Danger, Swooping Bird

Australia...... need I say more....Does the sign make sense? If I say Australia, yes; it makes sense. Sharks, crocs, snakes, spiders, snakes, spiders, snakes, spiders, snakes...... 

This past month I have spent my time in Melbourne hanging out with grandkids and family. My bird count in Australia is not much over 140, but the birding is 'fun'. Now here is why. The images in the guide book actually connect to what my eyes see in the field. I see a bird, I look in the guide...I can ID the bird. I can learn  about the bird and it's habitat etc.  Pretty fun. And, the birds are not so close in coloration that I have to find road-kill to ID (warblers and peeps and and and and and). The only thing I do have to worry about is 'is that a twig or is that a snake? I when I mean 'worry', I do mean 'worry'. Local parks, be it city and certainly country, always have these little signs that 'snakes live here'. This time of the season (spring for them) is prime snake season and you learn to quickly stay on paths and out of the bush, tall grass, under trees and if out and about in a remote place, you bird by two. Sounds like being a cop in Watts.... Two per car for safety.

Well, so I thought. Now I have to actually worry about the birds I am birding. Look at the image below and you will find a fairly common occurrence during breeding season.

Ho hum....hummy ho.....what a nice day for a ride...ho hum...wow...nice weather. Dog poop, let me swerve around it....ho hum....nice gentle ride with no hills here in Melbourne. What a beautiful park...lets go in it and ride the trails. Ho hum, ho hum...hum ho. Egads, what was that? WTF? What...hey, what's going on, hey get out of here, scam...ooo ouch... WTF....out man, ouch,.... hey......" 

The inevitable occurs as a person falls off the bike and skins their knees. And the beat goes on...flies by...the beat continues as your legs push on; move the bike thru the park. The bird flies on, continuing to nab, grab, peck... yes, the beat goes on.