Bird Photography Articles

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3 responses to “Bird Photography Articles”

1. 

   May 11, 2011

   paul

   That actually reminds me of some interesting behaviour I observed on the weekend. Where Ruth works, at Serendip Sanctuary, they hand-raised a Tawny Frogmouth after its parents abandoned it as an egg. The bird has been raised mostly indoors, and for a long time had no contact with the outside world or awareness of other birds. More recently, it has been moved to more permanent quarters in a large aviary where it can perch under cover or in the open and has the freedom to fly.

   Anyway, whilst feeding the bird on the weekend, it froze and did the typical Tawny Frogmouth imitation of a branch. A few seconds later we saw a Brown Goshawk fly over and then heard the alarm calls of the sparrows, honeyeaters and magpies. I have often observed Whistling Kites and Black Kites flying overhead while we have fed the Tawny Frogmouth, and there has been no such behaviour.

   What was interesting to me was that this captive Tawny Frogmouth recognised the Goshawk, or perhaps more likely, heard the alarm calls of other birds well before we heard them – and behaved exactly as a wild bird would do, without having had the benefit of training from its parents. One of the wonders of nature, I guess – the power of natural instinct.

   Paul Dodd Docklands, Victoria
2. 

   May 11, 2011

   peter

   I haven’t really noticed the same thing in Altona. Maybe we get enough of these birds flying over for them to know the difference.

   I have noticed though that even a low flying Spotted Dove can start the New Holland Honeyeaters calling if it surprises them. But the calling stops immediately, whereas they keep going if it’s the real thing. Magpies cause the same short alarm calls, but they seem to do it on purpose.

   Peter Shute
3. 

   May 11, 2011

   Tim Dolby

   Good stuff Paul. I like the articles – such as the one entitled “Listening for Birds of Prey”. Really nice topic. Interestingly where I live in Melbourne (Northcote), it’s not just raptors that cause alarm. I find my local Noisy Miner, White-plumed Honeyeater, Red Wattlebird and Australian Magpie are equally alarmed by Great Egret, White-faced Heron, Australasian Darter and Sulphur-crested Cockatoo. My feeling is, being city bound birds, they are simply unfamiliar with these large slow flying birds, so perceive them as a threat similar to the larger raptors.

   Cheers,

   Tim Dolby

   ________________________________________ Sent: Wednesday, May 11, 2011 4:22 PM

   Hi all,

   If anyone is interested I have updated my website with some new articles on Bird Photography. They can be accessed at the address below. Hope you find them informative.

   http://www.wingsonwire.com/section452712.html

   Paul Randall (wingsonwire.com)

   P.S. I will try and write a new article each month so please revisit in a few weeks!!

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