October 2024 – Birds as Poetry —— Just because I WANDER doesn't mean I'm LOST

We had been travelling up to the family acres.
A good part of the journey is on a two-lane freeway.
The speed limit is a ‘suggested’ 110kph. I’m sure it’s suggested as most of the outside lane didn’t see it as a suggestion, rather as a lower limit.

The inside lane was mostly travelling at more modest, say, 90kph.
That is normally the lane I sit in, as I’m as much interested in the journey than the desire to get there before anyone else.
The 110+ lane was a constant snaking line of vehicles: Buses, Trucks,-small and large and B-doubles, cars, and Prado’s towing caravans.

Travelling in the “slow” lane does provide a chance to enjoy the around of the scenery, and of course to check the skies for any birds in-flight.

We managed to catch up with the end of the next slow lane parade, about 10-12 vehicles, and tucked in behind at a suitably safe distance. Meanwhile the steady stream of the fast lane streamed by.

Then one of those jaw-dropping moments. “You’d never believe it.” That can’t be right, No, Never.

Standing on the white-line between said, fast and slow moving traffic snakes was…

A Little Raven.

As the fast lane rushed by and the slow lane meandered along, the gap between the two lanes would not have been more than about 1.5 metres.

And there.

Walking along, like it was out for promenade, was a Little Raven. Seemingly oblivious to the rushing vehicles.
There was no room for it to move between either line of vehicles, and we were about 8-10 cars back when I first noticed it. Still with wings tucked in, and a determined look on its face, it walked the narrow space between the vehicles.

Yajusthaddabethere!

We watched with heart in mouth as we approached it and quickly sped by. Thankfully we were the last in the line, and the Raven taking the opportunity lifted off after we had passed and dropped onto the side of the road.
It’s cool, calm approach probably saved its life, and we were left to ponder if it had been caught out unexpectedly, or was it something it had done before.

Yet another lesson in the adaptability of some birds, and an opportunity to once again be amazed by the intelligence of these impressive creatures.

Of course I didn’t make a photo of that bird. Let’s face it, it certainly took me by suprise.
So here is one I made in a carpark on another occassion.

Enjoy.

Just about anyone who has been out and about even casually observing birds will have come across the Australian Magpie. (We have two variations in Australia, a White-backed, and a Black-backed) In my southern location the White-backed in domicile.

Maggie won “Bird of the Year” in 2017, and with good reason. They have been able to adapt to the human condition, and thrive. Many streets and parks will have a family, and at present in our street one is sitting on eggs.

And casually observing will inevitably come across a Willie Wagtail that takes exception to the Magpie’s presence and a battle royale will begin. The brave little Wagtail seems intent with constant chittering and bumping into the Maggie to move it on. And no doubt with good reason. Most Wagtail nests are in the open, or at least in minimal leaf protection and the young make a fine meal for Maggie to feed to her young.

We were walking in a local orchard and Willie came out to see what we were doing. I know this pair from previous years and no doubt they have a nest or are planning to begin soon.

Willie posed well for me on a single garden stake, and I moved in a little closer for a better shot.
At the same time four sets of large wings flashed between me and the garden stake.
The local Magpie Family dropped down on the grass in front of me. The female and two younger ones, (one I take it to be from last year’s crop), began to feed in the grass, while the male forced WIllie from its pedestal and sat surveying the area.

Of course it doesn’t take your average Wagtail too long to regain its composure, and immediately it began to fly at the back of the the Magpie, eventually grabbing tiny claws full of feathers and sliding down it’s back.

I’m sure Magpies aren’t all that fussed by the harassment, they just take it as the cost of doing business.
In the end the larger bird dropped to the ground to join the family, and Willie took its rightful place back on the garden stake.
Such are the daily conflicts.