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| Apostlebird with grasshopper Cloncurry Queensland |
When I was a child I
loved the name of apostlebirds, but thought they demeaned their name with
their busy hectoring ways. I mentioned this to my mother who suffered occasional
severe bouts of anti-religious sentiment, understandable in one who had married
into a self-satisfied strict catholic family.
She said, when you grow up, you’ll see just how well named they
are. And she was right.
In many of the public
rest areas along the highways of Queensland flocks of apostlebirds have established
themselves. They are entertaining to
watch, and seem never content to just sit and be in the moment like many other
birds. With their brown wings, so like
capes slung over their slate grey feathers, their stubby beaks curved in
disapproval, their bossy behaviour and their loyalty to the rest of their small
flock, they could well be a reincarnation of that group of men from ancient Galilee.
I have heard
southerners call the Apostlebird “Happy Families”, but that name we always
used for the White Winged Chough. This
bird looks nothing like an apostlebird, but shares many of its endearing ways
e.g. loyalty to flock, sharing food, nest building, etc.
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| Apostlebird on Nest Cania Gorge Queensland |
The Apostlebird (Struthidea
cinerea) is 33 centimetres (13 inches) from bill tip to tail tip and is an
eastern Australian bird. It is found in most of Queensland (except the tip of
Cape York and the far west) and New South Wales. In Victoria it is listed as a threatened
species. Apostlebirds also inhabit a
small area of the Northern Territory.
So when next you are
bleary eyed from following the white line, pull into a rest area with shade
trees, a bit of open space and water nearby and you will be sure to be entertained
by these busy sociable creatures. If it is the right time of the year you will witness their cooperative nest building - a worthy sight.
Claire Wood
Email: JustClaireWood@gmail.com
A few websites that
mention Apostle Birds:
