As I write this e-mail a Noisy Miner is ripping out threads from the
frayed carpet outside my office door - possibly collecting nesting
material. I've never seen this before.
Anyway, I had a magic moment early Saturday evening... My girlfriend and
I were kicking back with chardonnay and a picnic dinner by one of the
ponds in Centennial Park, Sydney (where there's a major sacred ibis
rookery) watching the sun go down and the clouds and sky turn to mango
and peach shades. I said to her, "Geez it'd be great if a Channel-billed
Cuckoo turned up." Ten minutes later... two Channel-billed Cuckoos did
turn up in the fig tree behind us, and were flying about the pond for
about 45 minutes. Amazing timing! My girlfriend (who's a non-birder, but
supportive of my passion) had never seen one before and was quite
intrigued. She was also amused by how Steve Irwin I was getting over
seeing them. One of the cuckoos was feeding on figs about ten feet off
the ground - possibly the closest I've ever seen one to the ground
before.
They're amazing birds and always bring a major smile to my heart when I
hear their 'NORK NORK NORK' approach.
Have a good day all.
LGJ.
PS - About a month a go I was able to rescue a baby Tawny Frogmouth in
Lachlan Swamp at Centennial Park. I watched it fall out of its nest and
crash some ten feet to the swamp floor below. The adult did nothing. I
cupped it in my hands and walked for fifteen minutes to the ranger's HQ.
I called WIRES and they had someone come out and grab it. I immitated a
frogmouth's call to the nestling the whole time I nursed it. It was a
tiny ball of white fluff, probably only a few days old. Cotton wool with
a lot more personality. I'll have to ring WIRES and see if it is still
alive. Hopefully so. There you go. Centennial Park - non-stop action!
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