Firstly a pause for to comprehend the massive destruction, “Cataclysmic, Apocalyptic, Total, Tragic, Devestating, Violent, and Undescribable” are words that have been used to describe the bushfires sweeping along the New South Wales and Queensland countryside as I write.
My heart goes out to all those who have suffered and lost and are bewildered if not overwhelmed by the speed and severity of the fires. Heartfelt gratidue to all those brave volunteers who’ve put their lives on hold and on the line in so many ways to help and defend where possible. The task truly does seem overwhelming.
As a little, little tacker growing up on an orchard in a fire prone area, I remember my Dad being away for over a week or more a couple of times each summer to fight local blazes. In those days the major weapon was a small metal knapsack that held probably 20 litres of water. Mum had several of them around the outside of the house and while they were very attractive and interesting to a small growing boy, they were not to be touched under any circumstance.
I hope that a weather change brings some relief to the drama.
But nature also gives; even at a very small level.
I’ve featured a nest branch of a pair of Little Lorikeet both here and on Flickr, and the other day, while we were looking for returning Sacred Kingfisher I took a little while to drop by the nest area, and at first it was quiet and I assumed they had flown the young. Back to the Kingfishers, and not long afterward I heard the distinct calls of the Loris and went back for a second look.
To my suprise both adults were on the top of the branch, and a little head kept popping up out of the hole. However in the time I was there it did not venture out, and eventually mumn and dad flew off to feed, and it tucked itself back into the nest.
May peace come on healing wings.
Birds as Poetry —— Just because I WANDER - --doesn't mean I'm LOST 
Indeed the fires in the north are devastating, hopefully the crews and the weather can bring them down soonest.
Lovely to see the Loris are still there and wonderful to see the little head popping up.
Hope you get some images of the Kingfisher(s) too.
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‘Lo David, The weather doesn’t look to good for the rest of the week up that way, an dI guess there is only so much that the crews can do. Inspite of new fire fighting techniques and modern equipment, the forests are in grave danger, and all who live in, or near them.
Still looking for the Kingfishers. 🙂
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Heartfelt words David – it is grim indeed for all who live there. The people of course, but also the birds and animals that call that bushland home. So many will have died or been dreadfully injured. But let’s celebrate this little new life in the hope that some creatures have survived, and the bush will regenerate and be a home for them again.
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Hello Eleanor, every piece of forest we visit of late is so dry, and so much fuel. One wonders if any lessons have been learned from past disasters.
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Those fires are terrible for everyone and everything. I think of all the poor animals that get trapped and die a horrible death. Koalas are particularly vulnerable. Its not even Summer yet and the fires rage regardless, yet the climate change deniers show no sign of anything going wrong.
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Hi Rodger, Thanks for stopping by, I can only lament the losses, such is the destructive nature of the “Wide Brown Land”.
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Beautiful words echoing my feelings about the suffering of humans and all creatures in these tragic bushfires.
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Hi A, it is indeed a stressful time. Your thoughts are appreciated
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Lovely capture of that little head and proud parent David. Little Loris have always been difficult for me to get good pics of as they tend to hide underneath the canopy, and look like it, even though they make quite a racket together.I spend almost half an hour just trying to see one to photograph a few years ago, they were so noisy, but I could not see them, how frustrating it was. Yes , the fires are affecting many here, including members of my family. We are planning to holiday in one of the areas in a couple of weeks, but I have been told the area of forest is all burnt out. Yes catastrophic is the word for this next few days as we all brace even here in Sydney, where ferocious winds and heat of 37°C will strike. Sydney was surrounded in fire with the Nasho and other surrounding Parks burning some 18 years ago from memory. Many animals and birds including ancient forest was lost. The Nasho still bears the blackened marks throughout, even though it has regenerated. Sydney was surrounded in fire.
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Hello Ashley,
I’ve been fortunate with this family as it has been relatively easy to get too, and the main branch is only a couple of metres of the ground. Just don’t have time to get there regularly.
I don’t know what I’m more overwhelemed by, the current spate of disaster, or the impending possibilities of even more wide spread fires as summer really comes on.
Hope your family members are ok, and that relief comes soon.
In the late 90s here the fires ravaged the high country, burning out age old snow gums. Snow gums don’t regenerate, so the hillsides still show the vivid white skeletons.
Sometimes I think the old chinese Dao teachings are relevant, as the point is made that we should never examine a small moment in time as the most important, it is the long term that nature works with, and regrowth will occur, just we may not be here to enjoy it. 🙂
St Paul makes that same sort of thing when he explains how a seed must fall to the ground and and be raised not as the body it was, but as a new fruitful body. Pumpkin seeds always produce pumpkins. 🙂
Stay safe
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