Archives for February 2023

Somewhere waiting to be found is a painting of a swift parrot which could provide the final piece of a puzzle, a mystery that has left bird-watchers and the art world guessing for three decades. The story of the painting could read like an Agatha Christie mystery. It started the day Susan Lester was commissioned to produce a portfolio of paintings for a limited-edition, two-volume book to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Examiner newspaper in Launceston. Susan … [Read more...] about Hunt is on for swift resolution

The “devil bird” is on the march from the tropics and it is only a matter of time before it reaches Tasmania. The common koel has satanic associations principally because of its eerie call which can be heard throughout the night. Another name for it is the “rainbird” because the song can also be heard before and during storms. The rainbird certainly worked its tricks when I arrived in Melbourne a few weeks ago, a sudden thunderstorm flooding the central city streets. By … [Read more...] about ‘Devil bird’ sets its sights on Tasmania

Love is in the air. The birds, if not the bees, are very much in focus as we count down the days to the annual celebration of romance, Valentine’s Day, on Tuesday. Birds, in fact, have much to teach us humans about the art of love. Although birds have a markedly different evolutionary past, much of their behaviour shows remarkable parallels with our own. No other lifeform relies on song and dance to the same degree to not only woo partners and form relationships, but to … [Read more...] about Love flies high on St Valentine’s Day

A “city wren” flitted across an ocean of swaying kangaroo and wallaby grass, defying the advance of concrete and glass on the near-horizon. The Melbourne skyline was closer in the murky half-light than imagined, the steady rain blunting its angular outline. The urban wrens were a welcome sight because in cities across mainland Australia this beautiful little bird is fighting for survival. In Australia’s second city, however, the superb fairy-wren is getting by with a little … [Read more...] about ‘City wrens’ claim common ground