Edwin wrote about the distractions caused by Koels and their ilk.
I have experienced the irritating and monotonous call of the Koel whilst
marking Year 12 test papers at Brisbane Girls' Grammar School. They were so
annoying that I got up from my marking, located it and hunted it out of the
tree beside the marking room window - much to the relief of the other 200+
markers.
Another problem bird is the crow which hangs around school playgrounds. One
sat on a railing outside a classroom earlier this year skwarking(sp!)
constantly whilst I was trying to deliver a most scintillating talk. Again a
thrown open window beside the bird was the only way I could shut it up.
Whilst teaching in Cairns, I had to frequently kick Indian Mynahs squabbling
outside a classroom when trying to inspire the masses in things
Mathematical. And what could be more annoying to little kiddies doing exams
in November than a bloody juvenile Pee-wee begging for food beside the
hard-test room!
On a more pleasant note, when I first arrived in Cairns and taught for
awhile at Cairns High, I was baffled for days by a call that was extremely
pleasant, probably, in retrospect, because it was new to me but I couldn't
locate the bird - even though it was right beside the window in a bushy
tree.
Finally after days, I realised it was a Brown Honeyeater and was pleasantly
surprised to find such a call coming from such a plain bird. I must confess
it tends to grate a little now especially when you are trying to locate a
"new" call that excites you. It's a bit like having your position given away
by shrieking plovers when you are ever-so-quietly trying to creep up on that
Little Bittern or Spotless Crake - that's when strangulation should be
permitted!
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