Koelies

I haven't photographed Koel chicks before, so this was kind of exciting. There were 3 of them in a couple of fig trees in a suburban park, fed by Little Wattlebird foster parents. The male Koel was calling from a nearby tree.

Asutralian Koel Chicks, NSW

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About the ruthless eviction of the Sydney Flying Foxes (again)

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While trying to find more information on the bat eviction, I came across a great article called The Peril and Beauty of Flying Fox Life in the Time of Extinction by Deborah Bird Rose.

The text casts light over the situation of the four Flying Fox species in Australia and is accompanied by great video footage.

I'm reposting the third segment of a documentary called Following Flying Foxes – the segment that features the now non-existent bat colony in Sydney Botanic gardens.

Video credits: Natasha Fijn & Deborah Bird Rose. Posted with permission. More information about the video is available here.

Recently Deborah has written another emotionally charged article on the topic which is definitely worth the time –
Night falls heavily in Sydney these days.

I have already lived long enough in this country to not be surprised by the atrocities done to the native and introduced animals.

It is very disappointing that the majority of people who consider themselves good are so incredibly passive and ready to accept without questioning everything that they are being fed with by authorities or commercial media.
Most of my friends' (they are my friends, because we share, more or less, similar values) reactions to the news about the dispersal were: "Oh well... This is a controversial issue..." and they repeated what they have heard on the radio or TV. Very disappointing.

In situations like this I can't chase away the feeling that Western democracies are getting weaker and weaker every year with citizens becoming numb, apathetic and brainwashed by consumerism. Isn't that sad?

As the issue is 'controversial' I'm leaving comments under this post open.

Purple Swamphen

Purple Wamphen, NSW

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MV Brigitte Bardot in Sydney

I saw and photographed the Gojira for the first time on Saturday. Both Sea Shepherd ships – MY Bob Barker and MV Brigitte Bardot were in Sydney.

I prefer the old black paint.
As a professional designer and animator I don't quite like how the girl image is drawn. But it is not that important. What is really important are the missions these vessels go to and the results they are achieving.

MV Brigitte Bardot in Sydney, 9 Jun 2012

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All Bats are gone!

I casually snapped this picture on 19 May 2012.

  I met a friend at the Sydney Botanic Gardens. We had coffee, a nice walk and spotted the two owls. We looked at the bats, but light was harsh, sky was bright and the only reason I took this photo was just to remember the beautiful combination - pink blossom, green leaves and orange Flying Foxes. 

I could have never imagined that this would be my last bat photo in the Gardens. I knew that the park authorities wanted to get rid of the bats. I read that finally the government had allowed the operation to begin.

I went to the gardens last Saturday after taking some photos of the Sea Shepherd ships docked at Circular Quay.

I thought there would probably be fewer bats this time.

There wasn't even one!

The Gardens felt deserted, empty and dead.
The cockatoos must have been scared by the noises too. Only the big owl was there as his fig is relatively far from where the bat colony used to be. There were ibises and cormorants in the pond.

For the nearly 10 years since I first came to Sydney I have taken the bats for granted. I've considered them to be one of the most unusual an exciting features of this city, a sign that its people can coexist with wildlife better than most others.

I've always thought that some day I'll get a better camera and lens, will find the ideal weather and light and will take amazing photos of bats in flight. This will never happen.
Here are three of the better Flying Fox photos from the past. Let's say 'Good bye' to them. I'm very sad.

Grey-headed Flying Foxes, NSW

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One more Owl pic

This one is not better than the previously posted images. What is special about it? Well... this is a different owl, roosting in a different part in the Botanic Gardens. Today I spotted the two of them.

Powerful Owl, NSW

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Rainbow Lorikeets visit me from time to time

Rainbow Lorikeet on the balcony, NSW

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Powerful Owl – a bird of habit

I don't see Powerful Owls every day, but they seem to be birds of habit. Two live in Sydney Botanic gardens. Every time I go there I spot one bird – usually high in the branches of a fig tree, holding half a possum in its claws. Out of five sightings over a period of 4-5 months this was the only time the owl was in a nearby palm tree and without prey. All other photos I have are quite graphic and unpleasant to look at. These, too, are not great, but I thought it was about the time to post something...

I'm slowly losing motivation to shoot as my photographic gear seems to be ageing and not delivering the quality I'm after. My life lately has been full of all kinds of personal and professional disappointments and that, too, affects the levels of photographic enthusiasm.

Powerful Owl, NSW

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