Saturday, December 29, 2018

Beware of butcher birds

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You know you're not in Israel when the only potential danger from above is a BUTCHER BIRD attack! 
I saw this sign while walking my granddog in our leafy northern suburb of Sydney; I didn't know whether to laugh or run!


(I came to Australia in November to see the grandchildren and now I am housesitting for them until late January while my daughter and their family tour America.)

A little research came up with this:
Called butchers because they hang their meat: "Grey Butcherbirds are aggressive predators. They prey on small animals, including birds, lizards and insects .... Uneaten food may be stored in the fork or a branch or impaled." and "Butcherbirds get their name from their habit of hanging captured prey on a hook or in a tree fork, or crevice. This 'larder' is used to support the victim while it is being eaten, to store several victims or to attract mates."
Another source says "With its lovely, lilting song, the Grey Butcherbird may not seem to be a particularly intimidating species. However, with its strong, hooked beak and its fierce stare, the Grey Butcherbird is not a bird to be messed with. When a nest or newly fledged chick is around, if you venture too close, a butcherbird will swoop by flying straight at your face, sometimes striking with enough force to draw blood, and each swoop is accompanied by a loud, maniacal cackle."
Another source says "With its lovely, lilting song, the Grey Butcherbird may not seem to be a particularly intimidating species. However, with its strong, hooked beak and its fierce stare, the Grey Butcherbird is not a bird to be messed with. When a nest or newly fledged chick is around, if you venture too close, a butcherbird will swoop by flying straight at your face, sometimes striking with enough force to draw blood, and each swoop is accompanied by a loud, maniacal cackle."
Happy new year 2019 to you all! 
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8 comments:

  1. What a bird! A lovely, lilting song and a loud, maniacal cackle from the same creature depending on circumstances. Well it's good to be forewarned.

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  2. Not only aggressive birds.. you have to be wary of sharks, snakes, jelly fish (nearly invisible), crocs, nasty sunburn and even nastier bush fires.

    Have a happy new year in Australia and drop me an email note if you are coming to Melbourne. That would be fun :)

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  3. Australia, home to countless species, all but one of which would like to kill you. And we're not too sure about the koalas.

    Quite a bird!

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  4. A very interesting post Dina

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  5. Happy New 2019! Thank you for all the interesting posts during 2018.
    Ida

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  6. Hope all is well. Are you still in Australia? Best wishes to you and looking forward to hear from you again.
    Take care
    Ida

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  7. They have a bad reputation but I love my pair of butcher birds, they wake me in the morning with their delightful song, I did find a little something impaled for later on one of my prickly plants, but really that's life in the wild right. I love the smell of lemon eucalyptus too Dina, such an Aussie smell 🌿

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