The Daily Good News

Gotta keep voting team. New rules mean you get a new vote each day, they cull a few of the “under performers” each day.
A truly rubbish photo of our local tawny frogmouth

A large flock of black cockatoos have just started smashing a banksia tree full of nuts next to our driveway and around the bush near me.. It's been going 2 days now and the noise and mess is insane. The dawn screeching is next level . And then they fight and argue a lot after picking a tree. Large heavy seed pods slamming down from a great height. It usually only lasts a week or so and then I don't see them again for ages. I've also noticed them chewing out parts of gum trees to get witchetty grubs and the sound of them chewing through the timber is intense.
You can hear them chewing trees at about 2:38 on in this sound clip.

I like your pic Blackers, quite moody.

I think blown up it would make a nice art piece.

Really awesome TS, I find bird sounds so calming and a bit of frog:)

seaslug wrote:

Really awesome TS, I find bird sounds so calming and a bit of frog:)

Double that, so calming! Great sound bite TS.

zenagain wrote:

Cheers for the link Sang.

I'm gonna follow this to the end.

If I had a bird I'd name it Meryl Cheep.

Or if It was a little bird I'd name it Robin Williams.

Sheryl Crow?

Steven Seagull.

Bob Hawk

We’ve got a raven called Buddy. Buddy Holly - Rave On.

A Eastern Rosella called Jimmy. Jimmy Buffet -cause he’s a parrot head.

A currawong called Laurie. Laurie Daly cause of his googly eyes and outsized beak.

Thug Life and Boss Baby. A Mother / child rainbow lorikeet combo who out manoeuvre almost every other bird through sheer aggression.

Galah- It’s a galah but pronounced Gal-uh (as in guys and gals) in a similar manner to the way an American mate resolved to pronounced it despite being corrected a thousand times. He also called an Emu an Eemoo….used to do my head in.

Willy Wonga . A male Wonga who follows the same little paths through the garden religiously.

Hook. Patriarch grey butcherbird.

Number 3 . The youngest of a brood of juvenile kookaburras who isnt right in the head. You can tell it’s been deprived of the necessary nutrients as it’s brain developed. Typical behaviour by kook as to prioritise young with feeding.

Godfather- The dad magpie who sends everyone else scattering as he swoops in to reclaim his turf on the deck. He’ll often come into the house and demand feeding. All cool till he shits on the floor.

Plenty more I can’t think of right now.

tubeshooter wrote:

A large flock of black cockatoos have just started smashing a banksia tree full of nuts next to our driveway and around the bush near me.. It's been going 2 days now and the noise and mess is insane. The dawn screeching is next level . And then they fight and argue a lot after picking a tree. Large heavy seed pods slamming down from a great height. It usually only lasts a week or so and then I don't see them again for ages. I've also noticed them chewing out parts of gum trees to get witchetty grubs and the sound of them chewing through the timber is intense.
You can hear them chewing trees at about 2:38 on in this sound clip.

We have had this with black parrots…4 or 5 turn up and destroy our front yard tree..they make so much noise, shred it and make a mess, then squabble for 30 mins and fly off. Happens once a year. It’s hilarious.

I love how Aussies come up with names for everyone. Some pretty inventive ones there Blowy.

At my parents house there were the three resident maggies and no guesses how they got their names. There was guts, scruffy and stumpy.

This thread is making me homesick.

Roadkill, after the fires the bush across the road was invaded by a flock of about a dozen Glossy Blacks.

zenagain wrote:

I love how Aussies come up with names for everyone. Some pretty inventive ones there Blowy.

At my parents house there were the three resident maggies and no guesses how they got their names. There was guts, scruffy and stumpy.

This thread is making me homesick.

Great post Cocksucker, you must be excited you can finally come home for a visit this Summer

You could have come up with a more inventive name than that Shorey, but yes I would love to get home. Booked and paid for end of Feb, contingent on having to quarantine.

Forgot to mention Frankie. Frank Sinatra. He’s a juvie magpie that simply does not stop singing. Pretty sure he’s driving his brothers and sisters to thoughts of siblicide though. They must be so over it. I love it but only cause he doesn’t lurk around the house all day. Too much of a good thing.

heard the first Channel-Billed Cuckoo for the season just the other day - when there was some storm activity brewing. Now keeping an eye out for the Dollarbirds. The two of them in the area will signal an official season change for me.

all this bird talk is really cool. I'm blessed to live in a bird paradise and enjoy the regular presence of just about all the species mentioned here so far, aside from the Lyrebird or Bowerbird. It is extra cool when youve created, in a short 7 years, the habitat that they now visit/nest/live in.

the latest ones i've been having some cool close up moments with is a small family unit (4) of quails, see them most days now hanging around the house. I've learnt they love nibbling on the chickweed that pops up everywhere naturally over winter, then dies off as the weather heats up. Its a good little weedy green that I also nibble on over the cooler months. Was really cool the other arvo - they typically flee when I surprise on them, but the other day they started to run, so i stopped immediately and chirped at them a bit and they stopped, took notice and slowly came back in close for a chat. I kept at it until I got bored and moved on. Similar thing often happens with the tiny robins and finches - very inquisitive and talkative if you take some quiet time to interact with them

got any buff banded rails running around there GreenJam?

very good question FR - unfortunately not sighed yet, quite disappointed as I do love them, with their intricate patterns, looks like Aboriginal art. And more disappointing as I've created the classic habitat for them around my small dam - I'm keeping an expectant eye out, and am now setting up the motion detector camera to hopefully catch them. Had an inquisitive pheasant coucal peering into the camera recently

they have a very distinctive warning call, if you hear that you know they are around.

ok, thanks. I'll have a look for a sound byte of that call.

and very interestingly I thought, I've had 3 occasions when an Australian Bustard has been sighted here, and up in a tree. A big bird, initial thought was it looked like a pelican, then ID'd it later. As far as I know, they arent meant to frequent this far south

Some Covid related good news, although sometimes it feels like there is Anti vaxers everywhere especially online, surprisingly vaccination take up in Australia is looking really good and we are going to fly pass USA vaccination rates.

"It seems almost unbelieveable, but Australia is set to overtake the United States for a key Covid statistic, showing just how incredible our progress has been."

"Around 63.5 per cent of the total population of the US has had at least one dose of vaccine, compared to around 62 per cent of Australians, according to Our World in Data."
https://www.news.com.au/world/coronavirus/australia/australia-set-to-ove...

They even seem to think we could pass 90% vaccination rate, that would be amazing.

"Australia on track to pass 90pc full vaccination

Vaccine trackers say NSW, Victoria and the ACT will reach 90 per cent full adult vaccination this year, forecasting high take-up based on the current pace of the national rollout and research on hesitancy."
https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/australia-on-track-to-pass-90pc-ful...

Good news for Victorians

"Victoria is on the brink of two coronavirus vaccine milestones.

The state is about to hit 80 per cent single dose and 50 per cent double dose targets.
Meanwhile, the Federal Government said Australia has hit 53.4 per cent of over-16s having both doses, with 77.3 per cent having one dose."

And good news for NSW

"In NSW, 86.7 per cent of residents have had their first jab and 62.9 per cent are fully vaccinated."

Tas doing pretty good but others states are lagging a bit, maybe need an outbreak to kick things up a bit.
https://www.9news.com.au/national/coronavirus-vaccine-rollout-australia-...

GreenJam wrote:

ok, thanks. I'll have a look for a sound byte of that call.

and very interestingly I thought, I've had 3 occasions when an Australian Bustard has been sighted here, and up in a tree. A big bird, initial thought was it looked like a pelican, then ID'd it later. As far as I know, they arent meant to frequent this far south

Green jam, are you saying the Bustard was in a tree? Bustards can occasionally occur on the coast but they would never be in a tree…. they’re too big and flat footed.

With the bird calls, the xeno-canto website is a bit clunky but a great resource. Typical contact call from Buff Banded Rail in this link. They love hanging out in wet long grass.
https://www.xeno-canto.org/619295

That’s an epic site. Cheers Distracted.

GuySmiley wrote:

Hey info can we please leave this forum topic for the bright side of life; plenty of other areas for Covid news, cheers

It's good news so i will post it here, if you don't like it tuff tittys..

Back from a visit to W/Gong Hospital, final set of X-rays for my fractured tibia and the doc gave me the thumbs up. Not a thumb up and pinky finger out unfortunately, but it still brought a smile.

Even said my knee was looking good for my age ("Very small amount of arthritis but not as much as you'd expect").

Still copping a bit of discomfort from my meniscus but he gave me the all clear to surf and ride again. Reckons both will help the meniscus heal further as long as, a) I don't twist it too much going backside, and b) I don't stack the pushy.

Much more to observe at the hospital, none of which fits the Good News thread.

Good to hear Stu. There should be a few waves around over the next couple of days.

thanks Distracted - a great birdcall resource there.

and definitely the Bustard - twice seen first on the ground and then taking flight. The once when it was sighted in the tree, we had obviously startled it and it took to the tree, but was clearly very uncomfortable, I distinctly recall thinking it was sort of clumsily wobbling about a bit on the branch. So that matches your description. And I'm inland a little bit, coastal hinterland.

New local at the Gong hospital!

That call from the Buff Banded Rail is quite distinctive.

the alarm call is a bit louder and more urgent, high pitched.

we've had a few families here over the past few years.

Mom and Dad come in to get some chook food.

Occasionally we see the chicks, tiny little black things with white markings on the head.

Wow incredible resource Distracted!

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/ng-interactive/2021/sep/27/austr...

Don't forget to vote for your favourite Oz bird.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-10-01/international-travel-resume-scott...

And Gulag Gladys has resigned...

Thanks udo...
Just been reading from her latest cut'n'paste Covid cook book...
Let's just say she's fond of spreadin' it about!

1st Oct > New Australia Day Holiday date is fully loaded & locked in....
Glad' to you Go Go Go Go Goodbye

NSW powered under Gladys and she handled all the years of dramas like a real trooper. We went into years of crisis with cash in the bank instead of being broke like under Labor. I hope she has a good rest as she has earned it...Perhaps she should buy a longboard and kickback a bit and leave it to Dominic who will also be very good.

Yeh I disagree with her politics but she is an admirable character and has done well to survive the last two years with her dignity and credibility intact. Of course I am a bit biased I worked at PBHS when she was a student there and taught her younger sister.

Thank god that corrupt bitch is gone. It’s a shame she’ll just be replaced by a corrupt cock. Tell your story walking, cnt.

From the SMH :

“Instead, it was clearly a political hit job, according to Berejiklian, but not one instigated by the usual opportunistic political opponents.

Rather, it was the Independent Commission Against Corruption that made a calculated decision that would end her 18-year parliamentary career.

“ICAC has chosen to take this action during the most challenging weeks of the most challenging times in the history of NSW,” Berejiklian read from a prepared statement. “That is the ICAC’s prerogative.”

Berejiklian was not alone in her suspicions. One long-time senior Liberal said: “ICAC knew exactly what they were doing. Not a care for the lockdown or that we are in a pandemic. ICAC always plays the politics.”

Yep the completely unreconstructed misogynists are still out there spitting sexist bile. I will close my ears to such shallow offensive posturing.

Better put your ear muffs on bloke.

Nasty men are treating women as equals.

Misogyny aside BB, isn’t it a bit of a stretch to claim that Gladys B’s credibility is intact given the circumstances surrounding her resignation not only as Premier but from parliament altogether? Doesn’t indicate much confidence that she’s going to get through the investigation unscathed.

I didn't say integrity etarip. She may have over stepped the mark in passing more info than she should have to old Dazza but I think she was honest in her press conferences and maintained her cool in the face of difficult circumstances and some pretty unpleasant commentary (see above). She also did extremely well in the bushfire crisis. So yeh she deserves our respect for doing a damn fine job under incredible pressure for an extended period and this is coming from a Labor supporter! Sometimes you have to let go of any partisanship and respect genuine achievement.

Fair nuff. I see how you came to that point, but I don’t see how she can have credibility when her integrity is in question. She’s a smart lady, and effective. She’s a pretty good leader. I don’t deny that. But that makes her potentially corrupt conduct even more concerning.

19 correct answers in today's SMH quiz.

Family record.

Good work, I only got 16.

Too embarrassed to mention mine.

Walking the dog early this morning, everything so still and quiet. On Fiiday night we had a huge typhoon cross over leaving everything clean and fresh. I think typhoons are Mother Natures way of doing a little spring cleaning even though they mostly come in autumn. Anyway, I love this time of the year, the days are warm, the nights lovely for sleeping and the surf pumps. Yesterday was DOH and going nuts but luckily for me I worked all day. Today is the day- looking out over the ocean, shimmering in the sunlight, still plenty of swell.

Anyway, as I said, walking the dog I heard something rushing towards me overhead. I looked up to see a huge flock of birds, I think they were Starlings. The whole flock passed overhead, there must have been hundreds and headed out towards the sea. The whole thing instantly reminded me of a wave rushing up a pebbly beach and then slowly receding back down. It was a really nice way to break the silence- something so random and out of the blue. I like those little surprises in life.

The birds start heading south this time of the year. The Cormorants with their V formations and always a couple of stragglers trailing behind. Soon it's gonna get real cold and the wind and snow will come and I can tick off another summer.

I don't know why I'm sharing this- I guess It's just been a nice start to the day, I'm out the door cause I know there's good waves waiting and I hope you guys on the other threads can take a break, get outside and go get some for yourselves.

Cheers.

Zen thanx for the zen in your morning story......ah stop and smell the roses........couldn't think of anywhere in the World I would rather be in OCT/Nov Japan.....hopefully next year..

Thanks Zen