One of my FAVORITE things about Australia has been the huge range of bird species. I do double-takes in the street all the time when I see a parrot or lorikeet and I'm sure people must think I'm crazy but what else is new.
The locals are unfazed, understandably, being as some of the birds are considered a nuisance. However, I can't seem to get enough of them! Granted, I've been lucky to have grown up around Red Cardinals, Blue Jays, Woodpeckers, and Ospreys in New York; as well as the occasional Eurasian Hoopoe and Kingfisher, who are native to Egypt, but I never thought I'd see wild parrots, who I've only seen on TV or in pet stores.
It's a little heart-breaking that I've only ever heard or seen some of these species exclusively in pet stores, advertised as exotic novelties, and not as a displaced species being traded for our pleasure. (I admit, we had been the guilty owners of a Cockatiel; dear Twinkie, may she rest in peace, who are also native to Australia).
The most beautiful thing about these birds is that they are living the way God intended.
(Aside from the picture of the cockatoo, these are not my photos, just ones I found on the Internet.)
Sulfur-crested Cockatoo: Not many in Melbourne, but there are practically more cockatoos than people in Lorne.
Little Lorikeet: The first time I saw these guys I stopped dead in my tracks and gasped. So beautiful. I don't see them too often, but every once in a while a flock will pass through campus.
Galah: The galahs are a funny bunch. They hang out in large flocks and like to pick at the grass. They are extremely agile and are known for their unique flight- style, making very sharp turns and sudden dives. They can get pretty noisy at times:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUWCPmbdGrk
Australian Magpie: They're EVERYWHERE and they're probably one of my favorites! They're really loud, especially in the early morning, when they're most vocal. The song of the Australian Magpie sounds like a tuning orchestra...that's the best I could do to describe it. Have a listen:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=oYEYc8Ge3nw&feature=endscreen
Noisy Miner: Pretty little guys who like to hang out in bushes. I see them all the time on campus.
The locals are unfazed, understandably, being as some of the birds are considered a nuisance. However, I can't seem to get enough of them! Granted, I've been lucky to have grown up around Red Cardinals, Blue Jays, Woodpeckers, and Ospreys in New York; as well as the occasional Eurasian Hoopoe and Kingfisher, who are native to Egypt, but I never thought I'd see wild parrots, who I've only seen on TV or in pet stores.
It's a little heart-breaking that I've only ever heard or seen some of these species exclusively in pet stores, advertised as exotic novelties, and not as a displaced species being traded for our pleasure. (I admit, we had been the guilty owners of a Cockatiel; dear Twinkie, may she rest in peace, who are also native to Australia).
The most beautiful thing about these birds is that they are living the way God intended.
(Aside from the picture of the cockatoo, these are not my photos, just ones I found on the Internet.)
Sulfur-crested Cockatoo: Not many in Melbourne, but there are practically more cockatoos than people in Lorne.
Little Lorikeet: The first time I saw these guys I stopped dead in my tracks and gasped. So beautiful. I don't see them too often, but every once in a while a flock will pass through campus.
Galah: The galahs are a funny bunch. They hang out in large flocks and like to pick at the grass. They are extremely agile and are known for their unique flight- style, making very sharp turns and sudden dives. They can get pretty noisy at times:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUWCPmbdGrk
Australian Magpie: They're EVERYWHERE and they're probably one of my favorites! They're really loud, especially in the early morning, when they're most vocal. The song of the Australian Magpie sounds like a tuning orchestra...that's the best I could do to describe it. Have a listen:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=oYEYc8Ge3nw&feature=endscreen
Noisy Miner: Pretty little guys who like to hang out in bushes. I see them all the time on campus.
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