Wild Bird Wednesday 300 - Laughing Kookaburra

I'm not sure if there is a more iconically Australian bird than the Laughing Kookaburra (Dacelo novaeguineae).  This bird is famous the world over, and even managed to sneak into the sound track of some early Tarzan films, which were set in Africa but not filmed there!

Apart from the fact that they are tremendous birds to watch and listen to, one of the things I like about this species is the number of names it has been given.  Here is a sample:

Alarmbird, Breakfastbird, Bushman's Clock, Settler's Clock, Shepherd's Clock, Giant Brown Kingfisher, Giant Kingfisher, Laughing Kingfisher, Jack, Jackass, Jacko, Jacky, John, Kooka, Laughing Jack and possibly most remarkably Woop Woop Pigeon.  

I have to say that the last one is a bit of a mystery to me, given I have never heard one go Woop and it does not look like a Pigeon.  But who am I to argue.

This bird (or these birds) came to visit us most morning when we were in the Grampians - although it was at a more civilised hour than their "clock" names would suggest!

At 450mm long they are one of the world's largest kingfishers, and no matter how many times I see them I always like them.  Their visits to the rails on the deck of our Grampians accommodation was a bit of a highlight.

300 weeks ago, on the 17th July 2012, I started hosting Wild Bird Wednesday (after 86 weeks of World Bird Wednesday, by Dave at Pine River Review) - and here I am, in 2018, still hosting!  I'm reasonably proud of the fact that I have not missed a single week of Wild Bird Wednesday in 300 weeks!

We dont get as many people linking up as we once had - so feel free to share, remind and generally suggest that people get involved.

All feedback welcome on this anniversary!

As ever, to link to WBW just click on the blue button below!  SM

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