It has been a fairly lean time for bird photography of late.
The cold weather might have something to do with it. But there does seem to be a shift in populations for many of the ‘usual’ suspects.
There is however a notable shift in the conditions that seems to occur just after the winter (southern) equinox. Now it might just be my observation powers of course, but for example.
For it seems to me as soon as the days begin to get just a little bit longer, the ravens begin their building projects. I’ve never seen one at work carrying sticks before the equinox. The local Magpie clans begin to seperate. Their autumn and winter truce is over and now there are territories to expand, time to send unwanted young packing, and the hunt for a suitable nesting location is selected.
Early trees, like almonds begin to push out buds soon they will become covered in the ‘snow’ of blossoms.
And across the paddocks the Brown Falcons are rebuilding their pair bonds or perhaps begin to ‘blossom’ new pair bonds.
Pair bonding among Browns is quite awesome to watch. It involves flying about the territory, at great speed and with many different ‘dances’ across the sky.
It is like Spring has indeed given them a spring in their wings.
It is also accompanied by loud rolling cackling calls, which must be song, if only I knew the words.
I heard them coming. Very high up and at great speed. When suddenly the male dropped down wings tucked in tight in a stoop to pull out and then zig-zagged toward where the female had disappeared behind a tree line.
Sadly I only managed a couple of his rolling flicks, but its enough to show his amazing airborne agility.
We sort of think of Browns as slow moving, direct flight birds. But when Spring is in the air and his best behaviour is on show the action turns thick and fast.
Enjoy.
Birds as Poetry —— Just because I WANDER doesn't mean I'm LOST 