In the parlance of my craft, journalism, young reporters are urged to make their stories “sing”. Attending the opening of bird artist Belinda Kurczok’s latest exhibition, it occurred to me that the same applied to her art. Her birds, especially a painting of playful swift parrots, are alive, full of spirit. They sing. In spring I missed the arrival of the migratory parrots because I was in Britain but earlier this month I managed to get my annual swiftie “fix” when I viewed … [Read more...] about Art that sings reminds us of fragile future
On The Wing
Passport to birdland
Birdland is a magical place where it’s possible to escape all the pressures and stresses of the environment of the city created and inhabited by one species – humans – and immerse yourself in a less one-dimensional world. Birdland is nowhere in particular, and does not have to be special or noteworthy. It could be in the wildest of wild forest, or in suburbia. It could be a pristine beach, a few hectares of eucalypt woodland, or a neatly manicured city park. It could be a backyard. That’s the magic of birds; they bring beauty and wonder to every corner of the planet, wild or untamed, and my On the Wing writing is their celebration.
Barking up the wrong Octopus tree
It started out as a mission to win a bet and turned into a walk to remember in the wild. The bet with a birding friend centred on whether the Octopus Tree on kunanyi/Mount Wellington is a swamp gum or a gum-topped stringybark. Within a half hour or so tramping the Shoobridge Track, the identity of the tree became incidental. It was the rainforest surrounding the tree, and the birds living within its lush and fecund confines that stole the show. To answer the first question … [Read more...] about Barking up the wrong Octopus tree
Green rosella call helps ease a troubled soul
The haunting whistle of a green rosella cut through the early-morning mist. A Bridgewater Jerry had laid a meandering carpet of pure-white cloud across the Derwent and I presumed the rosella had sought higher ground to escape the mist. The rosella, hidden within or behind a line of ornamental fir trees marking the boundary of the Calvary Hospital in Lenah Valley, was out sight but not out of mind. The parrot’s call formed a portal, a link to the natural world although I was … [Read more...] about Green rosella call helps ease a troubled soul
Rat poison victory for birds
People power has been in play to save birds from being poisoned by lethal rodenticides which also have the capacity to kill pets and harm children. Thousands of animal lovers have in recent year been campaigning to have the distribution of a new generation of rat and mice poisons restricted and now they have a cause for celebration. After receiving more than 10,000 submissions from Birdlife Australia supporters along with members of other wildlife organisations, the … [Read more...] about Rat poison victory for birds
Yellowthroats a blur of radiant beauty
A yellow-throated honeyeater was making the most of fine, warm weather during the autumnal equinox. Instinct honed over the eons told the yellowthroat that equal parts night and day meant winter was approaching. Although the first day of March is on our calendars the official start of autumn, Mother Nature has other ideas. Autumn starts on the equinox, on March 21 this year, and before this date we already had a taste of winter with two exceptionally cold days prompted by … [Read more...] about Yellowthroats a blur of radiant beauty