Today we meet a big old goose, and it is going to help us answer the question, why do birds fly in V formations? An interesting question, but before we get into that, let’s meet us a bird, the Snow Goose. Now from the name you might be thinking, okay, there are two reasons whyContinue reading “Bird 336 – Snow Goose”
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Bird 335 – Hooded Grebe
Today we meet a Grebe that could double for David Bowie during his glam rock days, it’s the Hooded Grebe. Amazingly, the Hooded Grebe was only discovered in 1974. You would think with that striking hair do and hypnotic red blazing eyes that they be hard to miss, but they went undetected for centuries thanksContinue reading “Bird 335 – Hooded Grebe”
Bird 334 – Scaly-Breasted Lorikeet
What better way to welcome in the New Year than with a new bird. To be fair, we welcome every week with a new bird, but the first one for 2024 just feels a little special. So to kick off the year, let’s begin with one of my favourites, the Scaly-Breasted Lorikeet. Unlike many otherContinue reading “Bird 334 – Scaly-Breasted Lorikeet”
Bird 333 – Northern Cassowary
To close out 2023 we need a bird of fitting stature. And I can think of no bird of greater stature than the Northern Cassowary. Well … to be fair, the Ostrich and Emu have a greater physical stature … but when it comes to metaphoric stature, Northern Cassowary all the way. There are threeContinue reading “Bird 333 – Northern Cassowary”
Bird 332 – Northern Jacana
It’s the day before Christmas, and so naturally we have to feature a bird that has some relationship with the festive season. And no doubt, there are many birds out there: Partridge, Turtle Dove, Robins, so many excellent birds. But alas, all have been previously featured as our weekly bird, and I am loath toContinue reading “Bird 332 – Northern Jacana”
Bird 331 – Australian Pratincole
Out in the dry interior of the Australian continent there lives a bird that belongs to the wader family. Now, I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but there ain’t much water out there to wade through, but somehow the Australian Pratincole has figured out a way to live the arid lifestyle. But what is a Pratincole?Continue reading “Bird 331 – Australian Pratincole”
Bird 330 – Socorro Dove
Human impact has led to the extinction of many birds. But every now and again, when a bird is on the way out, a handful get saved and brought into captivity. Today we meet one such bird, the Socorro Dove. These are a beautiful little pigeon, sporting chestnut brown plumage. They’re similar in size andContinue reading “Bird 330 – Socorro Dove”
Bird 329 – Bank Myna
In Australia we are familiar with the Common Myna, or as we usually refer to them the Indian Myna. They are an invasive pest that competes with many of our smaller native birds. We don’t much like them here. But did you know the nasty Common Myna is just one of nearly a dozen species native toContinue reading “Bird 329 – Bank Myna”
Bird 328 – Red-Fan Parrot
Have you ever taken a look at a Cockatoo and thought, yeah it is great and all, but what if it was just a little bit fancier? Well, have I got the bird for you: the Red-fan Parrot! First up, we can’t ignore that amazing blue and red crest. This crest is radically different toContinue reading “Bird 328 – Red-Fan Parrot”
Bird 327 – Australasian Swamphen
This week I bring you a purple bird of the marshes, the Australasian Swamphen, or if you live in New Zealand, the Pūkeko. These guys are basically the chickens of the waterways. They are large, plump and like to hang out on the ground. But they are also purple, have a strange red shield on theirContinue reading “Bird 327 – Australasian Swamphen”
Bird of the Week 