When new neighbours arrive, birds are as inquisitive as the next one.
However it didn’t always go well for the young Hobbies as some of the neighbours have a distinct dislike for raptors, small, large, young or old.
A constant source of interaction was with the Galahs in the area.
Here is one such event.
Next in line, several more turn up and chase the young Hobby about the sky. The little dudes still don’t have real flying skills, so it’s a pretty much one way competition.
Here the galahs have outpaced and out-turned the Hobby, but give the impression of being chased. Not so.
Early morning and one of the young was having some quiet time in the sunshine when a pair of Rainbow Lorikeets dropped by for a looksee. Much more robust in their attack, and working as a team, the young Hobby in the end had to abandon its rest spot.
Close to the last pages in the field notes.
The Hobbies quickly gain flight experience and then were off to explore the world around the nesting location. A week on and they could disappear almost at the blink of an eye, and quickly reappear breaking all records in a sharp dive descent.
Their next adventure was learning to hunt along the tree-line nearby, but for a photographer there was not chance of keeping up with the action.
Birds as Poetry —— Just because I WANDER - --doesn't mean I'm LOST 
The bird interactions you record are fascinating! Not only for the insights, but for the amazing photos which back them up! Well done David!
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Thanks for dropping by Rowan. Glad you enjoyed the encounters with the birds
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An amazing series of images. You have to feel for the young Hobby! Everyone wants to confront the new kid!
It is all a learning experience!
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Hi David, I am sure the young raptors Learn early that being harassed is just the cost of doing business. 😄
I can’t recall to many single grown Hobbies being mercilessly harassed as happens to kites an other falcons.
Their speed is the advantage
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A wonderful story depicted with beautiful captures David. The Loris are an interesting breed, as everyone thinks they are so beautiful and innocent, but we know that is not the case, in fact they are one of the most ferocious of birds to deal with, inflicting some of the most painful wounds to the back of the neck. It always puzzled me why they were never attacked and were tolerated by the local Miners, Butcherbird, Magpie and Currawong and were permitted to feed alongside the Miners, and then I read about them. The fact they are always in pairs is to their advantage also as one will come in behind the opponent while it faces the other Lori so their is power in numbers, even two. I have photos of one standing up to a Kookaburra, to compete for its nesting hole, and the expressions on both birds faces was remarkably human, but the Kooka won out as it already was nesting there. Enjoy your weekend.
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Hi Ashley, thanks for the Lori info. We have them in near plague proportions occupying many of the old river gum holes.
Story to follow, but,we have been working with a nesting pair Sacred Kingfishers. A pair of Loris have had designs on the hole and made a number of takeover offers while the Kingfishers were still nesting. In their frustration they cleared out a Red-dumped Parrot nest and several other holes, one which was a abandoned by Purple-crowns.
The day the last Kingfisher flew they occupied the hole an immediately began home renos enlarging the opening in about three days.
Their other obnoxious habit of grouping in large flocks and taking over good feeding sites is also a concern
I have no idea of their iq but problem solving skills and learning seems very well developed
Take care
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Wonderful images and story. Life is tough for a young Hobby at the beginning of its career!
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Too True Eleanor, but I have to say, a week or two on and it would have been a very brave, or irrational galah that thought it might bluff out a speeding Hobby.
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