A friend in Britain who had just watched a film featuring a British coastal walk, The Salt Path, urged me to see it. He said in his email the hit movie had stunning shots of ospreys. Without sounding like a know-it-all, I had watched the film myself at the State Cinema and was in a position to correct him. The bird, in fact, was a peregrine falcon. But all the same, a bird of prey symbolised freedom and escape for a couple featured in the movie who were on the coastal walk … [Read more...] about Spoof ‘Santa Cardinal’ flies high on AI
Tickled pink by a robin in the garden
Tapping on the window, fluttering against its panes, a tiny brown bird was making a nuisance of itself when I had work to do at the keyboard in my study. Just a sparrow I’m thinking, common around my home. I pulled the curtains shut so it could not see its reflection, a common cause of birds attacking windows. The reflection is seen as a “rival” on their territory. I went back to my writing. The disturbance continued. Looking again, I could see it was not a sparrow at all. … [Read more...] about Tickled pink by a robin in the garden
Ink and feathers in the frame
Writing this column I combine two passions – a love of birds and words. Ink and feathers. Now I’ve met an artist who uses the printed word for a different purpose. Craig Williams frames his paintings of birds with the pages of books, magazines and newspapers. I discovered Craig’s remarkable art when he was invited to talk at the May meeting of Birdlife Tasmania. Not just a talk, a power-point presentation showcased the best of his work. In Craig’s art, vintage book pages … [Read more...] about Ink and feathers in the frame
Farm takes scarecrow idea to new heights
The swamp harriers had delayed their migration to the mainland, or so it appeared. There they were, a small flock gliding and hovering above a pick-your-own-fruit nursery on the road to Richmond. Just a glimpse at first, before I pulled over. All the same there was something odd about this harrier flight. Not just the timing, but the fact the harriers which should have headed north were in a flock, when harriers are usually seen flying solo or in pairs. All was soon … [Read more...] about Farm takes scarecrow idea to new heights
A soaring skylark hits musical high note
He rises and begins to round, He drops the silver chain of sound No bird has inspired so much poetry, literature and music than the skylark, with the cuckoo close behind. The trilling of the Eurasian skylark on open downlands is cemented in English folklore, but it can also be heard here. A member of the Pandani Bushwalking Club phoned me in early May to report both the sight and sound on the bird and also to let me know that Ralph Vaughan Williams’ classic … [Read more...] about A soaring skylark hits musical high note