Birding-Aus

Author: Birding-Aus

  • TV bird ad for Allianz

    I wonder if others have seen and were amused by the new TV ad for Allianz. It also happened to be the discussed as the first item on (ABC TV) Gruen this week. https://iview.abc.net.au/video/LE2428H003S00

    The ad featured a computer-generated animation of two birds, specifically a Black-throated Finch and a White-bellied Sea-Eagle. In this, we see a cartoon finch that has supposedly lost an egg during a rain storm, that rolls down the gutter of a house it then absurdly carries its egg in its feet whilst flying and then a cartoon Sea-Eagle then gave the finch a lift and carried the egg into a nest, that is not the nest of a finch. 

    This is all terribly weird and indeed the story line is entirely ridiculous. It is almost like the insurance company is satirising themself. I suppose it is sort of cute but highly misleading that anything like this could happen. Has anyone got an idea what it is intended to mean?

    The Gruen panel commented on the Sea-Eagle but none of them even seemed to notice the finch, as no one mentioned it. They did mention that Allianz has previously used an eagle as part of its gimmickry. But who know whether specifically a White-bellied Sea-Eagle. The finch is as much a part of the ad as the Sea-Eagle. But why such an obscure bird? Also, worth mentioning that the computer imagery was crudely done, even though the birds are identifiable.

    Philip Veerman

  • Young Birders Expedition Grants by Ornis Birding

    Hi everyone,

    Just wanted to post this opportunity here, Ornis Birding Expeditions is now offering grants of up to $5000 USD for intrepid birders aged 18-30 who want to try and rediscover a lost species. More details about the application process can be found here: https://www.ornis-birding.com/grants 
    No Aussie species in the "lost list", but there are plenty in New Guinea!

    All the best,
    Josh

  • last minute female-only vacancy on Comfortable 9 Grasswren tour

    Hi all,
    A last minute opportunity has arisen for one lucky lady to join our 16-day all-female "Comfortable 9 Grasswren Tour",
    from Adelaide, SA to Mt Isa, Qld commencing on 7 July 2025. .
    Experience the SA-Qld outback like never before: following flooding rains earlier this year the landscape is green, flowers abound, and birds are breeding up. This is one of Australia’s epic birding adventures, where we search for nine Grasswren species as well as many other special outback birds. Expect a bird list exceeding 200 species and a great time!
    Please enquire by return email.
    Best regards,
    Peter
    ———
    Peter Waanders
    Bellbird Birding Tours
    ———
    t:1800-BIRDING (free from landlines in Australia)  or +61 402 738 855
    (our
    office is staffed most, but not all, weekdays. If your phone call is
    urgent please phone Peter Waanders on +61 409 763 172)
    a: PO Box 2008
    BERRI SA 5343


    —

    Cheers,
    Peter
    ————————-
    Peter Waanders
    Phone/WhatsApp +61 409 763 172

  • Birdpedia – Australia – Weekly Digest

    The following is a digest of Sightings Reported on Birdpedia for the period=
    Monday, April 21, 2025 to Sunday, April 27, 2025:

    Area: SA

    Location: Henley Jetty, Henley Beach

    Short-tailed Shearwater (Puffinus tenuirostris) (100+) Solitary and small g=
    roups flying north to south between the waves as the storm rolled in. Many =
    coming within 10 feet of the end of the jetty. When the heavy rains came th=
    ey landed on the surface of the water and waited until the rain slowed befo=
    re flying on their way.

    Fairy Prion (Pachyptila turtur) (1) A solitary prion, tentatively identifie=
    d as a Fairy Prion. Skimming the waves just off the beach and passing the e=
    nd of the jetty, on its southward flight, coming within 15 feet of jetty.

    Also many M000003487* fishing close to the shore. The wind was quite strong=
    but not cold, blowing from the south-west.

    Reported by: Martyn Price on Monday, April 21, 2025

    ———————————————

    Need more information about a sighting? Login and contact the poster direct=
    ly.

    Receive sightings via email or SMS immediately they are posted.

    Not a member of Birdpedia? Membership is free and gives you access to infor=
    mation for over 230 countries.

    To sign up go to the Birdpedia Web Site (www.birdpedia.com/).

    To find out more about Birdpedia and what it can do for you, see ‘What is B=
    irdpedia?’

    ———————————————

    IMPORTANT NOTICE: This e-mail message is intended to be received only by pe=
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  • Brown Honeyeater, south coast NSW

    Hi Folks
    I am almost certain that over the last few days, one or more brown honeyeaters have been coming to my birdbaths at our property near Central Tilba, on the NSW south coast, though it seems that this would be outside their usual range to a significant degree. The basic environment of the property is predominantly spotted gum forest, with its usual understory, but with a scattering of ironbarks, acacias and a few casuarinas and paperbarks, supplemented by a large but still developing native garden. 
    Today especially I had a series of close looks through my bins, with the bird bath only 3 or 4 metres away, and it sure looked like a brown honeyeater (I have seen these before in WA but not often, so would not call myself familiar with the species). Is a south east coast sighting so out of area as to make it likely that I have mis-IDed the bird?
    Thanks
    Kim
    Kim Sterelny, School of Philosophy, Research School of the Social Sciences, Australian National University, Acton, 0200, ACT, Australia
    61-(0)2-6125-2886

    From: Birding-Aus <birding-aus-bounces@birding-aus.org&gt; on behalf of Greg Little <greg@gff.com.au&gt;
    Sent: Wednesday, 21 August 2024 3:42 PM
    To: ‘Birding Aus’ <birding-aus@birding-aus.org&gt;
    Subject: [Birding-Aus] thermal monocular

     

    Gooday all

     

    If anyone here on the BA forum has experience with the new Ziess thermal monocular, and are happy to discuss them, could they please reply or ring.

     

    Thanks heaps

     

    Greg Little

    0414 562169

  • lowland PNG birding

    Hi everyone
    I've been teeing up guided birding in PNG out of Port Moresby with local guide Daniel Wakra. 
    The plan is to stay in Port Moresby and get taken each day to Varirata National Park and other places nearby.
    I'm going to go for 4-5 days in July/August, but if I can interest one or two others to come the price will be lower.
    With 2 or 3 people the price for transport, guiding, park entry fees would be $200 USD per day.
    Anyone interested?

    —

    John Leonard
    Canberra
    Australia
    www.jleonard.net

    Make nature great again.

  • Freckled Duck male bill breeding colour

    Dear birding-aus subscribers.   This is not a matter of species identification but of correctly identifying the reproductive stages of this duck. Books and websites indicate a ‘breeding’ colour either by words or images or both. There is considerable variation with ‘red’, ‘bright red’  and ‘reddish’  being the preferred words, while pink, roughly the colour of the underparts of a Galah, is the colour usually shown in photos and illustrations.  However, while that pink colour might be the one often seen in the field that does not mean it is properly put forward as the breeding colour.  HANZAB gives two descriptions of the breeding colour: (1) ‘bright pillar-box red’, and (2) ‘bright red (12) and glossy’ ‘when being lost red patch discolours to light orange-red’.  The HANZAB descriptions were given by people familiar with breeding Freckled Ducks  at CSIRO Gungahlin.

     

    An assortment of red colours is shown below, although what you see will depend on your computer and monitor or phone. I found a traditional pillar-box online and photographed an Australian one at the Griffith shops, ACT.   Color 12 in the Color Guide is labelled ‘Geranium’ and is close to ‘Spectrum Red’.  According to my eye (and computer) number 12 is close to the version indicated by an arrow.  The version indicated by ‘O’ is overexposed in strong sunlight. As it happens the cover of the Color Guide seems quite Geranium, so is included as well. The ‘Red’ sequence follows the intensity scale for just one colour available in Microsoft graphics programs such as Publisher or Powerpoint.

     

    My question.  I would like to know whether anyone has an unedited photo of a Freckled Duck bill that is red in the pillar-box or Color 12 sense.

     

    Geoffrey

     

  • PNG lowland birding

    In 2018 I went to Kumul Lodge, which was a great experience. 
    Now I'm looking to go somewhere in the lowlands. Is there somewhere like the Kumul Lodge setup anywhere near Port Moresby (ie own secure grounds with natural habitat, excursions to other good birding spots (in safety))?

    —

    John Leonard
    Canberra
    Australia
    www.jleonard.net

    Make nature great again.

  • Vacancy on Tanzania tour this April! (advertisement)

    Hi all,
    Have you ever wanted to go birding and wildlife watching in Tanzania? An exciting opportunity has arisen for 2 persons on our 16-day "Tanzania Spectacular Tour",
    commencing in Arusha on 19 April 2025. Visit the famous Serengeti, the Ngorongo crater, Lake Victoria, and many other prime national parks. Expect a bird list exceeding 400 species and 40-50 species of mammals!
    Please enquire by return email.
    Best regards,
    Peter
    ———
    Peter Waanders
    Bellbird Birding Tours
    ———
    t:1800-BIRDING (free from landlines in Australia)  or +61 402 738 855
    (our
    office is staffed most, but not all, weekdays. If your phone call is
    urgent please phone Peter Waanders on +61 409 763 172)
    a: PO Box 2008
    BERRI SA 5343

  • Bowen Birding Info

    Gooday Kirri.
    We used to live in Bowen. The local Tourist Guide used to have a Bird list plus some info on locations. Central to Bowen is Mullers Lagoon an excellent Birding area. Bowen Saltworks did allow me to conduct Wader Counts years ago but I am not sure what the Entry requirements are now.
    The beaches and Dalrymple Point are worth a visit as well as the Mangroves in that area.
    Kaili Swamp was open years ago at Abbot Point but now has Security Gates denying any access.
    Welcome to give me a call but I now live at Muralug Beach Torres Strait.
    Trust this helps.
    Good Birding 
    Jon Wren
    0414 951 701