The time has come to take on a bird that nearly everyone has had some interaction with. The world’s most popular pet (bird), the Budgerigar (Melopsittacus undulatus) On top of being the world’s most popular pet (bird), they’re also the world’s smallest parrot, that of the order Psittaciformes. These pint-sized parrots live mostly in theContinue reading “Bird 64 – Budgerigar”
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Bird 63 – Tufted Coquette
I want to lift the veil on what goes on behind the scenes at Bird of the Week. You see, I keep a list of potential birds to feature, and from that list I loosely plan out which birds to do about five or so weeks in advance. But every so often I stumble acrossContinue reading “Bird 63 – Tufted Coquette”
Bird 62 – Long-tailed Duck
Now we all know there are Fancy Pigeons. But my dear friends, did you also know there are fancy ducks. There are many, many, many fancy ducks, and today I would like to introduce you to one. The Long-tailed Duck (Clangula hyemails) In maybe an unsurprising move, this duck is renown for it’s long tail. Continue reading “Bird 62 – Long-tailed Duck”
Bird 61 – Kereru
Here’s a question, what’s the best bird to feature for the Australia Day long weekend? Is it the New Zealand Bird of the Year for 2018? I think it is. Now, obviously this isn’t a competition we at Bird of the Week acknowledge or endorse, #Californiaquail4ever. Having said that, if New Zealand wants to crownContinue reading “Bird 61 – Kereru”
Bird 60 – Leach’s Storm Petrel
The other day I was reading about the science of life extension, because who doesn’t want to live forever, am I right? For those of you not up on the state of play, there is a little thing at the end of our chromosomes called a telomere, which protects the genetic material when cells divide.Continue reading “Bird 60 – Leach’s Storm Petrel”
Bird 59 – Northern Gannet
This week’s bird is brought to you by the American Poet, Mary Oliver (1935-2019)*. The Northern Gannet (Morus bassanus). I am watching the white gannets blaze down into the water with the power of blunt spear and a stunning accuracy– even though the sea is riled and boiling and gray with fog and the fish areContinue reading “Bird 59 – Northern Gannet”
Bird 58 – Black Kite
So I decided this year we need to enhance the birds. And what’s the one thing that enhances everything? That’s right: FIRE!! I want you to meet the Black Kite (Milvus migrans), of the order Accipitriformes (birds of prey). And just from the name, Black Kite, you know it’s going to be ominous … orContinue reading “Bird 58 – Black Kite”
Bird of the Year – 2018
It may be holiday time, but birds never sleep (they sometimes do, true fact). And given this will be the final bird for 2018 it’s time for a Bird of the Week retrospective. That’s right, it’s a clip episode, woooo!!! The first bird of 2018 was, as it so rightly should have been, a pigeon:Continue reading “Bird of the Year – 2018”
Bird 57 – Red-legged Partridge
Ah, the eve of Christmas eve, what a time of the year. And what an opportunity to get to the bottom of a strange little fowl that has long been associated with the season. The question on everyone’s mind: just what exactly is a Partridge, and why their fascination with pear trees? Well, first thingsContinue reading “Bird 57 – Red-legged Partridge”
Bird 56 – Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher
The time has come for me to introduced you to The King. The Kingfisher, that is. Not to be confused with the 1991 comedy-drama, The Fisher King starring Robin Williams and Jeffery Bridges. Nor to be confused with the King of Fish, Poseidon, who is himself not be confused with the illegitimate claims of Neptune. That’s RomanContinue reading “Bird 56 – Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher”
Bird of the Week 