Kookaburra sits on the old gum tree! by kimariehere

Photography • Animals • posted on Nov 18, 2005

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Description

Hello all!! taken last week I climbed over a guard rail and stuck my little cam thr the fence-I felt lucky to get this as they were so close..!! Heres a little info about this curious fluffy whimsical laughing bird! The Laughing Kookaburra is a thick-set bird with a large head, short neck, and medium length tail. The bill is long, broad, and somewhat flattened. The head is mostly white with a dark brown crown and a brown stripe through the eye. The breast is creamy white, the wings brown with blue mottling, the back brown and the tail rufous with fine darker brown banding and white edges. Males sport a small patch of blue-green feathers in the center of the rump that is reduced or absent in the female. The eyes are dark brown. The Kookaburra, at 47 cm tall and 500 grams in weight, is one of the largest members of the kingfisher family. The most famous feature of the species is its loud, boisterous "laugh", a repeated "kook-kook-kook-ka-ka-ka" call that rises and falls in volume as family members join in to form a raucous chorus. Often heard at dawn in the bush, this call has provided the Laughing Kookaburra with another one of its colorful nicknames, "the Bushman's Clock." The Laughing Kookaburra is native to eastern Australia but over the past century it has been introduced and established in other parts of the continent and on off shore islands such as Tasmania. The Kookaburra is a member of the subfamily Daceloninae, the forest or wood kingfishers. Species in this group are not restricted to riparian habitats and hunt primarily over land. They inhabit open woodlands, forests, orchards, parkland, partially timbered farmland, and even suburbs and towns. They employ a "sit and wait" technique of hunting, surveying their surroundings from an advantageous perch, then swooping down to seize their prey. Small prey are killed directly by the crushing action of the bill. Larger prey, including snakes of up to 1 meter in length, may be whacked repeatedly against a branch or dropped from a height until pulverized. Prey items include large insects, lizards, snakes, amphibians, small mammals, birds, and occasionally fish. Kookaburras begin their breeding cycle in October, the Australian spring. Courtship includes vocalizations and conspicuous display flights high over the treetops. Once a pair selects a breeding territory they begin nest construction. Both male and female participate in excavating a nest burrow. In some parts of Australia termites construct enormous clay mound nests high in Acacia trees. These arboreal termite mounds seem to be the preferred nest site for Kookaburras and other kingfisher species. They will also utilize hollow trees, earthen banks, and even holes in walls when better sites are unavailable. Burrows may be two feet deep with an entrance hole four inches in diameter. Two to four white eggs are laid on the bare substrate of the nest chamber. Both parents participate in the 25-29 day incubation. Hatchlings emerge blind and practically naked. The eyes may not open completely until the bird is nearly 3 weeks old. Parents feed the young a diet consisting primarily of insects, as they remain within the burrow for a full month. When they finally are coaxed from the nest they are already able to fly. The parents continue to feed the fledglings for several weeks after they emerge from the nest. The birds will remain together as a family group until the next breeding season begins. A song i used to sing my daughters.. Kookaburra sits on the old gum tree Eating all the gumdrops he can see Stop Kookaburra, stop Kookaburra Leave some gums for me love ya all have a great night or day there big hugs ♥ ~ kimmers! :O)

Comments (75)

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jocko500

6:17PM | Fri, 18 November 2005

I like this shot ; look like it can go in a book of birds

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GBCalls

6:18PM | Fri, 18 November 2005

Way cool photo. Great information to learn by too. Excellent!

Georgy

6:23PM | Fri, 18 November 2005

"OH" Kimarie what a wonderful pair. A great image my freind."WOW"

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Mimey

6:24PM | Fri, 18 November 2005

Very sympathic looking little birds, think they didn't see you coming in the night, otherwise they would have disappear? Excellent shot!!!

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SophiaDeer

6:29PM | Fri, 18 November 2005

Beautiful photograph!! This is so lovely and I always liked birds.

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brycek

6:37PM | Fri, 18 November 2005

Beautiful shot Kim..cute little guys. Thanks for the wonderful information!! V

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Richardphotos

6:38PM | Fri, 18 November 2005

I assume this was taken in an aviary, at any rate an outstanding picture . they are so beautiuful

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Kid_Fisto

6:48PM | Fri, 18 November 2005

Cute Birds! awesome luck and shot. V

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lesbentley

7:20PM | Fri, 18 November 2005

Great photo!

dragonfly2000

7:23PM | Fri, 18 November 2005

....whacked repeatedly against a branch or dropped from a height until pulverized. Oh my, and they look so cute. Where have all the dinosaurs gone, gone to birds everyone. Very cool shot, well done.

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escafeld

7:40PM | Fri, 18 November 2005

Wow, what an excellent capture. Extremely well done Kimmers!!!

logiloglu

7:52PM | Fri, 18 November 2005

how lovely, a wonderful image of this cute birds. great posing.simply excellent done. wish you a wonderful weekend,Kim. V #:O)

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redchilicat

7:57PM | Fri, 18 November 2005

Very nice photo, excellent! :-)

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rayburg

8:09PM | Fri, 18 November 2005

excellent capture of those cute laughing birds..love your old song at the end..lol..

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Blush

8:23PM | Fri, 18 November 2005

Oh sis This is a perfect capture....ya got so lucky Love the comments too and the song at the end was so cute grin This gets my Vote Hugs n love Susan~

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tibet2004uk

9:25PM | Fri, 18 November 2005

Now this is a wicked capture as far as the subject goes! And the compo is also spot on here!! As for the highlights......! O_o But well done nonetheless, surely not an easy shot to do!

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gunsan

10:24PM | Fri, 18 November 2005

Despite the Australian birds, I get a Chinese impression of this shot. It depends on the beautiful composition, it's simplicity and perfection. So very well done!!!

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