National Bird

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I had assumed it was the Emu as it features on our Coat of Arms. However I can’t find anything authoritative which confirms this or offers an alternative. Surely we have one? If not, I cry ‘Shime, shime ” and ask what can be done and by whom to get one. (For various reasons, if starting from scratch, my pick would be Galah.) Martin Butterfield http://franmart.blogspot.com.au/

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28 thoughts on “National Bird”

  2. Took the kids to Canberra a few years back and we did the usual tours, including the Parliament Houses. I had always assumed that the reason we had and Emu and Kangaroo on our coat of arms was due to their iconic Australian status. However, this isn’t the case, these two animals were chosen, because the selectors thought that neither could walk backwards and so would be logical to represent a forward marching country. I think asking Australian birders may not the best place to start wondering what an Australian bird emblem should be, unless we can offer behavioural traits or characteristics that might identify with what might be Australian (whatever that is). Non-birders or overseas visitors might give us a better perception of what is iconic in the minds of everyday Australians and is inherently Australian in the minds of those who see us from a far. Allan Richardson

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  3. Yes, indeed. A few years ago I wrote a letter to the “National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation” in which I politely chastised them for using a very obvious image of the Bald Eagle as their emblem. They quickly wrote a rude letter back to me, basically telling me to butt out, that my opinions and advice about birds and symbolism was irrelevant to them. A few months later, they changed it to a Wedge-tailed Eagle………. http://www.naccho.org.au/ I didn’t get any thanks……….. My problem with Wedge-tailed Eagle as a national bird, is that it is so close to the Golden Eagle, that is the national bird of so many other places. Plus of course the really impressive Philippine Eagle & Harpy Eagle of other countries. It is best to be something really distinctive, even in a simple piece of artwork. Philip —–Original Message—– John Harris Sent: Saturday, 21 March 2015 9:31 PM Cc: birding-aus@birding-aus.org If a Wedgie was to be the national bird, we may as well become the 52 state of the USA (considering many consider Puerto Rico as the 51st)….. The Bald Eagle is so often used in graphics, logos etc for Australian designs… May designers cannot tell the difference??? *Yours in all things* “*GREEN”* *John Harris BASc, GDipEd* *Croydon, Vic* * Director – Wildlife Experiences Pty LtdPrincipal Ecologist/Zoologist* *Nature Photographer* *Wildlife Guide* *wildlifeexperiences@gmail.com <wildlifeexperiences@gmail.com>* *0409090955* *President, Field Naturalists Club of Victoria* *(www.fncv.org.au )*

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  5. Agree regarding the Grey Fantail – most Australians wouldn’t even know what one was. There are few iconic birds that really stand out from the pack and that would be well known and associated with Australia and I think Emu. Superb Lyrebird, Magpie, Budgerigah, Laughing Kookaburra, Rainbow Lorikeet, Wedge-tailed Eagle, Major Mitchell Cockatoo and Superb fairy-wren might be a few possible contenders?!!! David Taylor On 21 Mar 2015, at 8:37 pm, Philip Veerman <pveerman@pcug.org.au> wrote: David and Marg Taylor Brisbane

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  6. If a Wedgie was to be the national bird, we may as well become the 52 state of the USA (considering many consider Puerto Rico as the 51st)….. The Bald Eagle is so often used in graphics, logos etc for Australian designs… May designers cannot tell the difference??? *Yours in all things* “*GREEN”* *John Harris BASc, GDipEd* *Croydon, Vic* * Director – Wildlife Experiences Pty LtdPrincipal Ecologist/Zoologist* *Nature Photographer* *Wildlife Guide* *wildlifeexperiences@gmail.com <wildlifeexperiences@gmail.com>* *0409090955* *President, Field Naturalists Club of Victoria* *(www.fncv.org.au )* On 21 March 2015 at 19:45, John Tongue <jspk@iprimus.com.au> wrote:

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  7. Hi Dave et al, I think there was a record from Seymour this past summer. I definitely got at least 1 at Pranjip Creek, near Longwood late last year. Regards John *Yours in all things* “*GREEN”* *John Harris BASc, GDipEd* *Croydon, Vic* * Director – Wildlife Experiences Pty LtdPrincipal Ecologist/Zoologist* *Nature Photographer* *Wildlife Guide* *wildlifeexperiences@gmail.com <wildlifeexperiences@gmail.com>* *0409090955* *President, Field Naturalists Club of Victoria* *(www.fncv.org.au )* On 21 March 2015 at 16:08, Carl Clifford <carlsclifford@gmail.com> wrote:

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  11. Kookaburras are feral introductions in WA, so probably not much support there. Superb Lyrebird, anyone? Go the Pies!! *Yours in all things* “*GREEN”* *John Harris BASc, GDipEd* *Croydon, Vic* * Director – Wildlife Experiences Pty LtdPrincipal Ecologist/Zoologist* *Nature Photographer* *Wildlife Guide* *wildlifeexperiences@gmail.com <wildlifeexperiences@gmail.com>* *0409090955* *President, Field Naturalists Club of Victoria* *(www.fncv.org.au )* On 21 March 2015 at 14:28, David Taylor <davidstaylor1@optusnet.com.au> wrote:

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  15. Australia may not have an ‘official’ national bird, or any faunal emblem, but the kangaroo and emu are widely accepted. If the national bird was not to be the emu, then surely it would have to be the wedge-tailed eagle, probably Australia’s most iconic bird……alongside the emu. Cheers David

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  17. On 21/03/2015 11:28 AM, David Taylor wrote: Do you mean that feral pest species that was deliberately introduced into Western Australia. Cheers Andrew Perth WA. — *********************************************************** Andrew Hobbs pardalote@iinet.net.au ***********************************************************

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  20. Hi Kim, I accept your point that the distribution of the Grey Fantail is not restricted to Australia. However, the Aust & NZ Grey Fantails may not be the same species. Schodde & Mason (1999) grouped the Australian, Norfolk Island and Melanesian Grey Fantails into one species (Rhipidura albiscapa), and those in NZ and on Lord Howe Island into another (R. fuliginosa). Christidis & Boles (2008) tentatively followed that grouping, while flagging the need to further examine this relationship. I don’t know if there have been any detailed studies since then. Perhaps others can help here. Kind regards, Stephen Stephen Ambrose Ryde, NSW References Schodde, R. & Mason, I.J. (1999). The Directory of Australian Birds. Passerines (CSIRO Publishing, Collingwood). Christidis, L. & Boles, W. (2008). Systematics and Taxonomy of Australian Birds (CSIRO Publishing, Collingwood). —–Original Message—– Sent: Saturday, 21 March 2015 3:02 PM Lovely bird, but its also in NZ. Kim Sterelny, School of Philosophy, Research School of the Social Sciences, Australian National University, Acton, 0200, ACT, Australia Kim.Sterelny@anu.edu.au or Kim.Sterelny@vuw.ac.nz 61-(0)2-6125-2886 ________________________________________ Ambrose <stephen@ambecol.com.au> Sent: Saturday, 21 March 2015 1:23 PM My choice is the Grey Fantail because of its widespread distribution, interesting and conspicuous behaviour and beautiful fan-shaped tail. Stephen Ambrose Ryde NSW —–Original Message—– David Taylor Sent: Saturday, 21 March 2015 12:23 PM Given its almost Australia wide distribution, urban and rural presence and striking plumage that would work well on crests etc I’d nominate the Australian Magpie as my pick as our National bird Cheers David Taylor Sent from my iPhone Begin forwarded message:

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  21. Lovely bird, but its also in NZ. Kim Sterelny, School of Philosophy, Research School of the Social Sciences, Australian National University, Acton, 0200, ACT, Australia Kim.Sterelny@anu.edu.au or Kim.Sterelny@vuw.ac.nz 61-(0)2-6125-2886 ________________________________________ Sent: Saturday, 21 March 2015 1:23 PM My choice is the Grey Fantail because of its widespread distribution, interesting and conspicuous behaviour and beautiful fan-shaped tail. Stephen Ambrose Ryde NSW —–Original Message—– David Taylor Sent: Saturday, 21 March 2015 12:23 PM Given its almost Australia wide distribution, urban and rural presence and striking plumage that would work well on crests etc I’d nominate the Australian Magpie as my pick as our National bird Cheers David Taylor Sent from my iPhone Begin forwarded message:

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  23. My choice is the Grey Fantail because of its widespread distribution, interesting and conspicuous behaviour and beautiful fan-shaped tail. Stephen Ambrose Ryde NSW —–Original Message—– David Taylor Sent: Saturday, 21 March 2015 12:23 PM Given its almost Australia wide distribution, urban and rural presence and striking plumage that would work well on crests etc I’d nominate the Australian Magpie as my pick as our National bird Cheers David Taylor Sent from my iPhone Begin forwarded message:

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  25. Tony Surely “Rabbit” is stretching the definition of bird a bit? Our were you: – reflecting on Carl’s suggestion? – using a homophone for Lyrebird? Martin Martin Butterfield http://franmart.blogspot.com.au/ On 21 March 2015 at 09:45, Tony Russell <pratincole08@gmail.com> wrote:

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  26. Could have Abbott the Rabbit. —–Original Message—– Carl Clifford Sent: Friday, 20 March 2015 9:22 PM Cc: birding-aus NEW Nope we do not have an National bird or animal. Considering what has been coming out of Canberra over the last few years, perhaps our National Bird should be the Spangled Drongo. Carl Clifford wrote:

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  27. How bout the Wattle(bird)?? 😉   From: Carl Clifford <carlsclifford@gmail.com> To: Martin Butterfield <martinflab@gmail.com> Cc: birding-aus NEW <birding-aus@birding-aus.org> Sent: Friday, 20 March 2015, 21:51 Subject: Re: [Birding-Aus] National Bird Nope we do not have an National bird or animal. Considering what has been coming out of Canberra over the last few years, perhaps our National Bird should be the Spangled Drongo. Carl Clifford

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