Kookaburras
We work hard to look like teddy bears.
When I first moved to Australia, the kookaburra was my second favorite bird. My favorite was the Australian magpie, because I had never heard a bird that sounded like the R2D2 robot in Star Wars. Besides, I could not "have" the kookaburra: it was the favorite of my companion of the time; I had to have my own bird. We went our separate ways long ago, so I've come out for the kookaburra. It's now officially my favorite Australian bird. What other bird looks furry, like something you'd want to pet?
For sounds, the magpie still has my vote, but the kookaburra follows close behind. I've heard it said that the kookaburra makes the first bird song of the morning and the last of the evening. It feels like that when you're out camping. Kookaburras are so loud that they're likely to be the first sound you'll hear at dawn (some call them the bushman's alarm clock). And there's a certain finality to the last laughter of the local kookaburras at dusk.
Ah, yes: kookaburras "laugh". Their laughter is a sound that will make you fall in love with the Australian bush. In fact, it's such a great sound that Hollywood has used it in Tarzan movies to evoke the jungle sounds of Africa, where no kookaburra has ever set wing…
The following sound clip (hosted on the website of the Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water) is the best kookaburra recording of the many I've heard. By coincidence, it was made by David Stewart, who lives in Mullumbimby, less than an hour down the road from my Australian base.
Kookaburra recording by David Stewart.
Apparently, kookaburras mate for life—a life that can last twenty years. You can tell on the picture at the top of the page that these two didn't meet yesterday. Often, if you camp in a clearing, you'll find that it's patrolled by a pair of kookaburras. They keep moving around the clearing, flying from tree to tree, never far from the center. I've read that kookaburras are quite territorial, and that their song marks their turf. But isn't that the case of many birds?
More surprising is the kookaburra's diet. Insects, fish, rodents, lizards, anything goes. You'd think it was a falcon or some other bird of prey. I guess looks can be deceptive. Bears are cuddly too, unless they want you for dinner. If it wants to eat you, a kookaburra will drop straight down on top of you, poke you with its beak, drop you from a considerable height, or perhaps bash you against a tree trunk. Watch out!
Australia is changing, some birds are having a hard time, others are taking over. I really hope the kookaburras keep it up, because they're one of the best shows in the bush. :)
I'm up there with the koalas.
Square heads have more fun.
Smiles,
Andy
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The recording is fantastic.