27 September 2011

Kookaburra on duty

...coming to a clothesline near you. 
Just moments ago saw kooka' fly past the back door onto the clothesline.  Glad I had my camera nearby, so stepped out and took these shots to share here. 

These guys come rat-a-tat-tatting on the windows around 5pm some afternoons and boy what a noise they make.  If it's quiet indoors at the time, it can give you quite a surprise/fright.  When you haven't heard them in a while and their strong beak starts attacking the glass, you think there's some big bouncer at your front door! 







and finally, this rather quizzical glance...


Later addition to this post:

Madame Lotte Lehmann, a video from 1938 when she was introduced to the kookaburra; it’s really worth watching.  Enjoy!

5 comments:

Ann said...

I remember singing a song in Girl Scouts about a kookaburra sitting on an old gum tree, but have to say this is the first time I've actually seen what one looks like - quite an impressive fellow!

Bonnie Belk said...

What beautiful pale blue wingtips. You got some fabulous pictures! Did he just sit there the whole time while you were taking his picture? I've never seen one - I thought they were larger. Great to see one with the good sense to be visiting my friend. ;-)

Carole M. said...

Yes Bonnie he did just sit there, not bothered, they're quite used to people nearby.

Wish there had been a wren beside him; you would have more idea quite how hefty they are. Do you remember the one on my arm?

Jan Castle said...

NOW I know what one looks like!!! Thanks for sharing...love the blue in the wings.
Jan

Jeanne said...

What a stunningly beautiful and intelligent looking bird this is ( although if he is knocking on the window, one does have to wonder on the intelligent part.) We had a large bird one spring ( was a scarlet tanager) who for days on end flew madly in to the window, over and over and over. We thought he was trying to 'knock himself silly". Your kooka is really lovely though. I tried to play the video but the link did not seem to work. Thank you for forwarding this to me, and I see that my question about the bird being in your yard is already answered!