Bird of the Week - Bernhard Schmitz Photography

Whilst I’m a fairly novice bird watcher, Suki the cat had always a great interest in birds for her own reasons. With the exception of cooked specimens, I tended to ignore feathered animals before I moved to Australia in late 2005 to join Mrs. Schmitz in Sydney. This changed soon after we settled in the suburb of North Bondi where the sheer abundance of colourful and exotic species sparked my interest in avian topics. I started to write down bird inspired observations which I put on this little weekly blog about Australia, Sydney and the feathered and not feathered locals.

Bernhard Schmitz & Suki the cat

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The Long-tailed Finch (Poephila acuticauda) or Spitzschwanzamadine 2011/07/20

Also known as the Blackheart Finch this week’s bird is one of 328 Australian avian species first described by industrious ornithologist John Gould in the 19th century. Besides his essential work as one of England’s leading naturalists at the time and author of numerous books, like the massive "Birds of Europe" in five volumes, he is probably best known for identification of the birds now nicknamed "Darwin's finches".

The Magpie Goose (Anseranas semipalmata) or Spaltfußgans 2011/07/14

In the Top End of northern Australia these waterbirds are regarded as delicacy and, as strange as it may sound, you can see it here swimming next to a side dish it may will be served with.

The Crimson Rosella (Platycercus elegans) or Pennantsittich 2011/06/28

These elegant parrots are maybe nice to look at but they are neighbours from hell. During the breeding season, it is common for females to fly to other nests and destroy the eggs of their Crimson Rosella neighbours.

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