For some collaborative posts, it appears to be tough to search out writers. For one on kingfishers, it’s not. Unsurprising, given how spectacular lots of them look.
Pied Kingfisher
I really like color in birds and kingfishers are a vibrant lot. However, I discover the Pied Kingfisher very natty in its black and white plumage. In contrast to most kingfishers, that are solitary besides within the breeding season, the Pied lives in household items and roosts collectively. I noticed an instance of that in 2006 once I noticed my lifer Pied Kingfisher in Israel. We have been visiting the Hulah wetlands. A Pied was searching over the water. Whereas it was hovering, one other Pied flew up and poked it. The primary chicken shook it off and saved hovering. The second chicken didn’t quit and moved in once more. It was like watching a bratty sibling pester a busy sibling. Lastly, the searching chicken chased after the opposite one, which was the entire level of the sport. That entertaining interlude is why the Pied Kingfisher is my favourite member of the kingfisher household (Leslie Kinrys).
Stork-billed Kingfisher
There are a dozen species of kingfishers to be discovered on the sub-continent of India: the Stork-billed isn’t the biggest (the Crested beats it by a mere 3cm), however it’s arguably essentially the most spectacular. It’s not referred to as Stork-billed for nothing, for it has an enormous coral-red beak. So, too, does the Brown-winged Kingfisher, however the latter is restricted to a tiny space of east India and Bangladesh, whereas the Stork-billed Kingfisher ranges all the best way from the foothills of the Himalayas to Sri Lanka.
Domestically widespread, this chicken favors deep-shaded lakes and slow-moving rivers and streams. Its liking for shady spots makes it a chicken that’s tough to see, as it’s going to fish patiently for hours in the identical spot, so that you usually tend to hear it than see it. Its name is as loud and unsubtle because the chicken itself, A Information to the Birds of India describes it as an “explosive, shrieking giggle”, which sums it up properly. My {photograph} was taken at Ranganathittu Chicken Sanctuary, a bird-filled 40-acre reserve a brief drive from town of Mysore, within the southern Indian state of Karnataka. The sanctuary is a well-liked vacation spot so typically crowded with guests, however that signifies that the birds are used to individuals, making them unusually tame and approachable. I famous in my diary that I didn’t see some other guests with binoculars, however the sanctuary was well-kept and litter-free, whereas the kingfisher took completely no discover of the crowds strolling previous (David Tomlinson).
Widespread Kingfisher
A day’s birding might be deemed a hit if a number of issues occur to me in the course of the day. Victory if I see all of the birds I need to see. This by no means occurs. Glory if I occur to discover a snake as a result of it means I’ve good bushcraft. Or, the final word expertise, the Nirvana for birders: I see a kingfisher. In my yard referred to as Europe which means the Widespread Kingfisher.
The phrase “widespread” has been on the sharp finish of my wrath so I’ll restrict myself to explaining why I really like and adore this chicken. Kingfishers are lovely, the iridescent blue of its again and the intense orange of its chest give the chicken a jewel-like look, a turquoise gemstone with wings. It additionally whizzes previous if you least anticipate it. On a derelict shipyard, a sea salt packing plant, or in the midst of a busy metropolis park: “weeet!!” and a blue flash. All you’re left with is the unmistakable impression of the chicken and a contented grin in your face (Peter Penning).
Blue-winged Kookaburra
When my good friend V advised me she noticed Laughing Kookaburras on daily basis whereas rising up in Melbourne, I didn’t fairly imagine her, however I knew I wanted to chicken Australia. Kookaburras are mythic birds, figures in a kids’s tune, snake killers and bringers of fine luck, as a lot consultant of Australia as Koalas and Kangaroos, however weirder. What sort of kingfisher appears to be like like a top-heavy super-billed cartoon character and feels like a cross between a deranged clown and a jackass? Members of genera Dacelo, that’s who.
There are 5 Kookaburra species, two of that are discovered principally in Australia: Laughing Kookaburra and Blue-winged Kookaburra. Laughing Kookaburra is widespread in japanese mainland Australia; it has additionally been launched in southwest Australia, Tasmania, and New Zealand, reportedly to regulate snakes. Blue-winged Kookaburras are primarily present in north Australia, with a small inhabitants in New Guinea. In contrast to water-based kingfishers, these terrestrial birds devour creatures massive and small, from damselflies, beetles, and spiders to frogs, lizards, snakes, and sometimes nestlings and small mammals.
The primary Kookaburra I ever noticed was this Blue-Winged Kookaburra in George Brown Darwin Botanical Gardens. It was sitting on high of a big signal as if it owned the place, taking nice pleasure in welcoming us to the Prime Finish. Though I knew it was a kingfisher, its enormous head and calm chill, so totally different from the flighty Belted Kingfishers of North America, charmed me and satisfied me that the genus should have mystical origins. (And, certainly, they do make main appearances in Aboriginal tales and their title is derived from the Wiradjuri phrase for them, Guuguubarra (Donna Schulman).
Laughing Kookaburra
Laughing Kookaburras appeared to be in each park and campground I birded in japanese Australia. Pull as much as a nature reserve at daybreak, and there’s a Laughing Kookaburra on the doorway signal. Exit Centennial Park in Sydney after nightfall, and there’s a Laughing Kookaburra on a department over the gate. This picture was taken at a small cemetery outdoors Sydney. Very applicable, I assumed (the Australian flag, not the cemetery half).
The vocalization of the Laughing Kookaburra—it’s giggle–could sound ridiculous or eerie, relying on place, time, and temper. (Blue-winged Kookaburras have an analogous vocalization, however deeper.) The decision was reportedly utilized in early Tarzan films to make viewers really feel like they have been in an unique place. When you’ve by no means heard a Kookaburra name, I extremely suggest you take a look at the recordings on Xeno Canto. Ornithologically, we all know it is a territorial vocalization (additionally used with variations for mating and household contact), however there’s folklore connected. One article says that if you hear a Kookaburra ‘giggle’ in the midst of the day (which is uncommon) it means it’s going to rain. Or that there’s a snake about. Or each! Principally the chicken is claimed to be the bearer of fine luck or new beginnings, since it’s heard at daybreak. This would possibly say one thing in regards to the Australian spirit as a result of Kookaburras name at daybreak and at nightfall, and imagine me, you actually don’t need to hear a Kookaburra ‘giggle’ at evening if you’re strolling alone down a darkish, abandoned avenue (Donna Schulman).
Belted Kingfisher
The Belted Kingfisher is without doubt one of the few birds I’ve been capable of title since childhood. An iconic a part of my Maine summers, they chatter wildly whereas flying throughout lakes, ponds, and rivers in pursuit of their subsequent fishy meal. Belted Kingfishers might be noticed throughout North America, ranging north into Canada and Alaska in the summertime and shifting so far as South America within the coldest months. Whereas their populations are estimated at round 1.8 million, they appear to be on the decline, and are based on the Cornell Lab of Ornithology “delicate to disturbance…and will abandon territories if individuals start frequenting the realm” (Erika Zambello).
Amazon Kingfisher
Panama is house to 6 species of kingfishers, every just a little jewel of coloration and precision, constructed for all times alongside the waterways. Of those six, I’ve managed to identify three thus far: the Ringed, the Inexperienced, and the Amazon Kingfisher. Whereas all are fascinating in their very own manner, it’s the Amazon Kingfisher that has left the deepest impression on me, and never simply because it appears to take pleasure in taunting me with its elusiveness.
A couple of 12 months in the past, one in all these vibrant birds determined to maneuver into my neighborhood. It selected a man-made freshwater lake inside our gated neighborhood as its area, which I think about should have appeared like prime actual property for a kingfisher, with loads of fish and few rivals. At first, this new resident was skittish to the acute. It had a large “circle of concern,” darting off on the mere trace of a human determine within the distance. With its eager eyesight, it simply outmaneuvered my makes an attempt to get even a blurry picture. It was, fairly actually, conserving me on my toes.
For months, I attempted to outwit this chicken. Each stroll across the lake was an train in endurance and stealth. Lastly, after three months, I captured a half-decent picture. (Emphasis on “half.”) However one thing magical began taking place as time went on. The Amazon Kingfisher started to settle in, staking its declare on a specific perch that it used as each a lookout and a fishing launchpad. It grew extra accustomed to the people strolling by, even permitting me to strategy cautiously for a couple of images.
What started as a irritating recreation of hide-and-seek became one thing nearly… mutual. There was belief, at the very least I wish to assume so. It stopped fleeing at my strategy, content material to carry its perch whereas fixing me with its sharp, calculating gaze. I might watch because it skimmed the lake’s floor or dove with unbelievable precision to snag its subsequent meal.
Now, a 12 months and a half into this relationship (if one can name it that), seeing the Amazon Kingfisher has change into one thing I sit up for. Each time I spot it, whether or not on its perch or zipping over the water, I really feel a way of connection that goes past mere birdwatching.
However as life goes on, change is on the horizon. Quickly, I’ll be shifting to town full-time, abandoning this quiet oasis and its feathered guardian. Whereas I sit up for the joy of metropolis life and its city birding alternatives with its many parks, I can’t assist however really feel a twinge of disappointment on the considered saying goodbye to this chicken. Over time, it grew to become greater than only a picture topic, it grew to become a logo of endurance, persistence, and the quiet joys of nature.
Once I depart, I’ll carry with me not simply my images of this elegant kingfisher but additionally cherished reminiscences of our encounters. In a manner, it looks like abandoning a good friend, one who speaks in flashes of inexperienced and orange, in ripples and dives (Fitzroy Rampersand).
Ringed Kingfisher
The commentary of Ringed Kingfishers as described by the eminent ornithologist Alexander F. Skutch was a “yogic train within the contemplation of nothingness” – a far cry from the current insta-exercise of noting discipline marks or clocking a harsh, rattling name to then announce with confidence: Ringed Kingfisher incoming!
I bear in mind in my very early days birding encountering a Ringed Kingfisher because it accelerated alongside a slingshot-driven trajectory via a gap within the foliage above a river, exploding into the empty house above an inland pond. I used to be utterly obsessed on the chestnut underparts and pure white collar. For such a big chicken, it was very skittish – and it took me a while earlier than I used to be capable of get a good sufficient view of the slate blue plumage that coated the remainder of the chicken I hadn’t but seen. Regardless of its large dimension, it nonetheless suits the invoice of a kingfisher, with an erect, proud crest and the always-wet look of a scene child from the 90’s (Faraaz Abdool).
Big Kingfisher
The best of nice kingfishers, the Big Kingfisher is totally deserving of its superlative-ridden title. Utterly dwarfing nearly each different kingfisher on the planet, this large beast is straight away distinctive in its sub-Saharan house. Other than its dimension, the Big Kingfisher’s distinctive coloration helps to cement it as an “unmistakable” chicken. Or, as the sphere guides like to phrase it: “unlikely to be confused”, because the checklist of huge, crested, and principally black kingfishers is unsurprisingly quick.
Though many African kingfishers are identified to feed on terrestrial creatures, the Big Kingfisher retains its choice for fish, supplementing its piscivorous methods with crabs and the occasional frog or toad. Younger kingfishers are fed with fish which can be usually as much as 18cm lengthy. Apparently, the Big Kingfisher is ready to hone in on its goal from a lofty perch that may be a number of meters above the water’s floor. Humbling, particularly seeing that if I lean too far again I gained’t be capable to see some particulars on my laptop computer display (Faraaz Abdool).
Woodland Kingfisher
The Woodland Kingfisher, as indicated by its title, is a key consultant of the avifauna of sub-Saharan African woodlands. When birding in South Africa in spring, I at all times beloved listening to its distinctive trilling name saying the return of this intra-African migrant. The birds unfold their wings when calling, exhibiting off their wonderful electric-blue again and wings. This was a second I at all times hoped to seize on digital camera, however sadly didn’t handle but (Luca Feuerriegel, picture by Bernard Dupont).
Banded Kingfisher
The male Banded Kingfisher was absolutely the spotlight of a visit to Southern Vietnam, regardless that this location additionally supplied a number of lovely pittas. I assume partly that was as a result of regardless that I briefly noticed the species on Borneo, I fully missed getting a photograph. What provides to the attraction is that aside from being completely lovely, it additionally has this bizarre behavior of regularly pumping its crest. And because the female and male have very distinct colours, I’ve a great justification for exhibiting two images – the male is the blue chicken (Kai Pflug).
Black-capped Kingfisher
There’s one kingfisher species that may simply be seen in Shanghai – the Widespread Kingfisher. There’s one which takes a bit extra effort and luck – the Pied Kingfisher. Each have already been described above. That leaves one that’s uncommon and exhausting to see (and likewise listed as Susceptible) – the Black-capped Kingfisher. And it’s even more durable to get a good picture, because the chicken takes a dim view on being approached by people. I do too, typically, so I perceive (Kai Pflug).
Malachite Kingfisher
It was one of many Botswana Chicken Membership tenting weekends, this time by the banks of the Limpopo River. There wasn’t a lot water in it, a puddle right here and a pond there, in any other case the underside was principally dry – a lot in order that we walked throughout it, to test birds on the South African financial institution (ought to I add, I did it and not using a passport or a visa). We have been strolling via Marico bushveld (a kind of savanna habitat) however, utilizing crutches, I used to be slowly falling behind, till I noticed a big tree trunk mendacity by the financial institution and ready for me to relaxation on it. By the other financial institution, beneath the protruding acacia roots, there was a puddle, and a Striated Heron trying straight down – I imagine it was a lifer to me. However the subsequent chicken definitively was a lifer! A number of moments later a beautiful Malachite Kingfisher appeared, with its vibrant purple beak, much more good-looking than my Widespread Kingfisher again house. And I sat there having fun with my first Malachite King. 1 / 4 of a century older, I nonetheless do not forget that youthful scene. What have I achieved with that quarter? Terrified of this factor that I’ve change into, I bless the rains down in Africa … (Dragan Simic).
