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Kookaburras


The kookaburra is the best known Australian bird because of its distinctive "laugh". It is a member of the kingfishers, but feeds on land. They are gregarious, and also seek out human company. A family of these birds has been around our home for about 18 years, and we have seen many generations of chicks come and go. Young non-breeding birds often remain for a year or two helping raise new chicks. Florence as a young bird was named after Florence Nightingale ("Lady with the lamp", 19th-C founder of British army nursing, MASH!) because of her adoption of a solar lamp near our kitchen window as her personal perch when she visited daily for scraps of food.

In 2006 Mum ceased to visit and Dad obviously mourned for her. It was not surprising then that he also was lost to us a few months later. Florence is now (2007) the matriarch of the group. She has inherited from her father a boldness in approaching for food.

Click on an image to see a larger version. Thanks for looking.
Dad's first approach, 1988
Dad's first approach, 1988
Dad, Captain Kook (c. 1992)
Dad, "Captain Kook" (c. 1992)
family (2003)
family (2003)
Dad (Sept. 2005)
Dad (Sept. 2005)
Dad watching me thro' kitchen window
Dad watching me thro' kitchen window
young Florence (2004)
young Florence (2004)
patiently waiting, at dawn ...
patiently waiting, at dawn ...
- and at dusk
- and at dusk
A gift of food before mating ...
A gift of food before mating ...
- but sometimes a girl
- but sometimes a girl
- feigns lack of interest! (click for info)
- feigns lack of interest! (click for info)
Dad (L) and junior wait for food (2004)
Dad (L) and junior wait for food (2004)
January 2006
January 2006
Mother ('big beak') - Feb'06
Mother ('big beak') - Feb'06
persistent invader - July '06
persistent invader - July '06
still in charge?
still in charge?
it's been a hard day's fight
it's been a hard day's fight
Florence, never far from Dad
Florence, never far from Dad
alert but not alarmed
alert but not alarmed
checking it  out
checking it out
Mating season. Dad receives food to give to Mum (1/4)
Mating season. Dad receives food to give to Mum (1/4)
Dad keeps food to himself! (2/4)
Dad keeps food to himself! (2/4)
Try again. Mum looks hopeful (3/4)
Try again. Mum looks hopeful (3/4)
At last! Mum receives her gift (4/4)
At last! Mum receives her gift (4/4)
Florence
Florence
just checking ...
just checking ...
The best Christmas present of all!
The best Christmas present of all!
More surprise!
More surprise!
concentration
concentration
family likeness
family likeness
I know that look
I know that look
New kid on the block
New kid on the block
his father's son
his father's son