Laughing Kookaburra and Wild Bird Wednesday

Hi and welcome.
        One of the privileges I have where I rent is an array of birds visit.
Some are regulars, some are seasonal.
        This Post is about one of those who are both regular and seasonal, depending on the weather... the Laughing Kookaburra - Dacelo novaeguineae.

        Towards the end of 2012, a local pair checked out an old unused termite nest reasonably high up on a tree near the entrance to the property where I am.
They did the same again towards the end of 2013.

 Sharing with 'Wild Bird Wednesday' 133
Hosted by Stewart M of Melbourne Australia

        I've had the pleasure for both those occasions to experience their routine with the nest and the babies which resulted.  One emerged in January 2013, the other in January 2014.

        For this sharing it will be about the baby who emerged in 2013 and the parents.  The parents are in the introductory photo, and did very well.

        Firstly one of the parents sitting on my clothesline in the morning during early January 2013 ...
 

        Summer was very dry and hot, and food was requested.  The greatest honour the parents gave me was to feed their youngster with the food I was giving.

        By the end of January 2013 rain came...

        As you can see by the photo, not only is Kooky very wet but so is the ground.  You can also see how dry the season was by the colour of the ground, but it was not long before the ground became a lush green again.  Before the rains, even the leaves on trees were curling up and brittle to touch.
        Always has me smile with how quickly brown dry grass becomes green again with sufficient rain.  Green shoots emerge even as the rain is happening.

        After good rain, a clean blue sky creates a wonderful backdrop for a Kookaburra photo...

        Now that you've met one or both parents individually... try as I did to recognise different markings on each so I would know, I dismally failed, so I cannot be precise who was who.  Plus my lack of knowledge prevents me from recognising which is mum and which is dad.

        The next important part is introducing you to the nest...

         Firstly the short road I drive to somewhere and back from somewhere on...

        That view is going from where I am.  On the right, amid those trees is where Kookaburra's nest is.  On the left is my neighbour's home.  Behind me is vacant acreage with trees and a dam.
        Behind me is also where a Kingfisher has a nest in a vacant termite mound up on a tree.  A yearly event with Kingfisher, sometimes twice in succession.

        Kookaburra's nest from that road in December 2012...

        I could hear baby muttering.. I just don't know how to describe the sound, sorry.

        Then a view from inside my area while I'm standing near the large fig tree and looking towards the road.
        A white arrow points to where the nest is located amid the foliage...

        And the moment I had hoped to achieve...

        Awesome...

        And then that extra special happening...

        So very lucky I was... and one of those moments when for me I'd rather share the event than be concerned in lack of photo quality.  Baby looking out the nest is definitely what is seen.

        That photo happened on January 13, 2013, before 8am, and was a Sunday.
Why so special?
        By 8am, baby left the nest.
Though I didn't see the event my neighbour did and called me.
        All I'll mention about my response is I'm thankful for digital and gigabytes, because if I had been using film, I'd have used up rolls of the stuff.

        One beautiful Kookaburra baby's first morning out of the nest...

        I really did curb my urge to add more.
So glad the baby was used to me, because I was able to be close, especially when I laid on the ground and therefore was sort of in the vicinity of being the same height as bub.

        Out of the nest and with the parents... towards the end of January.  Though the first one is baby amid Grevillea Robusta's leaves.  Green from the rain, and baby's first experience with being wet..

        I have the pleasure of that view from my back steps.

        I like the next photo because with Kookaburra parent's mouth open you can see the palate..

        They were at the bottom of my back-steps, and the food is organic meat I rolled with vegetables and a protein supplement called Insectivore (finely crushed insects).
        Baby's so healthy.  The parents really did a fine job in rearing their beautiful youngster.  I was so privileged to have been part of the process.

        Baby and parent..

        And so pleased have one with both parents and their baby...

        Baby's on the right.
I have sights like that everyday right outside my door.  I can just sit on the back steps and enjoy.
Very fortunate I feel I am.

        I made the photos small in size for easy uploading, so they'll probably be small when viewed via the viewer, but now I'll finish with some information about Australia's beautiful Laughing Kookaburra.

        A map showing the areas the Laughing Kookaburra inhabits in Australia...

http://www.birdsinbackyards.net/species/Dacelo-novaeguineae

And also some basic information from...
        http://www.ozanimals.com
Laughing Kookaburra - Dacelo novaeguineae - is also known as Bushman's Clock, simply because first thing in the morning and often at dusk, the Kookaburra does its laughing song.
        The average adult size is about 45cm/nearly 18inches.
They like to roam around open woodlands, forests, orchards, parkland, partially timbered
farmland, and suburbs and towns.
        Meat foods they enjoy eating.. like large insects, lizards, snakes, amphibians, small mammals, birds.
Large prey is killed by swinging it against a branch or fence.
        Having Kookaburras as neighbours is excellent where snakes are concerned.  With snakes being good tucker for a Kookaburra, means less snakes to bother me and my critters.
        Though hollows in trees and old termite mounds, like I've shown you here, are used for nesting, Kookaburras will also use earthen banks.  The burrows may reach over half a metre/about 2ft into the ground with an entrance of about a 10cm/nearly 4inches in diameter.
        That diameter sizing would equate to the opening bub had in the old termite mound.

        I'm not sure whether Kookaburra's dig out their own burrows, or find ones vacant and unused like they do the old termite mounds or hollowed out trees.  I would need to do more research, which I haven't done at this time, apologies.

        The white eggs Kookaburra lays, hatch within 25-29 days.
I loved being near the nest so I could hear the baby, it was how I first became aware a baby Kookaburra was happening, and explained the times of extended families of Kookaburras visiting, all chorusing together.
        Baby was very welcomed by the Kookaburras in the area in general, and there was always a Kookaburra in a tree nearby keeping watch.

The Link with the Map is worth a visit if you'd like to hear the Laughing Kookaburra's song.
Another link is...
        http://birdlife.org.au/images/uploads/audio/kookaburra.mp3
Also..
        http://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2009/10/14/2712935.htm
With that last link you will also discover information about Laughing Kookaburra's relative - Blue-winged Kookaburra (D. leachii)

        I do hope you have enjoyed meeting my beautiful Kookaburra parents and their beautiful baby,  I know for me the experience was purely wonderful.

        And I've managed to fulfil this Post in time for Australia Day.. January 26th
The Kookaburra is a nice way to celebrate Australia

With thanks for your visit.

magda and crew

Don't hesitate to view other Bird Enthusiasts contributing
Just Click on the 'Wild Bird Wednesday' Logo on my Side-Bar

 'Wild Bird Wednesday' is part of Stewart M's Blog
Paying Ready Attention - Photo Gallery
so just check his Side-bar for 'Wild Bird Wednesday' Postings.

 While there, explore Stewart M's Blog, you won't be disappointed.