Birds from Northern Queensland

Sent to me to share with you, photos taken by Maggie S.

Bush Stone Curlew, Manunda, Qld.

Pied Oystercatcher

Pacific Baza or Crested Hawk

Maggie writes: There is a story with these birds. They were the first birds I saw on Palm Island and they were calling and doing aerial displays above the forest.  This was special for me because this is a species that I have raised and cared for in my wildlife rescue work.  

One day at school, the Bazas were calling and flying overhead when I had my class outside, so I pointed to them and said: "look at the hawks!"  One of the children said: "those are spirit birds, miss."

The next day we were playing games down at the school oval and three boys decided to jump the fence and run off into the mangroves.  At that moment the hawks flew overhead, crying... so i went down to the fence and called out: "the spirit birds are telling me you are hiding in the mangroves. Come back!" and they did!

Torres Strait Pigeon

Thanks Maggie; it's great to see the birds you find up there in Northern Qld.