Dancing Duet~

On By cindy knokeIn Birds, Conservation, Flowers, MY PHOTOGRAPHS, REVERIES, TRAVEL REVIEWS, Wild Life

The Royal Botanical Gardens in Sydney Australia are an urban bird paradise.

I found this pair of magpie larks singing and dancing happily in the park.

The name magpie lark is a misnomer as these handsome birds are neither magpies nor larks, but are members of the giant monarch flycatcher family.

Magpie larks are musical prodigies who sing co-ordinated duets together, timed by the metronomic movements of their synchronized dancing. See: http://www.bbc.com/earth/story/20160803-the-strange-reason-magpie-larks-dance-when-nobody-is-looking

Cheers to you from the magical birdies of Oz~

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231 thoughts on “Dancing Duet~”

  11. I’m so glad you posted this. I’m meant to be going to Oz and NZ on a cruise in November and have a very limited time in Sydney so want to make good choices on my visit. I have been a city tour on VR and so can see some sights that way. The botanical garden has been recommended by others. What do you think Cindy? I have probably only one actually free day there.

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    1. In a one day visit, I would definitely go to The Royal Botanical Garden. It is near the cruise ship terminal and central to everything including the Opera House and bridge. You can walk to all of this. დ

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  16. Thank you for posting this. These birds are simply amazing. I watched a short video where two of them are singing together in perfect synchronization.

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  27. Would you believe I’ve never been there Cindy. I live here about 6 hrs up the road from Sydney but each time I go to the ‘city’ its usually some important visit and I never have time to go in. Plus its pollution doesn’t do my lungs any favors so I keep it short anyway.
    But as for the birds, I’ve always called them a peewee. Short with a high pitched ‘peewee’ sound. I think the definition in the dictionary says its in reference to someone small, diminutive trying to speak up and be heard. Their call is quite high and you certainly can’t miss them 😂 🤣
    And I think the one on the left is a young’un as it still has a slight dullish black color and not full black yet and the one on the right seems to be dad with his white ‘eyebrow’ 😀
    Great shots dear lady, even the flower is gorgeous, thank you for sharing. I can at least know what some of the gardens look like now. Or at least its inhabitants anyway 😀

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    1. Yes, people call them peewees or peewits, which really is a much better name isn’t it. And double yes (smart birder you), this was a teenagerish bird singing for his supper, there was quite a song and dance going on! Locals often pass on tourist destinations so I can well relate, and there is so much actual natural nature to see in wonderful Oz. We toured the government house this visit by ourselves and chatted with the politician who lives there. I googled her after but don’t remember her name. She was lovely and so was her house in the middle of the park. The park itself really is wonderful, and I imagine especially so now, with the brakes on tourism. You as a local can have your tourist destination to yourself, and that actually applies to all of Oz! Lucky you დ

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      1. I’m usually not a fan of the ‘presents’ that birds bring, or leave. Yesterday, I watched from our front window as a robin left 3 ‘presents’ in 10 seconds as it perched on our pink dogwood tree just on the other side of the glass. It spoiled my coffee break. 🙀

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  45. Absolutely stunning captures, Cindy. Kudos to you!! You need to pat yourself on the back for these pictures. I just loved viewing birds we don’t see here. Thank you! xo

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