How cute is this guy? A kookaburra, and new fledgling which has recently left the nest. Feathers are still a little downy, and their beak hasn't quite grown in yet. But I've noticed them perched on several trees in the yard, searching for an opportunistic meal.
We value these carnivorous birds, because they help keep the snake population under control. I've seen a few harmless, baby tree snakes around, and wondered if they made it into this new fledglings' belly?
Normally, we hear the baby kookaburras, gagging together - which is really them attempting to laugh, but not quite able to, yet. It's very funny to listen to. We didn't hear them this year though, so I suspect this fledgling is a loner. Still, they are very welcome to hunt in our yard, as much as they like.
We have kookaburras visit every day, Chris, and I love seeing them. There's usually one on the back fence waiting for a tasty morsel or three. Quite plump they are! Meg:)
ReplyDeleteI notice they're plump up this time of year too. It must be extra feathers to cope with the cold. Or maybe there's just a lot of food around! Ours will eat anything, but I notice they tend to go for the small skinks/lizards. Nice to hear you have some visiting your garden too.
DeleteI love kookaburras, they are my favorite bird. I keep hearing a bird with a whipping like call out here, I cannot work out what it is. Its very pretty, but sounds as if it is out of its territory.
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They are quite a majestic bird - of the carnivorous variety. We also get a lot of magpies, kurrawongs and peewees, but none are as charming as the kookaburra. Nor as stealthy. I wonder if the bird you are referring to is the Australian Whipbird?
DeleteThere's an Eastern variety, I'm more familiar with, but apparently their territory only goes so far as Victoria. But there's also a Western variety, which would fall in your parts of SA, I think. Wouldn't it be interesting if you had the Eastern variety though?
It goes..."oooooooooooooo-weep-P! Sounds just like a whip cracking.
Of all the gorgeous Aussie birds there are, the Kookaburra is my absolute favourite. I have a beautiful tea set, that I use everyday, given to me by my son and DIL, covered in these gorgeous birds. I cant help but smile when I hear them laughing.
ReplyDeleteThat tea set sounds wonderful. I remember kookaburras would feature a lot on tea towels, once upon a time.
DeleteChris, we often see about three of them in the huge pine tree next door. I much prefer them to our more frequent visitors, the cockatoos :-)
ReplyDeleteWe have the opposite situation here - more carnivores than vegetarian birds. ;) I guess it reflects the kinds of gardens we grow. I'd love more fruit and nut trees to survive, but like you, I'd be inviting the cockatoos to visit more. :)
DeleteNaaawh - cute. I love watching Kooka's take off - they look like massive Boeing 767's trying hard to gain altitude.
ReplyDeleteYes, they do that! It's probably why they prefer to perch from the highest trees. Lots of clearance. ;)
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