Wednesday 7 August 2013

Wild Bird Wednesday 56 - Budgerigars

The budgerigar must be one of the best know parrots in the world - my mum had one, my grannie had one and at some time in my early teens I saw one perched on the power-lines outside my house in Somerset - I somehow feel it did not make it through the winter!  The sound of these birds chattering to themselves was common in many front rooms throughout the village, and it was only on close inspection that I found that sounds of bells was coming from the silver ball under the mirror (a compulsory budgie cage accessory as far as I could tell) rather than from the bird itself.

I would have no more consider these to be wild birds than I would have considered unicorns as being abundant.

So seeing these birds in the wild is some form of extraordinary treat.  And it was their distinctive calls that first drew our attention to a small bush just as we started walking (limping in my case!) around one the paths that snake through the many heads of Kata Tjuta.  This first view was fleeting, but it set the tome for the rest of the walk and the budgerigar became the bird of the walk.

As we approached a bridge - soon to be christened The Budgerigar Bridge - we could hear a flock of these small, bright green and vocal parrots calling to each other.  The birds were zipping about in the lower branches, checking out holes and generally doing things that mean there will be young budgerigars coming along soon.

These wild birds may lack some of the more outlandish colours that the cage birds show, but I suppose the genes for that plumage must be in the wild gene pool somewhere.  At about 18 or 19 cm these are not a big bird, and their puffy cheeks make them look like they have rather large heads - or at least no neck.


We should be rather thankful that Gould made his living from painting rather than from naming birds - as he wanted this bird called the "Warbling Grass-Parakeet", which does not really roll off the tongue.  It is thought that the name budgerigar is an attempt to transliterate the name of this bird from one of the Yuwaalaraay group of languages.






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

55 comments:

  1. Beautiful bird! That's something we'd see in pet stores here rather than the wild. Love the colors!

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  2. really great to see them in the wild! we always had parakeets (budgerigars) when i was a kid, too. my father enjoyed whistling with them.

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  3. I confess that I didn't know that in the wild they are green and yellow. I had always assumed they came in all the colours I've seen in pet stores. :)

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  4. Hi it must have been wonderful to see these Budgerigar in the wide. My sister in law always keep them when I was young and I loved them. We have them in our park,of course behind wire and a few Australian small bird as well!

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  5. Lovely birds!

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  6. And they say that you speak English in Australia and yet ... each post from you challenges me with new words and pronunciations. What a wonderful unique place ...

    We call them Budgies here and they are very common household pets. One always knows that they really should be flying free in the wild, so it is good to see that some are. Your pictures are, as always wonderful ... and don't panic, I am not going to ask you to pronouce Yuwaalaraay phonetically :)

    Andrea @ From the Sol

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  7. So sweet! I have only seen these in cages in Sweden. When I was a child (which is a long time ago!) many children would like to have those birds in their homes!
    Greetings Pia

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  8. you must watch the same programs I do.

    I see these birds by the hundreds in Ozzie. And for years I had to buy mine and pay big dollars. They are flying everwhere even the pretty blues. I had the green one you show. I called mine Cindy. They also were smart.

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  9. Very nice birds and beutiful photos,Nette

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  10. colorful bird...only what we see in cages here.

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  11. Nice to see the "Budgies" in the wild. There are some breeding in Florida, but their numbers have decreased for unknown reasons. They are gregarious little birds-- our granddaughters have four and they are very noisy!

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  12. How fun to see these birds in the wild. We had a pet one years ago (for the kids) back before we knew better.

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  13. I love budgies! The first one I had learned to say several words and he was a delightful little fellow.

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  14. It's so refreshing to see these birds in the wild. They are caged pets here. Terrific captures Stewart!

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  15. Beautiful bird Stewart!!!
    Here,they have them in the cage!
    Wonderful captures!!!
    Have a nice day!!!
    Dimi...

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  16. Great photos of the budgerigars. I have heard that there are even flocks of them being seen closer to the coast now - because the western districts are drying out. Not in my area yet - but I can live in hope!!

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  17. it would be glorious to see these colourful birds in teh wild, in flocks, drinking around waterholes in the outback. So your trip up there was fairly recent then Stewart, you've been nurturing that sore foot for a while now and it happened while away? That was bad luck

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  18. I'm afraid I see them as a non-wild bird also. Great post to set me straight. Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.

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  19. They maybe common birds seen in cages here too. But, I think the may have a different name here? I think they are pretty and colorful birds. Lovely photos, thanks for hosting! Hope the rest of your week is great!

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  20. I've always known them as parakeets. We had two when the girls were small. I've never seen photos of them in their natural habitat. Neat.

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  21. It's strange to me to see one in the wild- I always think of them as over-domesticated. So pretty.

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  22. So glad you saw them in numbers. They really are a treat in the wild. They hang around the skirts of the Simpson Desert too as well as in the drier parts of SA. What and I saying? All parts os SA, except mount Lofty, are dry.

    The best time in the N.Flinders is Sept/Oct when, if it has rained, the desert flowers and it is not yet too hot for comfort. The shearer's quarters are clean and spacious but toilets are on the verandah and you have to light the chip heater it you want a hot shower. The little house sleeps 5, has a large water tank next to it that is great for birds in the early morning. You can have dinner catered for if arranged in advance.
    Rainbow bee-eaters arrive in September.

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  23. I have seen Budgies in the wild on the odd occasion and in different colours. What great photos these are knowing how much they like to move around.

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  24. I know these birds well!!! But they are much more suited for the outdoors....glad you saw them there:)

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  25. I enjoyed looking at your pictures. The only ones we see wild here in the States are those that made the great escape.

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  26. how neat to see these little birds "in the wild". And they are LOVELY!

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  27. Hi! Nice captures. Thank you for hosting.

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  28. Weird to see then out of the cage........

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  29. Great shots Stewart!!! There are flocks of wild parrots in South Pasadena, the town my hubby used to work in down in Southern California. The general thought is that the flocks began with domestic birds, getting out or being released into the wild...then reproducing. At any rate...they're loved for their uniqueness and their bright colors...and hated for their incessant chattering!!! But mostly loved!!!

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  30. Such happy cheery birds. To see them in the wild would really be a treat. MB

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  31. Cute Little guys...I like them !!

    Great captures ... :)

    Greetings from Germany

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  32. Beautiful photos. Great captured. regards Babs

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  33. Hi Stewart,
    Beautifully colored birds, they are very sharp, and with lots of details, well done!

    Greetings Irma

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  34. How exciting to see these guys freely flying and doing their thing. Amazing to see them peeking from a little hole in the tree.

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  35. From the sitting room to the wilds--that's exciting to encounter them. Reminds me of several spottings of bright green parrot-like birds around my neighbor's feeder. We think someone released them after purchasing for a pet. I wonder how they will fare over the winter. . .

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  36. Pretty birds! nice captures. you're most welcome at my new post.

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  37. Such beautiful, colorful birds! The only ones I've ever seen were, unfortunately, in cages.

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  38. Spectacular shots of the birds. looking cute and friend.

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  39. Love the wild budgies. Pretty birds.

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  40. Goldfish, tadpoles, cats, dogs, mice, insects - I had them all, but never a budgie. You got some brilliant shots there Stewart but I'm guessing theose birds aren't as tame as any in a cage.

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  41. The photos of the budgerigars are simply fantastic!

    Tina

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  42. Such cheery little marvels they are and yes, I must say growing up, I had many a friend who had one, or more in cages. They are quite smart too. I hope that whatever has caused you to limp shall improve soon. Your new header image is gorgeous Stewart~

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  43. I never once considered that budgies existed in the wild. Were these always there, or is it a colony of escapees? They are beautiful and so are your photos of them!

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  44. Beautiful birds! The colors are just wonderful!

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  45. What pretty budgies, the only ones I have seen are in cages. I love your new header.

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  46. Never seen these little cuties in the wild.

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  47. Beautiful birds, and the last pic... so sweet!

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  48. These photos are fantastic! My Grandad kept budgies, but I've never seen any in the wild before. They're so cheerful! Brightened up my morning :)

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  49. Oh magnifique !
    j'ai un mâle et une femelle apprivoisé, elles sont en liberté dans ma maison, de vrais amours !
    j'aimerai les voir dans leur environnement naturel !
    Bravo :)

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  50. Timely post, Stewart!
    I just saw about 100 Monk Parakeets in our area. Florida's west coast has several colonies of tropical birds which have escaped pet stores and owners.

    Wonderful images of these colorful songsters!

    (I was too late to get my post up for WBW, but if you get a chance, take a look as it was inspired by you!)

    Have a great weekend - hope the ankle is still mending well! Beer taken internally will help.

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  51. I'd love to see Budgies in the wild! Beautiful images, Stewart!
    I posted for WBW and in my midnight rush, I forgot to link up. I went into hospital for surgery the next day and today is the first time I have logged onto my laptop. I may link up 2 next week if that's ok?? I will have plenty of time for blogging while I'm immobile.

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  52. I love the pictures of budgeridgars in the wild. I have had quite a few budgies and they are lovely companions, as most birds are of course, as the are such social animals. Thanks for sharing! I wish you a great day!

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