Kookaburras Photo Gallery by Brian with an Eye at pbase.com

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

post a comment

Marjan Schavemaker		20-Jun-2008 06:06
Great gallery, Brian! V

Ghislaine et R�al Boulet		15-Dec-2007 02:49
A beutiful and interesting collection.

Gervan		08-Mar-2007 22:42
Beautiful gallery. Nice company such a birds family. I like the info you use to add to your photo's.

Marjan Schavemaker		14-Feb-2007 20:18
Great gallery, Brian!

Ali Majdfar		22-Jan-2007 10:43
Marvellous captures, GMV

laine82		21-Jan-2007 21:55
Such a pleasure to stroll through this bush scene gallery, Brian.

Gus R.		21-Jan-2007 13:48
This is one of the best docu-galleries I've been to. I went backward so as to enjoy the investment, and garner value. Sorry to hear of the Captain Kook's demise; hard to out-run the clock though. Had to be hard on your heart. Some fine images here as well. g

Naomi Sheaffer		17-Jan-2007 15:04
I recall a children's song that goes "kookaburra sat in the old gum tree..."

Liz Bickel		08-Jan-2007 05:47
This is such a nice gallery.

Andrew Cornick		13-Dec-2006 10:44
I'm so envious, Kookaburras in your garden, wow! One of my favorite birds.

Dianne(dimawi)		30-Nov-2006 13:38
Haven't visited this gallery of yours for a while. I was pleasantly surprised to see the development. Just love the intros and detailed commentary. It has inspired me to get on with improving mine. Have only had the pleasure of my Kookaburra family around for 2 years now!!!!!!!! Cheers Dianne

Carole Stevens		21-Nov-2006 20:17
A wonderful gallery Brian so touching to follow a family through their daily lives! Loved every image more please!V!

Andrew Vincent		18-Sep-2006 11:13
Great theme Brian. They are a bird to admire. Never knew they could stick around like lorikeets and magpies.

Soenda		08-Sep-2006 08:47
Brian, I continue to enjoy this gallery so much. The running commentary is much appreciated. I marvel that you know the individuals so well that you can not only distinguish them, but also say who has the features of which parent. Now about this beefsteak that's handed out...is this for all comers? ;^D

Martha Albuquerque		05-Sep-2006 10:18
Lovely creatures :) voted.

Rosemarie Kusserow		08-Jul-2006 06:49
Thanks for sharing these lovely birds Brian, I�ve never been in Australia but it seems to be a very interesting country, I vote for this nice gallery, regards, Rosemarie :-) thanks for your special comments to your galleries, I like them

Suzanne Labb�		09-Jun-2006 22:07
Brian, Why did you do that to me ?? You have left a message in my galleries and I came to see yours... Now, I need to go to Australia !! What a lovely bird and very nice pictures. Suzanne - Granby, Qu�bec, Canada

crina [mzm]		01-Jun-2006 13:20
Hey, Brian! this is my first visit to this COOOOOOOOOOOOOOOLest gallery of all - these birds are so lovely!! I adore these photos. Gotta go - must look at them once again!

Ian Morehouse		22-Feb-2006 11:57
Love the series. I had a similar experience, but only for a couple of hours while visiting the Glass House Mountains in Qld. There are two varieties, the bluer ones don't laugh like the ones with blue tinges.

Ton, Ben & Rob Nagtegaal		22-Feb-2006 09:16
Nice story with nice pictures, love to see a kookaburra some day. Gr Rob

Sue Robertson		31-Jan-2006 11:24
I love the way you have made a story from this series. You are so lucky to live in this lovely bushland setting.

missy_gardenwhimsy		23-Jan-2006 10:47
Wonderful gallery, Brian! How lovely that you have shared your garden with these darling birds for so many years. Missy

judi2		19-Dec-2005 00:13
An interesting and delightful gallery...I am not familiar with this bird, but would love to have one.......They "laugh" and seek out human company....can you send me one???voted

Guenter Eh		08-Oct-2005 19:05
They are so cute! Thanks for sharing Brian.Vote! Regards Guenter

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