Laughing Kookaburra

Dacelo Novaeguineae.

Cedar Creek, Qld, Australia.

No this one isn't laughing, but that's it's common name based on the call it makes around dawn and dusk and when there is danger about.

The Kookaburra is the world's biggest Kingfisher and can weigh up to 5kg (according to some sources). It eats small animals, lizards and snakes as well as insects.

It is found right down the east coast of Australia, including Tasmania and the south west corner (Perth, etc).

A second later he flew off.

View all photos taken: Tuesday, 29th July 2008, This photo: 2:16pm

Previous Photo: Silver Gull in flight
Next Photo: Bye Bye Kookaburra

Comments

  • teejaybee said:
    Nice! I still haven't seen the blue winged version in the flesh yet.
  • [ Kane ] said:
    Nice one Dave, loving these bird shots.
  • David de Groot said:
    Yeah the Blue-Winged ones aren't anywhere near as common in the areas I've been, but are quite spectacular to behold :)
    Thanks Kane - there's lots of them about, so you know.. shoot what's there ;-)
  • kasia-aus said:
    Great capture of a kookaburra in a very australian setting!
  • -Gadabout- said:
    Very nice :D I heard a few kookaburras today - didn't see any tho...
  • David de Groot said:
    They usually fly off before I get this close, but I think because I'd stopped to feed the cows and was basically ignoring the kookaburra ('cause I'd not seen him yet), he just sat there.
    There's usually quite a few around here. On that particular day, I saw (and photographed) three at reasonably close range.
  • AlexandraPhotos said:
    Lovely shot. They usually fly off when I get too close to one.
    --
    Seen in my contacts' photos. (?)
  • David de Groot said:
    Quite often the case for me too.
  • Wes Cooper said:
    Nice shot David. I love the dof along the barb wire fence leading your eye to the bird. Plenty of kookaburras in Perth, though they've been introduced from the Eastern States, apparently to eat snakes. Don't think it worked!
  • David de Groot said:
    Thanks. Well they do eat snakes, but also lizards and various other small things, however I guess you'd need a large number of them to make any difference on the snake population.
  • HPVD Photos said:
    Very nicely captured, nice and clear.
  • -Gadabout- said:
    Three...Samford Valley is actually a giant aviary isn't it? :)
  • David de Groot said:
    Thanks :)
    Pretty much - or at least Cedar Creek valley ;-) I saw a pair of Saturn Bowerbirds today (one male one female), but could not get particularly close to them. I'd love to find their bower and carefully stake it out.
  • -Gadabout- said:
    That sounds like a good challenge :) Since we're going into spring the odds might be in your favour as well :D
  • David de Groot said:
    I suspect they're bower is deep in the undergrowth of someone else's property. But I'll have a hunt around :)
  • -Gadabout- said:
    Did you go hunting today?
  • David de Groot said:
    Nah, I changed the brakes on Lea's car instead.
  • -Gadabout- said:
    Tomorrow then?
  • David de Groot said:
    I have to shop for birthday presents & party supplies tomorrow (smallest one rapidly approaching six). I don't think the bower birds are going anywhere though.
  • -Gadabout- said:
    Excellent :) What's the theme of the party? :)
  • David de Groot said:
    Well he wanted a fancy dress party, but we forgot to put that on the invites, so no particular theme at the moment (I'm baking a Robot shaped cake though).
  • -Gadabout- said:
    A robot cake...cool :D You'll have to post a pic of that one :)
  • David de Groot said:
    Last year I made a Pirate Ship cake. :)
  • David de Groot said:
    Well the Robot Cake was a big success.
    vikings.homeip.net/gallery2/v/general/Birthdays/Aleks6/
  • -Gadabout- said:
    Wow, I just checked them both out - very impressive :D Both chocolate as well...is that is his favourite ? :)
  • David de Groot said:
    He definitely likes chocolate cake but this year actually put some thought into what his friends like too (given that he's been to a few parties this year), and the conclusion was for chocolate again.
    Of course, no content with just a chocolate cake, I made mud cake and iced them with Ganache rather than icing. :)
  • -Gadabout- said:
    :D lol, he chooses his friends well then :D
    gourmet chocolate mud cake...bet there were none of that leftover !!! :)
  • David de Groot said:
    Well given my propensity to over-cater, there was actually some left (but not a lot - just his legs). :)