lirralirra

With all the beautiful birds in Australia the iconic Australian Magpie continues to be a big-time favourite.

Aussie Magpies won the Australia’s favourite bird in 2017, with the White Ibis coming in second. At the time it was mentioned that they’d both probably score pretty well as Australia’s least-favourite birds as well.

But I’m with the likers, for both species. The young magpie above sat and sang for me for a very long time. It was practicing the beautiful, warbling song of the adult magpies, the carolling that so many of us are lucky to hear as we wake each morning. My magpies aren’t here as often as they used to be, and it’s been a couple of years since they’ve nested 20m up in the mahogany gum at the end of my driveway.

The photograph above was one of the first shots I took when starting out with bird photography. I was rapt with the gear I was using though have upgraded a few times since then. Photography is all about the light and I still love the way the light and the background work in this portrait.

From one of my very first magpie shots to one of my most recent. The fledgling above was waiting for its parents to return with food. Occasionally it would fly after them but it was still very young and building its strength and stamina, and maybe pushing its luck a little.

Whenever it saw a parent bird on its way back it perked right up and started with that intense begging call that most of us are very familiar with.

Shots like this, taken on a dark and dismal day, make me glad I’m not a magpie!

If you’re in the Melbourne area I highly recommend visiting the MCC Nature Photography Exhibition. I’m honoured to be among the exhibitors.

Another beaut exhibition is the WCC National (the awards ceremony is fully booked). I was one of the judges for this national competition and would like to congratulate all participating photographers and especially those who gained acceptances and awards.

I hope you see magpies this week, happy birding, Kim

PS The kangaroo petition from last week now has more than 21,000 signatures, every signature gives these gentle roos another change of survival, thanks so much for caring

~ Facebook page Kim Wormald – lirralirra
~ Facebook group  Ethical Bird Photography