Wednesday, 31 July 2013

Wild Bird Wednesday 55 - Grey-Crowned Babbler

Some of you may be aware of my fondness for car parks as prime birding locations - they often provide some great birds.  Another of my personal favourite locations to watch birds is around the tables of cafes on the edge of Nature Reserves or Botanical Gardens.  The Olive Pink Botanic Gardens in Alice Springs proved to one of the better examples of this generally neglected habitat.  Keen followers of WBW will have seen the Spotted Bower Birds last week - now I bring you another "lunch time" bird - the Grey-Crowned Babbler.

This bird - formally addressed as Pomatostomus temporalis - is one of the most amusing birds I have had the pleasure to watch.  They are highly vocal, with ringing a "yahoo" being their signature call.  They also move around in groups - squabbling and fighting with each other in the branches, on the ground and (in this case) in the tables in front of us.

If there was ever a single bird that could convert a person to the charms of birding it would be this one.

One of the other interesting aspects of this birds biology is its breeding strategy.  They are co-operative breeders - meaning that the groups that they move around in are likely to be family groups.  The dominate (parent) pair are assisted by their own offspring from previous years.  This is considered to be an adaptation to the highly variable nature of the Australian climate, where we move from boom to bust in the turn of a year.  In such a variable climate having some assistance in bad years helps ensure success.






Now its your turn to get involved in WBW.

So, click on the link below and off you go.  Remember to visit, invite and comment.

Cheers - Stewart M (whose bad ankle is getting better by the day!)
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55 comments:

  1. Sylvia K31 July 2013 at 02:10

    What a lovely bird and he does look as though he would be a "babbler"! I love it and great captures for the day, Stewart, as always!!

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  2. i stora drag31 July 2013 at 02:17

    Very nice photos of another bird I never had heard of before!

    Greetings Pia

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  3. Kusum31 July 2013 at 02:26

    Beautiful pictures of that amusing bird! Yes, the birds love human food and cafe are good spots!

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  4. DeniseinVA31 July 2013 at 02:27

    Such a fascinating bird, great photos Stewart!

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  5. Nette Cecilia31 July 2013 at 02:32

    A nice little one ,and a nice shot too ,Nette

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  6. Brian King31 July 2013 at 02:35

    Love the feet, bill, and head on this bird! Very striking! Apparently, they aren't shy, either.

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  7. Kenneth Cole Schneider31 July 2013 at 02:55

    Glad you are feeling better! Interesting breeding strategy is similar to that of the Florida Scrub Jay, which also occupies a fragile habitat prone to disturbance such as fire. Working from my iPod today so I hope I linked up successfully. Did not know how to crop the image on the tiny screen.

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  8. Mary Howell Cromer31 July 2013 at 02:56

    These birds are quite marvelous to look at, and I can only begin to imagine their antics as you describe so well. I really love their name too. Such fun, learning about nature from far away~

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  9. Revrunner31 July 2013 at 03:01

    Glad to hear that the ankle is healing.

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  10. Rohrerbot31 July 2013 at 03:22

    Yet another cool bird. I like your birding from the car strategy. We do it here in the middle of our hot summers.

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  11. Bas.31 July 2013 at 03:29

    Wat een prachtige vogel voor mij geheel onbekend .hij heeft wel een lange kromme opvallende snavel.

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  12. Gordon31 July 2013 at 03:51

    Another great set of pics Stewart, I particularly love the last one, with the tree trunk as contrast.
    All the best Gordon.

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  13. Hootin Anni31 July 2013 at 04:09

    This is beautiful....love the photo you have of it in the tree!!

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  14. Andrea @ From The Sol31 July 2013 at 04:10

    Those of us who are inclined to babble would, of course, be drawn to a babbler bird. I speak for myself, Stewart ... nothing implied. I love this bird, the way he looks, the way I can imagine he sounds(per your description) and his audacious behavior at the table. I don't blame you for choosing those spots for your birding. How much fun is that! Thanks, Stewart ... and about Attilla ... don't you wonder what occurred to cause that layer to be harder than the others? :

    Andrea @ From The Sol

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  15. Findlay Wilde31 July 2013 at 04:33

    That eye stripe is so striking. From Findlay

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  16. Heather Wilde31 July 2013 at 04:41

    Ay up our Stewart, that there birds a reet cracker. In fact it's gorgeous.

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  17. mick31 July 2013 at 05:00

    Great photos - they are fun birds to watch.

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  18. Daniela Augustka31 July 2013 at 05:32

    Sledovať vtáky je pekná a celkom užitočná zábava. Aj ja rada pozorujem vtáky. Vtáka na tvojich fotografiách nepoznám.
    Watching of birds is pretty fun and quite useful. I also like watching birds. Bird on your photographs I do not know.

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  19. TexWisGirl31 July 2013 at 05:59

    what a cool looking bird! with quite the beak, too!

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  20. Unknown31 July 2013 at 06:05

    Fascinating bird!! Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.

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  21. theconstantwalker31 July 2013 at 06:10

    Amazing to see we both shared crockery as well as birds this week Stewart..
    Great post.

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  22. FAB31 July 2013 at 06:32

    Another interesting species from down under. Far more striking head features than the Fulvous Babbler, another noisy one that I saw in Morocco.

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  23. Carole M.31 July 2013 at 06:44

    they are an attractive bird I've not seen for myself Stewart. Are they vocal/chatty amongst themselves too?

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  24. Carole M.31 July 2013 at 06:45

    ah, I re-read and you described their yahoo sounds. Answered my first question...

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  25. eileeninmd31 July 2013 at 06:56

    Nice bird, Stewart. It does have an attractive head and beak. It is nice when the birds come to you, great shots! Thanks for hosting, have a happy week!

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  26. Anonymous31 July 2013 at 08:00

    A beautiful bird and sounds like a fun bird to watch. Your photos are great.

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  27. Margaret Birding For Pleasure31 July 2013 at 08:09

    HI Stewart Great bird and post. It is not Wednesday here yet so when you see my post (my Wednesday) you may laugh, as it is in keeping with your post and Andrews!!!

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  28. Anonymous31 July 2013 at 09:51

    Neat bird. That's a very impressive beak.

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  29. Christian Perrin31 July 2013 at 09:52

    Great photos and an interesting read! Apparently Australia has the highest number of co-operative breeders in the world for the reason that you mention, with even familiar birds like Magpies, Kookaburras and Noisy Miners adopting this strategy. I'd love to see a GCBabbler - they are all but extinct in Brisbane :(

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  30. Sallie (FullTime-Life)31 July 2013 at 10:39

    He reminds me a bit of the thrashers we have here...the name is wonderful. Whoever is in charge of bird names there has a whimsical sense of humor (is there such a person? how does that work anyway?) .

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  31. John @ Beans and I on the Loose31 July 2013 at 10:43

    What an interesting bird and post both. I can see how they would be entertaining to watch. Thank you for showing him off.

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  32. Karen31 July 2013 at 11:38

    That is a handsome bird!

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  33. Lisabella Russo31 July 2013 at 12:44

    What a charming looking bird. I very much enjoyed reading about them!

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  34. Arija31 July 2013 at 13:50

    Love your Grey Crowned Babblers. I've got a few shots of Hall's Babblers from both Arkaroola and Wirrealpa station. Must post them sometime.
    Given a regular food source, all animals become opportunists, good on them too.

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  35. Anonymous31 July 2013 at 14:37

    Great photos, Stewart! I've never seen photos of Grey Crowned Babblers, so they were very nice to see!

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  36. Small City Scenes31 July 2013 at 15:45

    I love the name 'Babbler'. What a fun bird to watch and listen to also. MB

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  37. Unknown31 July 2013 at 17:01

    Beautiful shots! Sounds like an interesting bird to watch.

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  38. Irma31 July 2013 at 17:34

    Hi Stewart,
    Great to see these birds on the table at a terrace
    Here that happens, the chewing and sparrows do it here.
    You've captured perfectly, my compliments.

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  39. Nancy31 July 2013 at 19:27

    I love the name and a video of his antics would have been awesome... but your captures are wonderful Stewart! Thank you for hosting. :)

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  40. Huldra31 July 2013 at 19:56

    So beautiful and crispy pictures of a lovelly bird :)

    Thank you for tipping me about your WBW. I added my resent post with some beautiful swans.

    Happy wednesday to you :)

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  41. Wayne31 July 2013 at 20:28

    I like the 'racing stripe' on his face.

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  42. Unknown31 July 2013 at 20:28

    Great photos :)

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  43. Kerri Farley31 July 2013 at 21:53

    What a lovely bird!! Such a striking eye! You got some AWESOME shots!!

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  44. Liz Needle31 July 2013 at 22:22

    We don't get these babblers around here, mores the pity. They sound like a fun bird to observe. Great set of photos.

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  45. DeniseinVA31 July 2013 at 22:22

    Wonderful birds Stewart, lovely photos!

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  46. Misty DawnS31 July 2013 at 23:00

    That's quite the beak! Bet it is very useful.

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  47. grammie g31 July 2013 at 23:57

    Hi Stewart...Comical bird, but I imagine he is not so funny when he steals your lunch!!
    That is some beak and I like that little eye make up too!! : )
    Interesting info of there life style!!
    Reminds me of years ago when there where many kids in the family and they all pitched in an stayed at home until they married : )!!
    Grace

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  48. Phil Slade1 August 2013 at 00:09

    They certainly look entertaining birds Stewart- very striking looking with those long legs and curved bill. It's almost as if some of these car park birds learn to play to an audience they have created for themselves. Thanks for the hosting again.

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  49. Anonymous1 August 2013 at 01:47

    Very funny and entertaining little guy! I wish you a great day!

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  50. DIMI1 August 2013 at 06:17

    Hallo Stewart!!
    Very nice bird!!
    Beautiful pictures!!!
    Have a lovely day!!!
    Dimi...

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  51. Mary Howell Cromer1 August 2013 at 17:49

    The one that you added in, wow, what a great shot. Thanks for letting us know that you added it on. Take care~

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  52. NatureFootstep1 August 2013 at 20:30

    o, this bird has a mean expression. But I guess it is not. :)

    Thanks for hosting.

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  53. Wally Jones2 August 2013 at 04:44

    Stewart - glad to the ankle is on the mend.

    What a great looking bird! As Ken S. mentioned, our local Florida Scrub Jay uses a similar family strategy.
    Car parks may become the new national park system!

    Wonderful photographs!

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  54. Esther Joy2 August 2013 at 12:58

    Great shots! I caught a red-headed woodpecker tonight, but couldn't get close enough to suit me.

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  55. Pat Tillett8 August 2013 at 08:31

    I've never seen these handsome birds before. They look to be characters.
    Very nice photos Stewart.

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