November 2007 - Bird Story

Bird Story

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MISSING PIGEONS - lost and found

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Bird Story - November 2007

Baby black-faced cuckoo-shrike & radio show

November 30th 2007 17:40

Last week, I saw a strange pale gray bird sitting in the Poinsettia tree, upon a dead branch, near some turtle doves. I was not quite sure what it was, as it was not close enough to see. It made an almost continuous sound, though and was so fluffed that I realized it was a youngster.

A few days ago, I saw it clearer as it hopped about the carport roof. It was a baby black-faced cuckoo-shrike. Once again, it was highly audible and seemed to be parentless. It was alone for at least two hours, hopping about, calling, watching other birds and then me when I went slowly closer.

It did not fly away, so I was able to take a few photos whilst it stared down at me, as if interested. I was a little concerned about why it had left alone for so long, but when I went back to check after about three hours, it had gone away. Since then, it has not been back, though I have seen some adult cuckoo-shrike hanging around for a short time, so I assume it is safely reunited with family, or now old enough to live alone.

You may be interested to know that one of my books will be featured on the Da Lamont Carey Show this Monday night - 9pm EST.
QUOTE: "Monday Mz. B's Corner - "Our Australian Feathered Friends". Yes, this is Mz.B's baby. We do the book reviews here. This has been a real treat. We have had some really good authors send in their books. So if you have a book out send an electronic copy of it to Mz. B at www.biancavbrown@yahoo.com or if you know someone who has a book out!"
(I think this link should get you through to the show… Really Long Link

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Posted By: sandeye - Category: No Category

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Returned friend

November 28th 2007 19:15

Smokey was staring down at me from the carport roof when I went outside to check for junk mail a few days ago. He looked rather agitated, and I figured he was loving his new companion, but perhaps not so in love with the lack of seed at his new home. So, I threw down some seeds especially for him. He flew down and ate, ate, ate, and ate some more! After stuffing, resting for less than a minute, and stuffing again, he left his brothers and flew back to his new wife. I suppose she must be prEGGnant, and nest-sitting, as she did not accompany him and he seemed impatient and rushed.

Smokey has come back home to us daily ever since, for an hour or so each morning. This morning he arrived bright and early at 5-30am to grab the best of the breakfast seeds!

We have had a lot of baby birds visiting our yard recently, and I have some good photos to share with you in my next post of a baby black-faced cuckoo-shrike. (I just have to load them onto my computer first!)

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Posted By: sandeye - Category: No Category

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Brownie loves…

November 26th 2007 15:07

The pigeons all love music. Here is Brownie getting up close and listening in to my new Astral CD.

Additionally, our flock loves food. Here is Brownie again, tucking in to the dinner scraps I threw out, before the seagulls grab them.

Unfortunately, I was unable to shoot the shot of Shyly and Baby walking along the front sidewalk, as if pedestrians, as JUST as I grabbed the camera and returned to the window to do so, they flew onto the roof!

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Posted By: sandeye - Category: No Category

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SQUEAK

November 23rd 2007 15:38

There is something squeaking on next door's roof… 2 baby myna birds!
One cute fluffy baby myna was sitting on the lawn recently, seemingly oblivious to all around it, preening and fluffing up. I managed to grab two photos, which I have put together, to share.

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Spotty and Smokey

November 21st 2007 19:37

The romance continued for a few days, and I finally managed to get some better pictures of our new pigeon, Spotty.

However, the day after taking them, she did not visit. Smokey was left looking for her, waiting impatiently and sadly

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Smokey's new girl

November 16th 2007 18:25

I spotted Smokey running all over next door's roof recently. He was chasing after a small headed, tall bodied, female pigeon that I had never set eyes on before. I am not sure where he found her, but she is definitely far more appropriate a partner than the silver gull, myna bird, and blown into the yard tissue that he was previously chasing in his solitary desperation. She is white with brown spots, so I have called her Spotty. I tried to get some photos, but she is very shy and likes to hide underneath next door's alcove rather than join in with the others. Smokey tries to lure her out to join in, and landed on the windowsill next to me to show her that she need not be scared of me either, but she remains timid.

Later on, she was following Smokey all over the carport rafters and next door's roof - I think Smokey has himself a young lady, folks!!!

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Stormy weather

November 14th 2007 16:40

The weather had been rain and storm for about a week - til last weekend. Herons waded the puddles near the grocery store, ibis and pelicans sailed about over our yard, and a wagtail pestered the raven.

I managed to get a couple of photos of one of the two baby magpie-larks - but not very good ones

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Final extract from OAFF

November 9th 2007 20:01

I have not lived in a home which has been without a local flock of Seagulls since my childhood. Even then, the gulls might come inland to the English village where I grew up on occasion, generally if a storm was about to arrive.
Currently living just ten minutes walk from a beach means there are ample numbers of Silver Gull appearing in our yard within minutes of tossing down dinner scraps or bacon rind. Early in the morning, just after dawn, a few will often fly overhead, searching hopefully to be first to find a new food source. If I wander along the coast as the sun rises, a flock will inevitably be perched upon the sand on the local stretch of beach. When we first moved to this residence, the lady next door used to throw out food scraps onto our carport roof each day, then the Seagulls would magically materialize and cluster about, scrapping loudly for these treats. Nowadays however, my neighbor is concerned about the possible problem of bird flu, and there is not much roof left on the carport after several gales have ripped pieces off anyway.
There is one friendly fellow which my son has named Jack, who often comes onto our doorstep to take a drink from the water bowl that we put out for the Pigeons. Jack knows it is fresh water that is changed regularly, and considers that he has the right to drink from such a superior source whenever he wishes

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Recently...

November 5th 2007 19:36

Just after my post about the Butcherbird, not having seen one for several months, it was right there sitting on the Hills Hoist the very next day! It must be the grown baby, as it was tame and ready to dive down to munch a cube of cheese!

The weather has been stormy and gray lately, and there have been several unusual sightings above rather than in the yard. A white-faced heron flew over and landed 2 doors down, the black-faced cuckoo shrikes are back, and something i am not yet sure about flew over - it looked like a Currawong, but was not of any variety I have seen before - I shall have to look that one up!

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Another extract from OAFF

November 2nd 2007 18:34

The Grey Butcherbird is common all across Australia. Its territory is statewide in NSW, Tasmania, and Victoria. Most of Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia are also utilized, and about half of the Northern Territory also. They tend to favor woodland and forest areas, however they can additionally be found in suburbia. Approximately 27cm long, birds tend to weigh around 100g.
I have seen an individual on only three or four occasions, originally wondering what it was. It appeared like a miniature Kookaburra in shape, so I assumed it must be a Kingfisher. On investigation, I discovered it was a Butcherbird.
Unlike its cousins the Black Butcherbird and the Pied Butcherbird, the Grey Butcherbird is not all black, or black and white. The individual I witnessed sitting on our carport roof edge, staring down at me tossing out dinner scraps to the Pigeons, was a fluffy beige bellied specimen, with otherwise dark brown plumage. Adult members tend to be gray-white in the belly region and have a black face and head, gray back and wings, large black-gray bill with a small hooked tip, and a white collar. I assume therefore, that the bird I spotted, which happily swooped down to the lawn to snatch up a piece of cheese that I threw towards it, was a youngster

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