| Scaly-breasted Lorikeet
Toowoomba front yard, Queensland, Australia |
What would
an Australian living overseas possibly miss? Marsupials and Eucalypts? A
lingering sun over reflective plains? Meat pies and chocolate milks?
an Australian living overseas possibly miss? Marsupials and Eucalypts? A
lingering sun over reflective plains? Meat pies and chocolate milks?
Well to
narrow it down, I’m a birder. If anyone has seen this blog
they’d probably see that I’m a raptor nut, but even though I do miss Aussie
raptors, I can see Steller’s Sea-eagles, Northern Goshawks and Oriental Honey
Buzzards where I am. Another hint comes from a strange experience I had in
Tokyo about eight years ago. I was standing on top of an apartment building
hanging out my washing, totally surrounded by the grey, urban ocean of Tokyo as
the sun faded the day away when I flock of bright green budgerigars flew right
over the corner of the building and I watched as they disappeared into the dark
canyons beyond. They, of course, are not natives here but a successful colony
of escapees. Japan has a variety of escaped species now successfully surviving
here. But anyway, apart from that encounter, I miss seeing……wild parrots.
narrow it down, I’m a birder. If anyone has seen this blog
they’d probably see that I’m a raptor nut, but even though I do miss Aussie
raptors, I can see Steller’s Sea-eagles, Northern Goshawks and Oriental Honey
Buzzards where I am. Another hint comes from a strange experience I had in
Tokyo about eight years ago. I was standing on top of an apartment building
hanging out my washing, totally surrounded by the grey, urban ocean of Tokyo as
the sun faded the day away when I flock of bright green budgerigars flew right
over the corner of the building and I watched as they disappeared into the dark
canyons beyond. They, of course, are not natives here but a successful colony
of escapees. Japan has a variety of escaped species now successfully surviving
here. But anyway, apart from that encounter, I miss seeing……wild parrots.
I remember
going to a wildlife sanctuary years ago and hearing a presentation about
Australia’s parrots and learned that Australia’s first scientific name, meant
“Land of Parrots”. I tried to do a google on the topic but only found a
documentary by David Parer made in 2008. I was very excited to learn of this
documentary and immediately shopped for it. I soon found it for sale in
Australia ordered it and waited six weeks for it to come. Finally it arrived
and I popped it in my player and discovered I can’t play it because of the
region code. What fun. Actually I knew it was for Australia’s region but I wanted it and ordered it anyway because I just hoped…Dare I attempt to occupy my mind with knowledge from a
foreign land and wash the brains of the masses with the lifecycles of
Australian Parrots. I guess I’ll take it back home some day and watch it if
they let me take it back in through customs. David Parer is a great
photographer. Maybe you have seen his work? He was responsible for footage of Killer Whales beaching themselves
to take seals. Back in 1992, I was at a picture
framers, when a television station delivered some of his work to be framed; stunning,
huge, perfectly clear photographs of wild albatrosses. The parrot documentary
was also filmed by Lindsey Cupper who made a beautiful book with his dad,
called “Hawks in Focus”, which was a big influence for me. I always keep an eye out for
the work of both of these guys.
going to a wildlife sanctuary years ago and hearing a presentation about
Australia’s parrots and learned that Australia’s first scientific name, meant
“Land of Parrots”. I tried to do a google on the topic but only found a
documentary by David Parer made in 2008. I was very excited to learn of this
documentary and immediately shopped for it. I soon found it for sale in
Australia ordered it and waited six weeks for it to come. Finally it arrived
and I popped it in my player and discovered I can’t play it because of the
region code. What fun. Actually I knew it was for Australia’s region but I wanted it and ordered it anyway because I just hoped…Dare I attempt to occupy my mind with knowledge from a
foreign land and wash the brains of the masses with the lifecycles of
Australian Parrots. I guess I’ll take it back home some day and watch it if
they let me take it back in through customs. David Parer is a great
photographer. Maybe you have seen his work? He was responsible for footage of Killer Whales beaching themselves
to take seals. Back in 1992, I was at a picture
framers, when a television station delivered some of his work to be framed; stunning,
huge, perfectly clear photographs of wild albatrosses. The parrot documentary
was also filmed by Lindsey Cupper who made a beautiful book with his dad,
called “Hawks in Focus”, which was a big influence for me. I always keep an eye out for
the work of both of these guys.
Russell Jenkins Stoop Files 
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