I wish I had FDCPR's problem!

[shmelly]

This is a Butcher Bird, so named because their diet consists of small rodents, insects, other baby birds. While not the nicest of birds, if you are a small animal, they are not normally psychotic.
This Butcher bird has taken up swooping when you walk to close to him, he flies past and knocks you head with his wing and snaps his beak, that is the frightening part, I wouldn't like him to hit me with that beak. I found that if you make eye contact he will sit in a tree and squawk and flap his wings but will not attack. The minute you turn your back he swoops.



had a bit of trouble expossing correctly, I had a very bright, grey background and a black and white bird that I wasn't taking my eyes off.





now after a rather long face off my friend got tired of me not leaving and flew to a higher tree where he was joined by a family of Apostle Birds (squawkers) the clowns of the bird world. This got too much for him so he left, unfortunately I didn't change my camera settings so this picture could have been a lot better, still got to leave something for next time. Check these birds out in large, it is a much better photo.

[FoG]

Hey Michele

sorry but I had to laugh at this thread they are great shots what did you do to get that reaction !!

[FDCPR]

LOL, and I wish you had my problem too. I'm tired of shooting butt shots or Pelicans trying to do their business on my head. A very nice set of bird shots, love the third shot but in the first two he is screaming like crazy at you. I would love to be there and stand back to photograph you getting dive bombed, hahaha. And you're correct the last needs to be seen large.
I may get a trip there next year, I've been wanting to go and now the wife is pushing me to take a break.

[shmelly]

Originally Posted by FoG

Hey Michele

sorry but I had to laugh at this thread they are great shots what did you do to get that reaction !!

Fog he swoops everyone that walks down the path in front of my house. Usually every spring we have this problem with nesting Magpies not Butcher Birds. I thought they were my friends, they follow me around when I'm mowing catching all the bugs I disturb and on more than one occasion have come up with baby snakes. I thought we were friends!

[FoG]

Originally Posted by shmelly

Fog he swoops everyone that walks down the path in front of my house. Usually every spring we have this problem with nesting Magpies not Butcher Birds. I thought they were my friends, they follow me around when I'm mowing catching all the bugs I disturb and on more than one occasion have come up with baby snakes. I thought we were friends!

Ahhh he expects MORE bugs seems you may need to start breeding bugs to feed him ... one sparky lil fella you got there but an amazing bird also ... maybe he thinks he being starved lol .. you know best way to a guys heart etc

[shmelly]

Originally Posted by FDCPR

LOL, and I wish you had my problem too. I'm tired of shooting butt shots or Pelicans trying to do their business on my head. A very nice set of bird shots, love the third shot but in the first two he is screaming like crazy at you. I would love to be there and stand back to photograph you getting dive bombed, hahaha. And you're correct the last needs to be seen large.
I may get a trip there next year, I've been wanting to go and now the wife is pushing me to take a break.

Yes, He is being very aggressive trying to get me to go, I'm half expecting him to fly at me but so far that hasn't happened while I face him.
You must come to Australia, and have plenty of memory storage with you.

[CGK]

little buggers nice work shmelly lol.

[shmelly]

Originally Posted by CGK

little buggers nice work shmelly lol.

Thankyou Carl, I imagine you have these little fellows in Tassie? Have you ever known them to take up swooping?

[SoxAddict]

Michele, your commentary gave me a chuckle too, but my, what great shots you got! Fabulous action shots. Crazy little beggar!

[pjflan7]

Wow, I love that 1st shot with that bird sqwawking right at you....wish we had birds like that around that we could shoot.....if it so chose to swoop at me.....I'd shoot it....with a gun