Oct 11 2007

Kookaburra Falls off the Old Tin Roof

Published by at 2:14 pm under Australia,random

Excitement in the office today when we were roused by the sound of birds squawking outside the window.

Peering out we saw one kookaburra attacking the leg of another. It was quite bizarre because generally I don’t think of kookaburras as being that aggressive – well not towards each other anyway.

I managed to snap a couple of photos, and Gina grabbed a few seconds of footage – just at the right time (as the kookaburra’s wrestled off the roof). How’s that for breaking on-the-spot Citizen Journalism 😉 ?

Kookaburras fighting

Kookaburra fight

Unfortunately the video didn’t convert really well from the mobile format – but here’s the 5 second clip anyway (and the flyscreen makes it a bit blurry).

Since it’s related – I thought I’d throw in a photo of some kookaburras eating mince that I took a few years ago. It’s really funny to see them thrashing the meat, as if they have to kill it first. It makes for messy eating.

Kookaburras eating mince

Since I’m doing the whole photo thing, I thought I’d add this one too – as a magpie hones in on a mouse. Uh-oh.

Magpie and Mouse

15 responses so far

15 Responses to “Kookaburra Falls off the Old Tin Roof”

  1. # Marleneon 11 Oct 2007 at 3:42 pm

    I loved your pictures of the birds. The two fighting birds didn’t look like kookas but I guess you got a better look at them than me!

  2. # Megon 11 Oct 2007 at 4:14 pm

    Hi Marlene

    Gee I thought they were! If not any suggestions?

  3. # Megan over at Imaginifon 11 Oct 2007 at 5:34 pm

    Oh dear – Kookaburra fights on the electric wire.
    Well caught.

  4. # Leighon 11 Oct 2007 at 7:25 pm

    Thanks, now I have not so nice songs about Kookaburras and electric wires stuck in my head LOL

    Birds aren’t in my good books at the moment, between attacking Magpies, and Willy wagtails driving me insane with their noise at all hours of the day and night.

    They are fantastic picture Meg. They certainly look like Kookaburras to me. I used to love feeding them, they would walk in the back door demanding something to eat.

    The Magpie action is great.

  5. # Megon 11 Oct 2007 at 8:19 pm

    Thanks Megan :)

    Leigh – I’m sure it’s recommended *not* to feed the kookaburras, but when they come and sit on your balcony – and usually they’re so tame and trusting – it’s hard not to comply.

    The cockatoos are the ones you definitely don’t want to feed. I’ve heard so many horror stories of families going on holidays to come back and find that anything remotely gnawable has been chewed to bits.

    Spring is here, I guess the birds are nesting and getting all protective.

    I’d love to have known the “story” behind why they were fighting. If I was a more creative person, I suppose I could have made one up….

    I know what you mean about the song – been on my mind too!

  6. # Willon 11 Oct 2007 at 8:50 pm

    Hey Meg,

    I’m not sure what Marlene thinks they could be – they definitely look like kookaburras to me. They appear to have all the correct markings and head/beak/body shape.

    Good set of photos though :)

  7. # Fat Bastardon 11 Oct 2007 at 9:16 pm

    They look like drop bears to me

  8. # Snoskredon 11 Oct 2007 at 9:17 pm

    Meg – the only birds it isn’t a good idea to feed are pigeons and seagulls but it’s still ok in your backyard – at the beach and at a zoo or something like that, it’s a really bad idea.

    I never thought of feeding the kookas, I might try that! 😉

    Great pics!

    Cheers,
    Snoskred

  9. # Megon 11 Oct 2007 at 10:38 pm

    Hey Will – I thought so too. Thanks :)

    FB – LOL – when they’re falling off a roof top, I guess they might as well be.

    Snoskred – I don’t know – those cockies get pretty agro if they’re used to being fed. Even if they’re not fed, they chew up plants, woodwork, solar heating rubber tubes…. (yes, I speak from past experience). Feeding does encourage them to come back. They’re are beautiful birds, but they can be right royal buggers and do a heap of damage.

    Glad you liked the pics, though :)

  10. # Marleneon 12 Oct 2007 at 11:26 am

    I stand corrected…. Marlene

  11. # jmbon 12 Oct 2007 at 11:43 am

    Hi I’m over checking out something in your sidebar, sent by Colin Campbell. These are great photos. I am an Aussie but have lived in Canada for 46 years. I still miss the birds of Australia, especially the songbirds and all the pretty colourful little parrots.
    regards
    jmb

  12. # Megon 12 Oct 2007 at 11:54 am

    Thanks Marlene – I have to confess I popped over to wikipedia *just in case*.

    Hi jmb – thanks for stopping by. We sure do have some wonderful bird life here.

  13. # Lavenderon 13 Oct 2007 at 10:17 am

    Great shots Meg, well done! One of my fave Aussie birds. Lots of nesting going on, perhaps they are fighting for ‘property development’ rights LOL

  14. # Megon 13 Oct 2007 at 11:48 am

    Lavender – 😀 perhaps they are.

  15. # b.r.a.t dieton 19 Aug 2014 at 8:39 am

    b.r.a.t diet…

    Kookaburra Falls off the Old Tin Roof | Dipping into the Blogpond…