Ausbirdtober – Days 9 to 14

Here’s my responses for days 9 to 14 of Ausbirdtober.

Prompt ‘A bit of a mystery’: The Australian Pelican (above) is usually found in coastal areas. But it’s famous for flying hundreds of kilometres to the arid heart of Australia when occasional (and unpredictable) big rains flood the dry salt lakes. Huge numbers of fish appear, and vast numbers of pelicans assemble and start breeding.

No one really knows how the pelicans know the conditions are right for breeding in the centre of Australia at these times, and how they find their way inland from many different parts of Australia.

It’s a bit of a mystery!

Ausbirdtober is a fun way to celebrate Australia’s birds. On each day, start with the prompt (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!

The prompt for Day 10 is ‘Has special needs’ which really could apply to the special ecological needs of any bird. But I’ve chosen the Satin Bowerbird, which at my place has a passion for yellow snapdragon flowers (and blue cornflowers). It collects these for its bower. It doesn’t collect any of the other flowers we grow.

We grow many other yellow flowers (e.g. violas, calendulas, marigolds, Bulbine), but they are all different shades of yellow. None seem to match the almost flourescent light yellow of the snappies. At least I think that’s why they aren’t collected. Maybe there’s another reason?

The prompt for Day 11 is ‘Forest-dweller’ , and this applies to many Australian birds. These Varied Sitellas are tiny but gorgeous little birds, often heard before they are seen, high up in the tree branches.

The Oct 12 prompt is ‘A bit scary’ which brought to mind the fierce stare of the Powerful Owl.

This was just a quick and tiny brush sketch in the corner of my sketchbook. But I like what it captured.

The prompt for Day 13 is ‘adorable’ and someone quite rightly said it could apply to just about any bird. But I think most folks would agree that the Gang-gang Cockatoo is particularly adorable.

Which birds do you find most adorable?

Today’s prompt is ‘Terrific Flyer’, which made me think of one of my faves, the Dollarbird who visits in the summertime.

Terrific flyers because of the large distances they travel each year, and also their aerial acrobatics.

Thanks to everyone who’s already joined in the fun. Do as much or as little as brings you joy. The aim is to spend some quiet moments with a bird!