Australian Bustard (male) Ardeotis australis November 7th, 2018 Mount Carbine, Queensland, Australia Canon EOS 1D X Mark II Canon EF 600mm f4L IS II USM lens Canon EF 1.4x III Extender The wonderfully unique Plains Turkey! These quirky birds are one of Australia's largest at up to 1.2m tall & a very impressive 2.3m wingspan - they also boast the title of Australia's largest flying land bird! Pictured here is a large male in full breeding display. During breeding season (once a year), the male will clear a display area & strut around with their tails cocked high. They will periodically inflate a large throat sac, producing a loud, deep roaring noise. Amazing to witness! Despite being a nomadic species, there's a persistent local population at a place called Maryfarms in Mount Carbine, FNQ. Several of these birds can usually be seen slowly wandering the privately owned paddocks & surrounding tall grasses & road verges. Photography can be a little tricky as a result, however after a couple of visits I finally managed to find a male in a paddock with low grasses strutting his stuff close enough to the fence to allow for some wonderful photographic opportunities! What a chook!
Golden Bowerbird (male) Prionodura newtoniana November 7th, 2018 Julatten, Queensland, Australia Canon EOS 1D X Mark II Canon EF 100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM lens Canon 600EX II-RT flash The incredible Golden Bowerbird! This species was my second most sought after bird on my trip to Far North Queensland in November last year. These secretive birds inhabit the rainforests of Northern Queensland above 700 metres in elevation. They are the smallest of all bowerbirds, however they build the largest & most elaborate bowers, which they use to attract a mate. Their bowers consist of one or two towers of sticks, usually constructed around the trunks of two saplings loosely connected by a fallen branch or log. These towers can be up to 2m in height! The centre platform of the bower is decorated with lichen & freshly plucked flowers from a specific type of plant. Once the male has established his bower, he will spend considerable time decorating it. He will perch nearby & advertise to females with a series of incredible electronic-like vocalisations. When not fussing over his bower or trying to woo a mate, he will be actively defending his bower from rival males & even raiding other bowers to steal their treasures for his own! Sitting quietly in the rainforest listening to the sounds of the amazing bird life all around is one of those wonderful experiences I can't wait to experience again. Even more rewarding when a bird as spectacular as this allows you to spend some time watching him go about his business!
Peaceful Dove Geopelia placida November 6th, 2018 Chewko, Queensland, Australia Canon EOS 1D X Mark II Canon EF 600mm f4L IS II USM lens Canon EF 1.4x III Extender Any closer & this little dove would have been inside the lens hood! What a beauty!
