Saturday 27 September 2008

Kookaburra, king of the bush is he...


This week I have chosen another Australian animal, I don't live in Australia, but I have recently been there. I live in the Netherlands, but go to Australia every year for a month or a bit longer to see my daughter and her family. Well here's the kookaburra.

 


1) Kookaburra sits in the old gum tree,
Merry, merry king of the bush is he,
Laugh, Kookaburra, Laugh, Kookaburra,
Gay your life must be.

2) Kookaburra sits in the old gum tree
Eating all the gumdrops he can see
Stop, Kookaburra, Stop, Kookaburra
Leave some there for me.

3) Kookaburra sits in the old gum tree,
Counting all the monkeys he can see
Stop, Kookaburra, Stop, Kookaburra,
That's no monkey, that's me.





 
 

 
Posted by Picasa



The "Laughing Kookaburra" is known by its name for its "laugh" which it uses to greet its mate after periods of absences. It can be heard at any time of day but most frequently shortly after dawn and especially when the colour drains from the forest after sunset.
One bird starts with a low, hiccupping chuckle, then throws its head back in raucous laughter: often several others join in. If a rival tribe is within earshot and replies, the whole family soon gathers to fill the bush with ringing laughter. Hearing kookaburras in full voice is one of the more extraordinary experiences of the Australian bush, something even locals cannot ignore; some visitors, unless forewarned, may find their call startling
It's very difficult to take photos of the Kookaburra.
When you see him, you don't hear him...


For more exciting Camera Critters, click on the logo in the sidebar. Thank you Misty Dawn!

32 comments:

Maria Verivaki said...

that's a bird i've missed since i lived in the antipodes - nothing quite like it in greece

Juliana RW said...

wonderful series of kookaburra...

Please drop at my CC post also : in HERE Thanks

ratmammy said...

i always enjoy seeing photos from foreign (to me) lands. love the bird!

and thanks for visiting us!

Lapa37 said...

Beauty of a bird thanks for sharing it.

Anonymous said...

I saw one once - in London Zoo. I even photographed it - I was 11 or 12. It wasn't a very good picture.

Maria's Space said...

I love the word Kookaburra!

Unknown said...

I've never seen a kookaburra before,but we sand that song in Girl scout camp,all the time.Beautiful picture.

Misty DawnS said...

This is amazing! One of my favorite posts ever. I dream of visiting Australia some day. But, since I live in the U.S., I'll have to save my money for a long time to make that journey.

Cathy said...

Wonderful photos! I have friends in Australia, but I doubt that I will ever get to see them.

AppleDebbie said...

What an interesting little bird! I love the photos on your sidebar too. Thanks for sharing!

Christy said...

Very nice photos of the kookaburra. One of the things I like about these memes is that I get to see things that I will probably never get to experience on my own. All of the pics you have on your blog are beautiful.

bobbie said...

I really love your pictures. They are great. And I'm glad to see all the words to the song. Never quite caught all of them before.

Unknown said...

He looks fluffy rather than feathery :) I remember singing that round in school.

My Camera Critters is here

Cath said...

That is a wonderful post. I loved that song as a child and now you have reminded me of the words - thank you. Those shots of the kookaburra are fantastic.

Patty said...

He's a pretty little critter isn't he?

Rambling Woods said...

I've never heard of that..but it sounds like an interesting bird...

i beati said...

I find Australian wildlife spectacular- also lyre bird..sk

EG CameraGirl said...

Until a couple of months ago I'd never herd of a Kookaburra. These are great photos so that now I know what they look like. ;-)

Anonymous said...

Great photos! Thanks for sharing!


Please stop by both blogs for double the Critters.

http://twobarkingdogs.wordpress.com/

http://onevintagephoto.wordpress.com/

This Is My Blog - fishing guy said...

Wil: I do love your capture of the Kookaburra. what a wonderful looking bird and I do hope that was a gum tree. I always enjoyed that song and thinking of the bird laughing.

Anonymous said...

I know the song of the Kookaburra (and have sung it) but I've never met a Kookaburra. These are wonderful pictures from your trip to Australia. So glad you posted them for everyone to see.

Dar's Foto Faze said...

thank you for sharing photos of a distant land.

magiceye said...

wonderful series of kookaburra pics!

Tootie said...

That's really a cute bird! I love the sky watch photos too!

Dirkjogt said...

Gorgeous photos of this lovely bird, never saw it before.

Susan Demeter said...

Beautiful shots! I remember singing about them as a child :) My entry is here

Thank you for stopping by earlier :)

Middle Ditch said...

What a beautiful bird.

You never see a cuckoo either, you only hear them. I have seen one ones and it was a magic moment.

Digital Polaroids said...

I never saw a bird like this one!

Rambling Woods said...

I thought it looked like a kingfisher. Thank you for taking the time to add that info on my blog...

kjpweb said...

It is a beautiful bird! Loud though! ;)
Cheers, Klaus

Anonymous said...

I went to the zoo to see the kookaburra and I saw him and waited a long time for him to laugh but he didn't make a sound :-)

DeniseinVA said...

Great photos and what an extraordinary little bird. Super post.