birding-aus

singing bushlark

To: KAREN HUNT <>,
Subject: singing bushlark
From: Nikolas Haass <>
Date: Sat, 26 Feb 2011 20:31:57 -0800 (PST)
Karen,

Your description doesn't really fit Horsfield's Bushlark (a.k.a. Singing 
Bushlark). I would rather guess that your little bird is an exotic finch (e.g. 
a 
canary)? I would not release this bird before you know what it is.

Nikolas

 ----------------
Nikolas Haass

Sydney, NSW



----- Original Message ----
From: KAREN HUNT <>
To: 
Sent: Sun, February 27, 2011 2:16:43 PM
Subject: singing bushlark

HI all

A couple of days ago a tiny bird of a type I'd never seen before hopped its
way into our front yard in Geraldton. It seemed completely non-plussed by
the presence of humans and was ridiculously easy to catch for closer
examination. That revealed some trauma to the back and what looked like a
puncture wound - naturally we thought cat bite and assumed the little thing
would be dead by morning. That hasn't eventuated and I've identified it as a
singing bushlark, which according to my field guides, isn't generally found
this far south. I wonder if it may have been blown in on the cyclonic wind
systems that have been prevalent in this area for a while. 

This bird is ridiculously trusting. Within a day it was landing on my hand
whenever I brought in a fresh supply of grass and seed heads picked from the
garden for it to eat, happily fluttering around the bathroom - coolest room
in the house at present - and landing without fear on heads, backs, hands,
shoulders, anywhere it can get a grip.  It's not panicky in the way a bird
is normally and I wonder if anyone else has had a similar experience with
one of these little guys or knows much about them. The only information I
have at present is what is contained in the field guides. 

If the weather is cooler in the morning, I shall release the little bloke
back into the garden  as his back trauma seems to be healing well and
there's no real reason t keep him any longer. 

I have to admit though, he's been an absolute delight to meet and it's been
a very special couple of days to spend in his company.

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