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Bush bird names e.g. Happy Families

To: "'Gemfyre'" <>, Peter Waanders <>, "" <>
Subject: Bush bird names e.g. Happy Families
From: Trevor & Hazel Cowie <>
Date: Tue, 26 Oct 2004 11:43:04 +0930
With regards to the SA State Badge. A full description of this naming can be 
read in the SAOA's book
"Birds, Birders & Birdwatching 1899-1999" A Celebration of 100 Years of the 
SAOA.
A chapter by Joan Paton starting on page 9 explains the Governor of SA & 
Britain's cock-up in this matter.
Yes it is the SA White Backed Magpie. But the story is good reading.
Our state badge is therefore quite unique.

Trevor Cowie

-----Original Message-----
From:   Gemfyre [SMTP:
Sent:   Tuesday, 26 October 2004 9:06 AM
To:     Peter Waanders; 
Subject:        Bush bird names e.g. Happy Families

Speaking of SA bird names.  While I was over there last summer visiting my 
b/f's family I tried to find out what kind of bird the "Piping shrike" on 
the SA flag was.  I asked his dad, who has dabbled in birdwatching and he 
couldn't remember.  And going by the stylised picture on the flag I thought 
it might be a Magpie Lark and kept teasing my b/f about the fact that his 
state bird was a dopey Peewee.

Once I got home and was able to look it up I found that a Piping Shrike is 
nothing more than a Magpie.  At least it's more noble than Peewee.  Now I 
wonder why on earth they always refer to it as a Piping Shrike on the flag 
rather than a magpie and why did they choose a magpie?  It's hardly a bird 
exclusive to SA (although admittedly Black Swans are found out of WA too).

Gemfyre




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