Magpies were introduced from Australia and Tasmania by Acclimatisation Societies between 1864 and 1874, mainly to control insect pests; they have been in New Zealand ever since! The chortle is to warn other Magpies "...to stay out of my territory...!"
For further information, have a look at nzbirdsonline.org.nz/species/australian-magpie
Thanks so much for all the kind wishes re our "Date Night" last night; it was a lovely evening and a very enjoyable meal...!
Thank you also for the very kind and encouraging comments beneath this photo...! Your support is always greatly appreciated.
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Fly-by.
Southern Alberta, Canada.
Tags: Ferruginous Hawk raptor hawk alberta canada
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Beaver County, Alberta.
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I got out for an 8-hour drive yesterday, because our parking lot and stalls had to be cleaned of all the gravel. It had been postponed from a previous date. So, I got up around 6:30 am and after I was ready, headed SW to one of my favourite areas and wherever else I might end up. Drove first to see if I could see a Wilson’s Snipe, was very happy to find three of them, and was finally able to get the first photos of this species this season. I was happy to see a little White-crowned Sparrow, too, as it had been quite a while since I last saw one. A few Mountain Bluebirds were seen along various roads.
Drove further west and then headed south and, eventually turned eastwards. Nothing really much to see. So, had a good long drive and, though tiring, was enjoyable. Nice to have a few more new photos instead of digging into the archives.
"These plump, long-billed birds are among the most widespread shorebirds in North America. They can be tough to see thanks to their cryptic brown and buff coloration and secretive nature. But in summer they often stand on fence posts or take to the sky with a fast, zigzagging flight and an unusual “winnowing” sound made with the tail." From AllAboutBirds.
www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/wilsons_snipe/id
"Wilson's Snipe (Gallinago delicata) is a small, stocky shorebird. This species was considered to be a subspecies of the Common Snipe (G. gallinago) until 2003 when it was given its own species status. Wilson's Snipe differs from the latter species in having a narrower white trailing edge to the wings, and eight pairs of tail feathers instead of the typical seven of the Common Snipe. Its common name commemorates the American ornithologist Alexander Wilson." From Wikipedia.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilson's_snipe
According to Fisher and Acorn's book, "Birds of Alberta", "the common Snipe is both secretive and well camouflaged, so few people notice it until it flushes suddenly from a nearby grassy tussock. As soon as the Snipe takes to the air, it performs a series of quick zigzags - an evasive maneuver designed to confuse predators. Because of this habit, Snipes were among the most difficult birds to shoot (in the days when shorebirds were hunted for sport), and skilled sportsmen were known as "snipers" - a term later adopted by the military."
youtu.be/Z16CUdX2g5Q
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I got out for an 8-hour drive yesterday, because our parking lot and stalls had to be cleaned of all the gravel. It had been postponed from a previous date. So, I got up around 6:30 am and after I was ready, headed SW to one of my favourite areas and wherever else I might end up. Drove first to see if I could see a Wilson’s Snipe, was very happy to find three of them, and was finally able to get the first photos of this species this season. I was happy to see a little White-crowned Sparrow, too, as it had been quite a while since I last saw one. A few Mountain Bluebirds were seen along various roads.
Drove further west and then headed south and, eventually turned eastwards. Nothing really much to see. So, had a good long drive and, though tiring, was enjoyable. Nice to have a few more new photos instead of digging into the archives.
"In Bluebirds, the blue colour is produced by the structure of the feather - there is no blue pigment. "Tiny air pockets in the barbs of feathers can scatter incoming light, resulting in a specific, non-iridescent color. Blue colors in feathers are almost always produced in this manner. Examples include the blue feathers of Bluebirds, Indigo Buntings, Blue Jay's and Steller's Jays."
www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Mountain_Bluebird/id
www.jstor.org/discover/pgs/index?id=10.2307/4077277&i...
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