My number one favourite bird. They are responsible for a late-life transformation from someone who barely saw birds to an increasingly obsessed lover and watcher. I met a tribe of these gorgeous, drab, quibbling, communal, playful characters in an old church yard in the souther Flinders Ranges 15 years ago, and I have been besotted ever since. I recently rode the Mawson trail in the Flinders, and my primary philosophy was to travel slow, and to stop and watch - for a day if I felt like it - any bird, but especially apostles, if I saw them. I saw them regularly, and did stop, on one occasion overnight, to just sit and watch. They are hilarious, and I think I would be prepared to come back as one, however short their lifespan might be. Go and find some, take a seat.
Very common bird in western NSW, I have three different groups that call in here, noisy, scruffy and playful, they make my day, everything they do is in a group. I counted nine squeezed into the bird bath together awhile back, quite a scene. Old lady at Menindee NSW called them "Wobbygoks" so I call them "Wobbies", interesting to see their mud nests too, lot of hard work goes into building them. They love play too, chasing each other around the tree base or chasing from branch to branch, they enjoy life they do.🙂
I have at least 2 big gangs of these guys at my new place. First night i was there i heard this strange sound, went outside and watched two big groups WALK towards eachother and then proceed to fight like a gang war. I love them they're so adorable.
Hahaha yes this kind of happened at my house. I always have a family visit our bird feeders. I didn’t realise there were two seperate families visiting until one day they were making a massive noise and I look outside and there were about 30 of them hanging around and there were heaps of 1 on 1s.
It's interesting watching them jostle for power too, when one bird submits they lay on their back with their feet in the air in surrender it's hilarious.
My theory about Apostle birds behavior and why they act like juveniles is from being raises and always being in a group. Birds are extremely tamable when they're hand reared but everyone knows that, what might be overlooked about that is its essentially preventing a bird from maturing developmentally once it fledges and becomes a juvenile. Its not needing to mature into a self reliant and individual adult. And I think thats what happens with Apostles always remaining in their group. They never grow up because they've never needed to and always stay immature rambunctious and playful adolescents. Very similar to Rainbow Lorikeets actually. And over time this would have also become reinforced behavior and temperament through epigenetic's.
My number one favourite bird. They are responsible for a late-life transformation from someone who barely saw birds to an increasingly obsessed lover and watcher. I met a tribe of these gorgeous, drab, quibbling, communal, playful characters in an old church yard in the souther Flinders Ranges 15 years ago, and I have been besotted ever since. I recently rode the Mawson trail in the Flinders, and my primary philosophy was to travel slow, and to stop and watch - for a day if I felt like it - any bird, but especially apostles, if I saw them. I saw them regularly, and did stop, on one occasion overnight, to just sit and watch. They are hilarious, and I think I would be prepared to come back as one, however short their lifespan might be. Go and find some, take a seat.
Very common bird in western NSW, I have three different groups that call in here, noisy, scruffy and playful, they make my day, everything they do is in a group. I counted nine squeezed into the bird bath together awhile back, quite a scene. Old lady at Menindee NSW called them "Wobbygoks" so I call them "Wobbies", interesting to see their mud nests too, lot of hard work goes into building them. They love play too, chasing each other around the tree base or chasing from branch to branch, they enjoy life they do.🙂
I first saw these when I was 14. Now in my 70's. Still my favourite Australian Birds.
these birds are full of character.
They are terrific
I have at least 2 big gangs of these guys at my new place. First night i was there i heard this strange sound, went outside and watched two big groups WALK towards eachother and then proceed to fight like a gang war. I love them they're so adorable.
Yeah they are my favourite birds for sure
Hahaha yes this kind of happened at my house. I always have a family visit our bird feeders. I didn’t realise there were two seperate families visiting until one day they were making a massive noise and I look outside and there were about 30 of them hanging around and there were heaps of 1 on 1s.
It's interesting watching them jostle for power too, when one bird submits they lay on their back with their feet in the air in surrender it's hilarious.
Beautiful birds, thanks for sharing!
There seems to be a great deal of controversy among them! Nice to see at the end they seemed to sort it out.
My theory about Apostle birds behavior and why they act like juveniles is from being raises and always being in a group. Birds are extremely tamable when they're hand reared but everyone knows that, what might be overlooked about that is its essentially preventing a bird from maturing developmentally once it fledges and becomes a juvenile. Its not needing to mature into a self reliant and individual adult.
And I think thats what happens with Apostles always remaining in their group. They never grow up because they've never needed to and always stay immature rambunctious and playful adolescents.
Very similar to Rainbow Lorikeets actually. And over time this would have also become reinforced behavior and temperament through epigenetic's.