What You See Is What You Get. This is a journal blog, an explore-blog, a bit of this and that blog. Sharing where the mood takes me. Perhaps it will take you too.
Sorry if comments remain absent from me on blogs - funeral attendance yesterday and travel to-fro the Hutch... then more travel next week. I am reading, just don't always have sufficient web power for responses!
One of Australia's real character birds today - the Satin Bowerbird. I have seen a few of these and their bowers over the years - but never when I had a camera to hand! Their striking blue eyes are a 'once seen, never forgotten' feature. As is the endless tidying and collecting of the male around his bower. The collection will be almost entirely blue to match those eyes. Occasionally, some yellow-green or even orange might creep in, if the blue pickings have been very lean. It is also an interesting fact that the male only obtains the sleek black sheen on those feathers once he reaches around seven years of age. Until then, his plumage is very similar to that of the female. I share the soundtrack as usual with you, but also a most delightful short film by excellent nature videographer, Carlo Ferraro.
Hi Yam - no worries re the commenting - you're so often there and here! Also so much happening with you ... these are wonderful clips - amazing birds from down under - cheers Hilary
noisy and as cute as a button, his feathers are awesome. now I am wondering what they used as blue nest material before we started throwout out blue plastic. not a lot blue in nauture to use. we are now watching purple grackles mixing with the mottled ducks
Well now I feel quite smug. On both trips to Australia I have seen both male and female and a total of three bowers. Bowerbirds are just one species that really highlight the uniqueness of the avifauna of the region. It really makes me want to go back, but I doubt that I ever will, unfortunately.
The sound is not the most mellifluous, but how interesting that the bowerbird favours blue. Like Sandra, I wondered what they used before human-produced blue materials became widely available. Cheers, Gail. PS I hope all went well in Edinburgh yesterday.
Such an interesting call with that buzzing sound they make. We love to see the variety of blue trinkets the birds can find to decorate their nests with.
What a striking bird. The Satin Bowerbird's call is interesting. Soft and soothing when courting; strident in the first recording.
ReplyDeleteHi Yam - no worries re the commenting - you're so often there and here! Also so much happening with you ... these are wonderful clips - amazing birds from down under - cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteIt's so glorious to have such birds around. The crow is the only bird i see regularly near my house.
ReplyDeleteThanks for being there on my blog in spite of your hectic schedule.
What a beauty and he makes the most interesting sounds!
ReplyDeletenoisy and as cute as a button, his feathers are awesome. now I am wondering what they used as blue nest material before we started throwout out blue plastic. not a lot blue in nauture to use. we are now watching purple grackles mixing with the mottled ducks
ReplyDeleteHello,
ReplyDeleteWhat a strange sound, the Satin Bowerbird is pretty. I love their eyes. Great videos. Have a happy weekend!
Well now I feel quite smug. On both trips to Australia I have seen both male and female and a total of three bowers. Bowerbirds are just one species that really highlight the uniqueness of the avifauna of the region. It really makes me want to go back, but I doubt that I ever will, unfortunately.
ReplyDeleteThe sound is not the most mellifluous, but how interesting that the bowerbird favours blue. Like Sandra, I wondered what they used before human-produced blue materials became widely available.
ReplyDeleteCheers, Gail.
PS I hope all went well in Edinburgh yesterday.
Such an interesting call with that buzzing sound they make. We love to see the variety of blue trinkets the birds can find to decorate their nests with.
ReplyDelete