Today I’m announcing a change to your weekly bird. The time has come to shift this publication from the public to the private sector. I’ve felt for a while that the bird is going so far beyond the original dozen friends it was made for that it’s probably a smidgen inappropriate that it keeps comingContinue reading “Bird 55 – Barn Owl”
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Bird 54 – White-tailed Ptarmigan
As we enter summer it’s time to adapt to our new environment – shed the jacket, slather the sunscreen and flick that reverse cycle air conditioner over. Of course, some birds do a similar thing. And there are few better at the winter/summer shift than the White-tailed Ptarmigan (Lagopus leucura). They’re one of the Galliformes,Continue reading “Bird 54 – White-tailed Ptarmigan”
Bird 53 – Cinereous Mourner
So it must be said I don’t play favourites with birds, unless of course it’s a California Quail or a particularly fancy pigeon or has higher than usual murderous tendencies … okay, maybe I do play favourites. Well, this week we can add another bird to that list. This is the Cinereous Mourner (Laniocera hyopyrra),Continue reading “Bird 53 – Cinereous Mourner”
Bird 52 – Wild Turkey
As our American friends prepare for Thanksgiving this week, it seems an appropriate time to honour the bird that takes centre stage for this holiday. The Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo). One of the Galliformes: the ‘game birds’, Chickens and Quails and the likes. It’s basically a big old chicken. And it is big – by weightContinue reading “Bird 52 – Wild Turkey”
Bird 51 – Spinifex Pigeon
It’s time for an anniversary bird. On this week a year ago I sent an email to six people, pointing out an excellent bird that they needed to pay attention to. While walking home that day I paused to say good afternoon to the local Magpies, as I always do, and they looked at me with murderContinue reading “Bird 51 – Spinifex Pigeon”
Bird 50 – Flightless Cormorant
You know, we had so much fun on the Galapagos last week I thought we should keep the dream alive and spend a second week there, and— No, we’re not doing the Finches, stop asking about the Finches, gees. Instead let’s take a look at this fine fellow, the Flightless Cormorant (Phalacrocorax harrisi). All CormorantsContinue reading “Bird 50 – Flightless Cormorant”
Bird 49 – Galapagos Penguin
I think it’s time to finally visit the Galapagos Islands. And I know what you’re thinking, here come the Finches. Well steady on, Buddy, because them islands have more birds to offer than just finches. On top of which, we haven’t done a Penguin since Bird of the Week 02, so it’s high time forContinue reading “Bird 49 – Galapagos Penguin”
Bird 48 – Crested Pigeon
When a bird arrives on a Wednesday instead of a Monday you know something must be deeply wrong in the world. Either that or I haven’t been in the office for a few days, but really, who can say? This week I thought, let’s go with a bird everyone has definitely seen – hell, youContinue reading “Bird 48 – Crested Pigeon”
Bird 47 – Northern Brown Kiwi
So we all had such a fun time in the Pacific Ocean last week I thought we should just keep it rolling and hop a couple of islands to New Zealand. Because after you do the ‘I’iwi there’s really only one bird you can do next. That’s right, it’s the Kiwi. But, there are inContinue reading “Bird 47 – Northern Brown Kiwi”
Bird 46 – ‘I’iwi
I think the time has come to make a tropical getaway, and what better place to do it than Hawaii? And wouldn’t you know it, Hawaii has some fun birds. There are a group of birds there known as Honeycreepers, which much like the Finches of the Galapagos Islands, have evolved into a variety ofContinue reading “Bird 46 – ‘I’iwi”
Bird of the Week 