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Kookaburra


Kookaburra
Photo Information
Copyright: Murray Lines (mlines) Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 541 W: 24 N: 596] (2870)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-08
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon EOS400D, Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM, Hoya CirPL 72mm
Exposure: f/0.5, 1/500 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Date Submitted: 2007-10-23 1:44
Viewed: 579
Points: 14
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
A kookaburra sits in the leafless tree awaiting his mate to join him. They are seldom alone, always in a family group it seems. This is the quintesential Australian bird which wakes everyone up with a noisy laugh.

There are four known species of Kookaburra found in Australia, New Guinea and the Aru Islands.

Unusually for close relatives, the Laughing and Blue-winged species are direct competitors in the area where their ranges overlap. This suggests that the two species, though having common stock, evolved in isolation (possibly during a period when Australia and New Guinea were more distant and were only brought back into contact in relatively recent geological times.There has been an Australian coin dedicated to the Kookaburra since 1990.

Kookaburras are carnivorous. They will eat lizards, snakes, insects, mice and raw meat. The more social birds will accept handouts from humans and will take raw or cooked meat (even if at high temperature) from on or near open-air barbecues left unattended. It is generally not advised to feed the birds too regularly as meat alone does not include calcium and other nutrients essential to the bird. Remainders of mince on the bird's beak can fester and cause problems for the bird.

Kookaburras breed well in captivity, and when pulled from the nest and hand fed as chicks they can make quite affectionate pets. However their captive diet of mice and beef can be difficult for some people to maintain, and their noise can irritate some, and they require spacious cages or aviaries to fly about in. But when all the requirements are met they are truly a worthwhile companion pet bird.

In the wild, Kookaburras are known to eat babies of other birds and snakes, and insects and small reptiles. In zoos, they are usually fed food for birds of prey, and dead baby chicks. Wikipedia.
Kathleen, PaulH, pierrefonds, Alex99, jhm, oscarromulus has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To pablominto: Blue Skymlines 1 10-23 20:25
To Kathleen: Closer view in WSmlines 2 10-23 03:41
To PaulH: Blue Skymlines 1 10-23 02:27
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Critiques [Translate]

Hi Murray.
I enjoy the way you have used the twisting leafless branches of the tree as the environment interest and off-set to the right the kookaburra, as it does make him stand out and not lost in the middle of the image.
Closer would have been nice on the kookaburra but this image also works well for environment.

Kathleen

  • Great 
  • PaulH Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1112 W: 23 N: 3660] (13089)
  • [2007-10-23 2:17]
  • [+]

Hi Murray, how are you?
Lovely shot of the Kookaburra, the twisting branches against the blue sky are great, and the main subject perfectly placed. Well done!
Paul

Hi Murray,

A good POV of the kookaburra in the tree, the photo has a good composition, sharpness and nice colors. Thanks for sharing.

Pierre

Hello Murray,
So this is the National Bird then..?
They look so nice and funny with the great hairdo, but I understand they can be troublesome in the morning...
A lovely blue sky background, and I will think spring is in full blossom now!
Greetings,
Pablo -

  • Great 
  • Alex99 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3586 W: 143 N: 5690] (18601)
  • [2007-10-23 9:23]

Hi Murray.
What a cute birdy have been pictured. Nice "tuft of hair" (crest) of the bird. Tree is so pictured. Blue sky is also wonderful. Shot is composed very well. My kind regards and TFS.
Alexei.

  • Great 
  • jhm Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 649 W: 0 N: 178] (628)
  • [2007-10-26 8:27]

Hi Murray,

I find your note very interesting, I've this bird never seen.
A very good camouflage have this bird between the branches, but took this very well, very well done.
Thanks for sharing.

Have a nice weekend,
John.

Murray,
What an education!!!
Loved your notes.
The bird stands out; you've done a great job.
It's a pity it is so far away.
What a great big BLUE sky!!!
Keep in touch, friend.
Mario from COLD COLD Canada.

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