Ausbirdtober – Days 22 to 31

Here’s my responses for days 22 to 31 of Ausbirdtober. Thanks to everyone who took part, or followed along. It’s been a bit exhausting, but lots of fun.

Above is my response to Day 22: ‘Has a big personality’.

This is such a simple and silly little drawing, but ….. I love it, and it still makes me laugh.

We were having dinner with friends one night, at the Binna Burra Teahouse …. which is set in dense forest, in the mountains, not Bush Stone-curlew habitat at all….

We were even talking about Bush Stone-curlews…

… when suddenly, I think it was me who spotted one on the other side the closed glass door of the teahouse! It was standing tall (as they do), staring, its beak opening and shutting, (was it calling?) It looked like it was demanding to be let in, and was wondering what was taking us so long.

Which is why I think it had a big personality ☺️

When we left it was still there (see pic below)…. I think it was the first ever record of this species at Binna Burra.

This October I suggested ‘Ausbirdtober’ as a fun way to celebrate Australia’s birds. I came up with a list of prompts. On each day I invited folks to start with the prompt for that day (see list below), and think of an Australian bird.

Then either create a drawing, painting or print;

Or write a Haiku (a short poem of 3 lines; the first line has 5 syllables, the second has 7 syllables, and the last has 5 syllables).

Then (optional!) share using the tag #ausbirdtober

No AI permitted!

Australia has many nectar-producing plants (this is related to our generally nutrient-poor soils), and also many birds that feed on nectar.

But it was a local Lewin’s Honeyeater who reminded me that nectar is not only produced by flowers, when I saw it repeatedly licking the leaf bases of this tree.

Some plants have the ability to produce nectar on their leaves and/or stems, like this White Cedar. These special nectar-producing organs are called ‘extra-floral nectaries’.

So if you see a bird licking a plant-part that isn’t a flower (or fruit) it might be showing you an extra-floral nectary!

Here’s a little bird that hangs out in rather sparse grassland, but it’s still very hard to find.

An illustration from the Riverina Grassland Ramblings colouring book, which you can download for free.

I often hear these characters in my neighborhood, but they’re usually well hidden. I’ve only been lucky enough to see them dance once, at Coomera Seat, Binna Burra, about 17 years ago!

This image & haiku goes out to all the dedicated parents out there.

Avian or otherwise
Whether you’re parenting humans, birds, furbabies, other critters, or even beloved plants.
You know who you are
It’s never an easy job, but world is a better place because you care!

One of the great innovations found in the whole songbird group is the ability to build quite complicated and dexterous nests. So here’s to you, all you clever & industrious songbirds.

My dog Jasper helps!

For Day 28 (I made a typo on the image – getting a bit tired at this point!) here’s the enigmatic osprey. A most accomplished fisherbirb.

So many lovely birds live in the arid parts of Australia. Here’s one of my favourites – a good news story because for many years we thought it was extinct, or nearly so. But now several populations have been found, and are being carefully protected – woohoo!

I’ve drawn the night parrot in front of the spiny spinifex grass (Triodia) that it shelters and nests in.

One day to go! Nearly there…. Here’s a lovely egret, whose elegant pegs allow it to wade around in the water.

Hooray! We finally reached the last day of #ausbirdtober ! This is a drawing of 2 courting koels in my backyard – the male was feeding bangalow palm fruits to the female. These birds visit in the summer, and their loud ‘ko-el’ calls make it feel very tropic-ally to me.

Thankyou to everyone who’s taken part in ausbirdtober. I’ve really enjoyed the diversity of art and haikus posted in Instagram and sent to me by email. It’s always a surprise & a delight to see people’s creativity unfold.

And remember you can enjoy drawing and writing about birds any time of the year ☺️