We all know that Noisy Miners are sociable, brave, territorial and aggressive. But how brave exactly? Photos like this one show something more than the standard 'squeak! squeak!'-and-fly-away behavior. This little bird was chasing two big Ravens high in the sky and for a long distance. I can only speculate on whether the Ravens had previously threatened or raided Noisy M's nest, but it is a fact that agility, braveness and support among family/community members make them a very successful species.
Noisy Miner attacking a pair of Australian Ravens, NSW
I wish I had more time to just watch the sky with a camera in hands. A lot of interesting action is going on there all the time. I also wish this image had less noise. Tried to remove some of it, but with very limited success...
click on a photo to view hi-res image :: click on a label to open all related posts
above: Sulphur-crested Cockatoo
above: Hardhead
above: Australian Raven
above: Sulphur-crested Cockatoo
above: Red Wattlebird
above: Purple Swamphen
above: Royal Spoonbill
above: Great Egret
above: Royal Spoonbill
European Goldfinch, Tasmania
Australian Raven, NSW
I had to travel to Canberra for a day on Monday and was hoping to get the chance to photograph some of the birds there. Unfortunately the weather was incredibly nasty all day. It rained and rained, and rained, and I could hardly take the camera out of the bag. It was even more frustrating, because of the fact that there were King Parrots and Crimson Rosellas everywhere. Even though I can see representatives of those two species here, in Sydney, I can never get close enough for a good photo. Well... I could get close enough in Canberra, but was too worried about my precious gear.
top to bottom: Wet Australian Raven, Male Red-rumped Parrot, Male Australian King Parrot, Crimson Rosella, Wet Australian Magpie, ACT
Noisy Miner attacking a pair of Australian Ravens, NSW
above: Noisy Miner, Hobart. I call them 'Yellow Eye'
above: Noisy Miner attacking a Forest Raven, Hobart. It is unbelievable how skillful they are and how intimidating they look in the air when frozen on a photo. More such pics to come...
and above: Australian Raven, Sydney, a photo taken years ago with my old camera, showing Ranvens in a very intimate moment, talking to each other, hidden from the burning afternoon sun.
