Don Knowler

The muttonbirds that breed in Tasmania are known for their long-distance flights linking Australia to the far-north of Asia but one bird last year decided to go global in a different direction. In June, a muttonbird was found on a beach in Ireland, making it the first of its species discovered in Europe. The Irish bird-watcher who found the muttonbird – called the short-tailed shearwater beyond our shores – could not believe what he had stumbled across at first. Initially … [Read more...] about Muttonbird makes waves in Ireland

A new term has entered the bird-watching lexicon thanks to the coronavirus pandemic – home birding. The phrase has been coined by the internationally renowned Laboratory of Ornithology at Cornwell University in the United States to describe how nature-lovers worldwide have coped with lockdown and isolation. Prevented from going in search of birds, birders have looked closer to home. But the notion of birdwatching in the garden or even from the front window is not confined … [Read more...] about ‘Home birding’ takes off

The Pacific gull – in crisp black-and-white plumage with bright orange and yellow bill – has long been regarded as the most beautiful of Australia’s gulls. Because it is largely a marine species it has avoided the tag of “garbage gull”, a fate befalling the silver and kelps gulls which love to scrounge food at fish punts on Hobart’s waterfront. The Pacific gull might have a squeaky-clean image in Tasmania’s south but its behaviour in the Derwent Estuary seems to be at odds … [Read more...] about A new ‘garbage gull’ flies high

A flock of parrots teaching each other to swear or a pair of emus being banned from an outback pub. It’s the silly season when I look back at the past 12 months and choose my bird story of the year. Looking at the clippings I’ve collected during 2020 it’s surprising just how many bird stories make their way onto television, radio and into the national and local press. On my reckoning it’s a surprising three a week. And for a bird and animal lover there are gems among them … [Read more...] about Swearing by shifty shades of grey

The internationally acclaimed Museum of Old and New Art in Hobart is being described as “wild and wacky” in the publicity material directed at mainlanders to announce Mona’s re-opening on Boxing Day after lockdown. The same can be said of Tasmania’s birds. Where else would you find the “turbo chook” and the “chuck bird”? Most, if not all, of Tasmania’s endemic species would sit well as exhibits at Mona, if not just for their curiosity, for their sublime beauty. Although … [Read more...] about Realm of the ‘turbo chook’