technology and cannot send a photo to the chatline. I wait for monthly meetings to accost members with my blurred photo. I sometimes forget to bring my camera to a meeting. I wish I could send it to the chatline, people are so helpful.
I also find identifying immature birds very difficult. An immature Grey Butcherbird was not grey at all. I first thought it could be a young Kookaburra.
