Have you heard about the new show coming on Channel 2 this Saturday at 6.30pm? No? You have to check it out! With actor William McInnes, running for 6 weeks.
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Have you heard about the new show coming on Channel 2 this Saturday at 6.30pm? No? You have to check it out! With actor William McInnes, running for 6 weeks.
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Thanks Kathie, I will have to set the recorder I think.
Dale Huonville, Tasmania
I am looking forward to it! Going to see some friends and familar faces on it over the series.
Who do you know that is going to be in it Holly?
Kathiemt
Selby, Victoria
I know the boys from the Cockatoo Wingtag project are on the first night and I know a couple of people from the Canberra Myna Action Group - not sure if they are in it or not but the program is featured in the episode on pest species. I also believe the famous peregrine falcons of Melbourne are in an episode as well.
William McInnes was interviewed on local radio about the show a couple of days ago.
It was by far the most excruciating radio interview I have ever heard. The guy could not stay on subject for more than a sentence and I thought at the time I hope like hell he isn't like this in the show as the concept sounds great.
Will be interested to see how it goes and get peoples feedback.
Cheers
The show was hilarious. Good information about the birds with quips being added by William. I was surprised that a couple of them didn't get cut out. But it kept my husband and I both entertained and we will be watching the rest of the series. It was a lot of fun and educational too.
Kathiemt
Selby, Victoria
Too bad , I missed it
M-L
Hi guys,
Wasn't the first episode great, at last an Aussie doc that's not about crocs and sharks, I look forward to watching more, birds and their environment are so important to us and yet they're always ignored by naturalists who prefer to make docs on aggressive predators because they think that that's what the viewers like, well I don't.
For Australian birds, natives=life, exotics=death, so do them a favour and go plant some natives and save their lives.
You can watch it on iview through the internet.
Where's the like button??? Totall agree with you doublebar.
And thanks for the reminder GregL.
Kathiemt
Selby, Victoria
I enjoyed watching the show. It may attract a fair number of people who wouldn't normally switch on to a series of this type. From switchers to twitchers.
Very true Night Parrot!
Kathiemt
Selby, Victoria
I really enjoyed it as well (big surprise right
)
Thought it was a terrific way to showcase not only our rare birds (that need all the attention and help that they can get) but also our common ones. Hopefully NP is right
Absolutely. We enjoyed it and told our neighbour about it last night. Hopefully he'll start watching it too. He has begun getting a great interest in the birds around here and rings me if he sees something I should be photographing
Kathiemt
Selby, Victoria
I saw the show and was a bit angry at the Cockatoo tagging saying how they invented the tags to suit the purpose (or words to that effect) They are cattle tags and nothing more, completely unsuited to the purpose or the bird (a fact that every single tourist I have ever discussed it with has agreed). They also mentioned they had about 60 tagged. The number is up to at least 96, as I saw no 96 a few weeks ago. I also didn't appreciate them forcing a maiden flight by a scared juvenile cockatoo while they were raiding it's nest. These birds are my friends and neighbors, I know a lot of them personally and see them on both sides of the harbour. I am completely against the tagging project a fact I might have mentioned once or twice before. They have started using radio backpacks on them now which are about the size of the old Federal wooden matchboxes and tied on with fine string.
As far as the rest of the show went I enjoyed it. Especially the orange bellied parrots. Though I also didn't like the uneccessary handling of the chicks. (IMO)
edited by Holly
I had wondered about the handling of the chicks but realised that they're tracking them and doing what they can to monitor the growth of the breed there. Do others do it in a different way? I have no idea.
I thought the tags on the cockatoos looked a bit excessive, but again, not having been involved in anything like that, really had no way of knowing. Guess they need to make them visible for people to read easily without having to recapture or handle the birds. I do, however, fully appreciate what you're saying.
Kathiemt
Selby, Victoria
I had a rainbow lorikeet come in my flat window in a similar condition to the red collared lorikeets in the show. It was seemingly drunk, sat on my arm and was exceedingly thirsty, It came with me into the kitchen and almost dived into the sink when I turned the water on. After drinking water it vomited a whiteish goo. I put it down to idiots feeding them sweet bread and it fermenting in their stomach but it could be something completely different. It sat on my open window sill for around 40 minutes next to the bowl of water I gave it, drinking often and vomiting a few times. It was sitting wobbling and closing it's eyes like the ones on the show. It's mate was sitting outside the window on the outer ledge making a bit of a racket which was aknowledged occasionally by the afflicted one but not in any way affected. They eventually flew off together.
We told our neighbour about the drunk birds and he laughed and told us about some he's seen over the years. That was quite interesting and amusing, but also a bit sad.
Kathiemt
Selby, Victoria
I am so with you on this one Richard. I wonder how many people remember our discussion about the (cattle) tagging . I also felt the fledgeling would have waited and taken his first flight in his own time. I did feel it was scared out of it's nest for the sake of the viewer's entertainment. But it might just be : you and me sticking our necks out again. The rest might justify it by saying, anything to get a few more people interested in birds, and it made for good TV.
I haven't heard or seen any of the new radio backpacks. Do you have any photos of it? Are they as heavy as the cattle tags. (Sorry, we were told they are not heavy)
I'm sorry to say, I didn't even enjoy the rest of the show. Well, "show" is the right word here. The guy was trying very hard to be funny and come up with jokes. I will be watching again though, who knows ????
I know, we just opened the flood gates for people to attack me.
(needless to say, I'm only representing my very own opinion)
M-L
It was a light-hearted show while educating people who aren't birders at the same time. Even though some of his jokes fell a bit flat, I think they still did a good job. My husband isn't into birds but found the show entertaining and informative.
We have to remember that the majority of people who would be watching that show probably wouldn't be as serious about birds as perhaps most of us here.
Kathiemt
Selby, Victoria
Yes ML I do have photos I have attached some of the all new cockatoo torture device (IMO). On viewing these on the larger screen (not the phone from whence they came) the backpacks appear to be attached by black ribbons which are becoming unravelled and producing a fine string/filament. This fine string/filament of course is VERY dangerous for birds as they get tangled on branches and around their legs etc.
Boofhead (pictured) will be attacking this as much as possible being a very tuff and determined old fella and I imagine his missus (Princess) will too. She had tags but managed to rid herself of them. Boofhead abandoned her when she had them and returned about a month or two after she had managed to remove them. (they breed every year at Lady Macquaries point. I've known them for around 8 years)
We can of course all have different opinions about the show itself and the projects mentioned. We have had discussions on the wingtag project before and I am going to ask that we move on from this now and focus on the show itself (whether you enjoyed it or not). I know that those of you against the project will not change your mind and I understand that but I ask that there is no name-calling etc in here as per forum guidelines. If you have any concerns about the project I suggest contacting the project managers directly.
In general (and I am not speaking for the project managers here):
- the filming for the show was done many months ago
- tagging and radio-tracking is done with strict animal ethics approval
- I have attached radio-trackers to birds before and there are strict guidelines about the methods of attachment and the weight of the transmitter that can be attached. There has been research into it which has set these limits. I don't know the material used for the harness in this instance but again, if you are concerned please contact the project managers so they can investigate and respond to your concerns.
As I said, we are now moving past the wingtag project itself here and focussing on the show.
On with the show.
I'm quite ambivalent about it. On the one hand I can see that Hello Birdy might introduce a lot of people to birds & a part of life they've known nothing about. If that leads to them becoming involved in bird conservation then that's a good thing, in my view. It would be an interesting research project for someone to determine the effects of such a show on the long term attitudes & behaviours of the programme's viewerstowards bird conservation.
On the other hand some of the practices engaged in made me wince. E.g., the forced first flight of the now fleged sulphur crested cockatoo. I'm also concerned that we'll now see a flock of unscrupulous, money-addicted orange-bellied parrot snatchers scouring the .......parts of.......in search of a quick buck to be made from sending this creature into extinction.
It was also quite inaccurate for the show to say that all methods of managing the Little Corella problem in Strathalbyn had been tried. I might be just having a funk but well over 20 years ago I presented to Council a plan for managing this species in Strathalbyn. It was ignored. Well over 20 years later we have the problem front & centre in the nation's lounge rooms.
Will I watch Hello Birdy again? It might depend on what else I have to do at the time.
Let's hope the snatchers baulk at trying to capture OBP's, Woko. Lucky for the OBP's they don't live in various parts of Asia/SEA where a TV program about their rarity/monetary value would spell their certain doom. I had concern about the handling of the OBP chicks, in particular banding their legs when they were not fully grown. I guess the handlers would allow for future growth (not obvious to me in the TV doco) and that they know what they're doing.
You know, I find it very interesting that the “not so young anymore” members , because we have been around for a bit, are a lot more suspicious of research that might be done for very selfish reasons and without very little or no benefit to the wildlife. Also sometimes with very little regard for the welfare of animals. (not just talking about this particular project) To me the golden rule for any research is, there has to be a definite benefit for the animal, not for the glory of people.
Nothing is worth even the slightest discomfort inflicted on an animal in my eyes.
I know we have been told to move on, if I would have done that in my life, I wouldn’t have achieved many of the things to save wildlife and help the environment. One of the advice my mother gave me when I was young: if you have something to say, speak up and make your voice heard. You don’t want to spend the rest of your life wondering, If only I had spoken up, I could have helped.
M-L
Clearly I shouldn't have started this post. I know and appreciate what some of you are saying but perhaps you could have started your own thread on this topic relating to that part. As for my husband and myself, we enjoyed the show and will continue to watch it. Perhaps there were some things not done as you would prefer but it is still educating a vast number of people who wouldn't have any idea about any of our native birds. I believe the show is sowing a seed where there may not have been any previously.
Kathiemt
Selby, Victoria
Kathie,
When you started the thread you had little knowledge of the program, but did the good deed to at least let people know that it was on for their enjoyment or otherwise. The thread can go on forever at this rate but, amongst the questionable humour and debatable research methods, the program is raising some good discussion points and highlighting some of the urban/human pressures facing birds and other fauna.
Perhaps this thread can discuss some more about the program's stories and there could be a separate thread for debating research and conservation methods. Maybe the program piqued the interest of some casual viewers who have since gone out to get a Simpson and Day and a pair of binoculars to start to find out much more and what they can do to keep the OBP ticking over.
- Graham
Graham Harkom
Organiser
Melbourne Bird Photographers
melbournebirdphotographers@gmail.com
Who watched on Saturday night - any favourite bits?
I found the malleefowl just stunning and how wonderful to get footage of a female visiting the mound!
Would have been more than a little uncomfortable being anywhere outside when that cassowary and his chick were wandering through the backyard - I would have been much happier watching from a window!
The guy with the brush-turkey in his yard had a brilliant quote and for the life of me I can't quite remember it (I knew I should have written it down). Something about working with nature rather than against it...
I missed it! And didn't have it set to record I don't think
We had visitors - I knew there was something I was missing. Might check iview to see if it's on there.
Kathiemt
Selby, Victoria
It should be on iview Kathie - otherwise I seem to recall it being repeated mid-week last week too (but goodness knows when!)
I laughed so hard at the Emu segment
Still not sure what i think about the show, some good, some not. But i will keep watching.
I watch it on iview on sunday with my coffee (5am)
Shorty......Canon gear
Canberra
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rawshorty/
lol, that was hilarious! Just watched it on iview. I can't believe they had him doing that with the emu!
My hubby and I had a good laugh. The rest was good to. That cassowary chick quite cute and i had no idea about the size of those mounds that were created.
Kathiemt
Selby, Victoria
I enjoyed the episode on Saturday night, songbirds are more my sort of thing. A lot of familiar birds were there, yellow robin, scrubwren, grey shrike-thrush etc. The segment on magpies attacking was quite good, they are very good at identifying their victims.
Wasn't it hilarious? The host I mean. He's a scream. I loved seeing all the birds and seeing the Lyrebird which is just 10 mins away from here! So lovely to see it in action. I've heard it sing many of those songs when I've gone for walks there but only fleetingly see it now and then.
Kathiemt
Selby, Victoria
Really enjoying this light hearted series and looking forward to next weeks episode on the raptors
Lyrebird, Bowerbird and Magpire segments were very interesting
Dont take life too seriously, it never ends well
The show is quite interesting and informative, but a new host with a slightly more serious and professional presentation technique would be an added bonus.
William Innes lacks professionalism with his silly quips and lame jokes, he would be better off on some game show or maybe join Stephen Fry on QI and give Allen Davis a rest...
Still, it's better than nothing and gives the general community an insight into the world of our feathered friends.
Did any one watch last nights show on serial pests (08th March)? I was intrigued to see the success that Canberra has had with the Indian Mynah erradication programme via trapping, they reduced the local population dramatically and native birds soon came back.
Pity some of the Sydney and Melbourne councils don't take this on board...
The section on Ibis was quite lame and only covered the Straw Necked Ibis at Brisbane airport, a pest to the airport but not to the general community unilke the Sacred Ibis is in most cities along the east coast.
A reasonable show it was, if you can discount the childish and stupid antics/comments made by William Innes that is...
Yes, it was interesting about the Indian Mynahs. They didn't actually say what they do with the captured birds though, did they? I agree would be good to see that same program being spread to other major cities.
I didn't know there were so many pigeon varieties. That was interesting too.
Re William McInnes, total nutcase. Used to think he was a quiet soul. There's a show in the UK I was watching during the week, about gardens there and the host (a woman) was just as crazy with the commentary she was making. Perhaps it's the latest fad, who knows?
Kathiemt
Selby, Victoria
I missed it but it is played again so hopefully I will still see it. By deliberately being a nut case, McInnes keeps the show light and so broadens the appeal of the show. Its all good for increasing awareness of birds in our environment. Some people have no awareness at all. Even bogans who normally watch certain reality shows or action movies might occasionally flick the dial if they can get a laugh.
There are other councils that are doing their bit and some quick googling or a rake-through of previous myna threads on this forum will give you more details. Kathie, the captured birds are humanely destroyed with carbon dioxide gas as far as I know.The long sleep.
Now we know why the federal government wants to get rid of the carbon dioxide price. It's so they can build up stocks of carbon dioxide in readiness for an assault on the Common Myna. Whoopee!
(I'm using Morcombe's words for this pest to avoid confusion with the Noisy Miner, an Australian bird).
Thanks for the info. Now we know. I like the show and William's zaniness. But was a bit over the top last night but all the same, still educational.
Kathiemt
Selby, Victoria
Hello Birdy has become one of those shows that we love to watch but many hate the host, such was the last instalment covering Migratory Birds. I only lasted the first 10 minutes and turned the TV off.
I have sent off William's resume to Play School and ABC-Kids, pity retired ABC gardener Peter Cuncliff didn't get the gig for Hello Birdy...
I didn't get to see it as I was away at a conference but that's such a shame to hear. Hoping I might catch up with it on iView so I can see for myself. He's obviously making an idiot of himself more and more by the sounds of it.
Kathiemt
Selby, Victoria
Being screwy is all part of the theme; keeping the show light, open to broad appeal and aiming to develop new interest in nature. Its not a show designed for dedicated twitchers. Hence the title. Peter Cunliff is a fine fellow but I can't imagine him as a person who would say "hello birdy" to an unrecognised feathered visitor to his well-tended garden. He is more likely to call out its species in latin.
Retired ABC news reader Richard Morecroft would have made a great presenter, well spoken, modest and very professional. God help us if they export Hello Birdy overseas and what they will think of Australians after watching Silly Willy McIness...