Contact Call - Birds Australia

Contact CallThe Annual Atherton Tableland CraneCountA poem by Virginia SimmondsCounting cranesOh what fun.First there're noneBut wait, here comes one.Will it land?No it's too shy, so on it goes.What are those dots on the horizon ?Heading this way and now they're calling.Circling once, circling twiceLanding gear dropped and so elegantly fallingOut of the sky.Touching down, folding wings calling.Still more coming in fives and sixesNow a lull: let's have tea.Out with the thermos and the biscuits.Hurry hurry here comes a big flockI'll count this group, you count that.I got fifty, and I got eight.Were they Brolgas or were they Sarus?Someone help the recorder to get it down straight.Sarus cranes flying over.Image courtesy of Ian Montgomery, Birdway.com.auAnnual Crane Count 7th SeptemberPlease note all members and friends and interestedparties that this year we are going to trial an all daycrane counting in the paddocks and then at theroosting sites. You could register for one or other orbetter still for the full show. Let me know if you willalso join us in rounding off the day with dinner andtallying the numbers and a very interesting slide showof Sarus cranes and other creatures taken by GrahamHarrington on his trip to India earlier this year. Phoneme: Virginia Simmonds 07 4095 8302Brolga or Sarus Crane?Can you tell the difference?BrolgaRed 'skull- cap'Sarus craneRed on head extendsdown to its neckSarus? Brolgas? Say no I.D.Can't be sure in this light you see.They're coming in hundreds.Oh spread out do please.Small 'dewlap' underchin, like a knotted scarfGrey or blackish legsNo dewlap presentPink to reddish legsTailing off; light fading, two late comersGuided in by the sound from the ground.Too dark to see,Lets off to our watering hole and somethingto eat.We'll find out the total for all the groups work.BrolgaSarus CraneImages courtesy of Ian Montgomery, Birdway.com.auAugust 2013 3