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Re: Australasia in the Playground V
Melbourne :/ It's just a good thing I rarely have call to go into the city these days.
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Re: Australasia in the Playground V
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Roc Ness
Woooooaah... :smalleek: :smallbiggrin: That's truly incredible...
I wish I could fly, as well...
Sir, are you by chance a bird enthusiast? I like birds, but I wouldn't be able to recognise most birds that landed on my face, despite my best attempts. :smallredface:
I've been a birdwatcher since the day I was born. It's just the way I am wired. When I was a kid people would always say that I would grow out of it. They were wrong. I am doing my Ph D on the now! (speaking of my Ph D I REALLY should finish that research proposal...:smalleek:).
As to learning to identify birds, everyone was at your level at the beginning. Just pick up an identification guide and start with the ones in your backyard. I am sure you can tell a Magpie from a Pigeon and a Cockatoo from a Rosella. But did you know that Australia has 24 species of pigeon and doves (Some are quite spectacular) and that in all likelihood you have two species of rosella visiting your yard?
The fantastic thing about birdwatching is that you can practice it anywhere above ground anywhere in the world. You really only need a field guide (a camera and binos and scope help a lot, but you don't need them to watch birds).
It's also a fantastic mental practice that has made me very perspective and you never know what you will see (e.g. my Godwit :))
Ok I will stop now :smallbiggrin:
R.P.
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Re: Australasia in the Playground V
It's amazing what you find out when you Google something.
I always thought that Rosellas were called so because of their red feathers (yes, I know that not all are red). Turns out they were named after Rosehill, the place they were discovered.
You learn something new everyday.
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Re: Australasia in the Playground V
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Elemental
It's amazing what you find out when you Google something.
I always thought that Rosellas were called so because of their red feathers (yes, I know that not all are red). Turns out they were named after Rosehill, the place they were discovered.
You learn something new everyday.
Indeed! :smallsmile:
They were also called pie birds as you needed 12 to make a decent sized pie back in colonial times.
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Re: Australasia in the Playground V
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Rising Phoenix
I've been a birdwatcher since the day I was born. It's just the way I am wired. When I was a kid people would always say that I would grow out of it. They were wrong. I am doing my Ph D on the now! (speaking of my Ph D I REALLY should finish that research proposal...:smalleek:).
As to learning to identify birds, everyone was at your level at the beginning. Just pick up an identification guide and start with the ones in your backyard. I am sure you can tell a Magpie from a Pigeon and a Cockatoo from a Rosella. But did you know that Australia has 24 species of pigeon and doves (
Some are quite spectacular) and that in all likelihood you have
two species of rosella visiting your yard?
The fantastic thing about birdwatching is that you can practice it anywhere above ground anywhere in the world. You really only need a field guide (a camera and binos and scope help a lot, but you don't need them to watch birds).
It's also a fantastic mental practice that has made me very perspective and you never know what you will see (e.g. my Godwit :))
Ok I will stop now :smallbiggrin:
R.P.
Woaaaaah... its like a "follow your dreams" story ripped from a fairy tale. :smallbiggrin:
I myself am proud to say I know my Indian Minahs from my Noisy Minahs, except that I can't for the life of me remember what was the appropriate spelling for "minah", or even if they both are spelled the same. :smallredface: I myself love to draw birds, except they don't stay still enough for me to do so...
Would you mind PMing me some career advice? :smallsmile: See, I have a close friend who is incredibly passionate about birds, far moreso than myself, and is looking down the path of ornithology but has little idea what to do (and is also somewhat pessimistic about his chances/parent's approval and all that). I think it would be incredible for him to get some advice from you! 8D
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Elemental
It's amazing what you find out when you Google something.
I always thought that Rosellas were called so because of their red feathers (yes, I know that not all are red). Turns out they were named after Rosehill, the place they were discovered.
You learn something new everyday.
Oh my god I live near there! XD
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Rising Phoenix
Indeed! :smallsmile:
They were also called pie birds as you needed 12 to make a decent sized pie back in colonial times.
... :smalleek:
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Re: Australasia in the Playground V
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Moonshadow
Oh god, they want to basically renovate the CBD to make it Manhatten style <_< More traffic congestion and even more people on our already struggling public transport system?
ZE HORRORRRRRR!
That's better than what the planned redevelopment is over here. They want to create an island in the shape of a swan. What are we, Dubai? :smalleek:
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Rising Phoenix
They were also called pie birds as you needed 12 to make a decent sized pie back in colonial times.
They made pies out of rosellas? That's just wrong.
I think I'll stick with knowing the difference between a willy wagtail and a crow :smalltongue:
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Re: Australasia in the Playground V
Firstly, as to the spelling: Indian Mynah and Noisy Miner.
What is with this spell check? It recognises neutrino, but not mynah?
Back to the topic at hand:
What is with these city-planners? Artificial islands? Manhattanisation?
Fix the problems that exist already!
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Re: Australasia in the Playground V
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Roc Ness
Woaaaaah... its like a "follow your dreams" story ripped from a fairy tale. :smallbiggrin:
I myself am proud to say I know my Indian Minahs from my Noisy Minahs, except that I can't for the life of me remember what was the appropriate spelling for "minah", or even if they both are spelled the same. :smallredface: I myself love to draw birds, except they don't stay still enough for me to do so...
Would you mind PMing me some career advice? :smallsmile: See, I have a close friend who is incredibly passionate about birds, far moreso than myself, and is looking down the path of ornithology but has little idea what to do (and is also somewhat pessimistic about his chances/parent's approval and all that). I think it would be incredible for him to get some advice from you! 8D
If you think I can be of any help, please go ahead and PM me :).
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Elemental
Firstly, as to the spelling: Indian Mynah and Noisy Miner.
What is with this spell check? It recognises neutrino, but not mynah?
Back to the topic at hand:
What is with these city-planners? Artificial islands? Manhattanisation?
Fix the problems that exist already!
:smallsigh: Tell me about it. You'd think that they would have learned something after all these environmental collapses across Australia/the world... Perth is especially bad atm... all this reckless development... We don't have water for all these people!
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Re: Australasia in the Playground V
I have a feeling the swan island isn't going ahead any more - everyone rose up in complaint. Kinda like when they tried to bring in daylight savings over here. I think I was the only person in the state who genuinely didn't care. But then again, I grew up with it, so it doesn't really bother me.
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Re: Australasia in the Playground V
Why are the trains in Sydney so much better than the ones in Melbourne?
Seriously, the gap in quality and service is monstrous.
And airport access via train! That's inspired! Why can I not have this?
First time in Sydney since... the Olympics, actually, and I was impressed.
Though I did notice a lot of out-of-order elevators. Get that looked at.
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Re: Australasia in the Playground V
You think Sydney trains are better than Melbourne? :smallconfused: I've found them to be far more confusing, on par punctuality-wise, and many, many times more expensive. Plus since you buy a direct ticket instead of a zone ticket, if you don't take particular route - sometimes a particularly awkward one - the ticket won't go through the machine at the end and you get an awkward conversation with the guard. I'd much rather pay three bucks and get wherever I want however I want.
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Re: Australasia in the Playground V
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Lady Moreta
They made pies out of rosellas? That's just wrong.
From a certain perspective, it's no more or less wrong than making pies out of pigeon, or even out of chicken.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Lady Moreta
I think I'll stick with knowing the difference between a willy wagtail and a crow :smalltongue:
Except there are no crows in Western Australia - just ravens.
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Re: Australasia in the Playground V
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Dexam
Except there are no crows in Western Australia - just ravens.
Are they ravens? :smallconfused: really?
Every single person I've ever met or talked to in the five years I've been here has called them crows. Are the annoying big black birds all actually ravens?
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Re: Australasia in the Playground V
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Dexam
From a certain perspective, it's no more or less wrong than making pies out of pigeon, or even out of chicken.
Except there are no crows in Western Australia - just ravens.
Weeeeelll, if you are in southern WA that's true. You only get Australian Ravens... if you are in norther WA you get Little Ravens and Torresian Crows...
Generally the name 'Raven' is used to describe a larger species while 'Crow' for the smaller ones . In Australia the size difference is only a few cm with considerable overlap. So it's pretty much useless in the field. Call, range (and to a lesser extent behaviour) are the best way to tell them apart as they all look more or less the same:
Australian Raven, Little Raven, Torresian Crow
You can find their calls with a quick google search if interested further :).
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Re: Australasia in the Playground V
A little short notice, so I don't expect many responses. Plus, you know, it's a Monday. Anyone want a game of Killing Floor tonight? No recording, mics optional, normal difficulty.
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Re: Australasia in the Playground V
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Anuan
You think Sydney trains are better than Melbourne? :smallconfused: I've found them to be far more confusing, on par punctuality-wise, and many, many times more expensive. Plus since you buy a direct ticket instead of a zone ticket, if you don't take particular route - sometimes a particularly awkward one - the ticket won't go through the machine at the end and you get an awkward conversation with the guard. I'd much rather pay three bucks and get wherever I want however I want.
I was in Sydney for the BDO last year (I'm a native Melbournian), and I found the PT system a bit lacking as well. Unless I was missing something, you basically needed to buy a ticket for each leg of your journey - one night, I had to buy a train ticket, bus ticket and ferry ticket separately...
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Re: Australasia in the Playground V
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Rising Phoenix
You can find their calls with a quick google search if interested further :).
Not really I must confess. I'm just satisfied with knowing that there aren't many around where we live so I don't having to listen to their stupid cawing at every hour of the day. The last place we lived had heaps and they were the most annoying dawn chorus I've ever heard in my life.
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Re: Australasia in the Playground V
They've never really bothered me. I think the singing of magpies is much nicer, though.
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Re: Australasia in the Playground V
I'm pretty sure magpies are songbirds, so that would make sense :smallsmile:
And there are no crows (or ravens or whatever they are :smalltongue:) in New Zealand (which is where I'm from), so I'm really not used to the horrible noise they make. Plus being woken up every morning at 5am because of their crowing really got on my nerves after a while...
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Re: Australasia in the Playground V
I can understand that. Maybe they don't bother me because I'm a pretty heavy sleeper. It unfortately takes me forever and a day to actually get to the 'being asleep' stage, though. :smallannoyed:
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Re: Australasia in the Playground V
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Lady Moreta
I'm pretty sure magpies are songbirds, so that would make sense :smallsmile:
And there are no crows (or ravens or whatever they are :smalltongue:) in New Zealand (which is where I'm from), so I'm really not used to the horrible noise they make. Plus being woken up every morning at 5am because of their crowing really got on my nerves after a while...
Crows and Ravens are songbirds (perching birds) too.
And smart Europeans thought it was a brilliant idea to introduce Rooks to New Zealand... Though I am under the impression that they are being culled atm.
The only bird call that I do not like are the shrieks of the Sulphur-crested Cockatoo and only during early in the morning. Otherwise I really don't mind any bird calls.:smalltongue:
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Re: Australasia in the Playground V
I personally find it annoying when the rainbow lorikeets gather in our neighbour's tree when it flowers. They can certainly make a racket.
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Re: Australasia in the Playground V
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Rising Phoenix
I've been a birdwatcher since the day I was born. It's just the way I am wired. When I was a kid people would always say that I would grow out of it. They were wrong. I am doing my Ph D on the now! (speaking of my Ph D I REALLY should finish that research proposal...:smalleek:).
As to learning to identify birds, everyone was at your level at the beginning. Just pick up an identification guide and start with the ones in your backyard. I am sure you can tell a Magpie from a Pigeon and a Cockatoo from a Rosella. But did you know that Australia has 24 species of pigeon and doves (
Some are quite spectacular) and that in all likelihood you have
two species of rosella visiting your yard?
The fantastic thing about birdwatching is that you can practice it anywhere above ground anywhere in the world. You really only need a field guide (a camera and binos and scope help a lot, but you don't need them to watch birds).
It's also a fantastic mental practice that has made me very perspective and you never know what you will see (e.g. my Godwit :))
Ok I will stop now :smallbiggrin:
R.P.
Can I just say how awesome that is? It really isn't that many people that can say that they have followed their dream from an early age through to an opportunity like that. :smallsmile:
Anyway, my own Bird knowledge (while a little more advanced than most of my peers) comes to "Ohhh, look at the pretty bird!" when faced with birds that don't live in my area... :smalltongue:
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Re: Australasia in the Playground V
Quote:
Originally Posted by
_Zoot_
Can I just say how awesome that is? It really isn't that many people that can say that they have followed their dream from an early age through to an opportunity like that. :smallsmile:
Anyway, my own Bird knowledge (while a little more advanced than most of my peers) comes to "Ohhh, look at the pretty bird!" when faced with birds that don't live in my area... :smalltongue:
Thanks:smallsmile:. It doesn't look that awesome now that I am writting my research proposal though :smallbiggrin:
XD
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Re: Australasia in the Playground V
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Rising Phoenix
Crows and Ravens are songbirds (perching birds) too.
Seriously? But they make such a horrible racket...
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Rising Phoenix
And smart Europeans thought it was a brilliant idea to introduce Rooks to New Zealand... Though I am under the impression that they are being culled atm.
Don't know anything about that, though it wouldn't surprise me. Europeans thought it was a good idea to introduce a lot of things to New Zealand... but yeah, if they're there, they'll be being culled.
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Re: Australasia in the Playground V
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Lady Moreta
Seriously? But they make such a horrible racket...
Don't know anything about that, though it wouldn't surprise me. Europeans thought it was a good idea to introduce a lot of things to New Zealand... but yeah, if they're there, they'll be being culled.
And yet... no one wants your wetas :P
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Re: Australasia in the Playground V
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Lady Moreta
Seriously? But they make such a horrible racket...
Yes, crows are songbirds, I was shocked when I found out too.
Anyway, it makes sense that some songbirds sing badly. I mean, not everyone who sings is actually a good singer.
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Re: Australasia in the Playground V
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Moonshadow
And yet... no one wants your wetas :P
Yes, but wetas are indigenous, so they're actually helpful.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Elemental
Yes, crows are songbirds, I was shocked when I found out too.
Anyway, it makes sense that some songbirds sing badly. I mean, not everyone who sings is actually a good singer.
Not really... I mean, one would assume that the songbird name came about because the birds within the category all had a song-like quality to their calls. Otherwise they'd be songbirds-and-others :smalltongue:
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Re: Australasia in the Playground V
I blame the people who began classifying animals.
They obviously started by noticing that all the birds we commonly think of as songbirds were alike, so grouped them into one category; Songbirds.
However, when it came time to place crows, etc., they were too lazy to fix their mistake, and now we're stuck with it.
As an aside:
How could you Benjamin Franklin?! Now the diagrams don't make sense!
Ignore that, I was just being crazy.
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Re: Australasia in the Playground V
My mum and her husband were doing a bunch of birdwatching around their place. They were listing every single species of bird they saw, but within a specifically defined range - I think on the beach from the headland to part-way down the beach, in the sand dunes, and a specific distance inland. Last I heard they were up to something like 120-150 species before they ran out.
I'm thinking I should get a bird book for the UK... And maybe animals - I saw deer today :smallsmile: