Wow! Australia's best kept secret! Perhaps that will mean a $5 note will be worth zillions very shortly.
It would be interesting to know how they could get it so wrong. Are there not enough of the right coloured inks? Does it reflect a degree of national immaturity?
i suspect it involves some degree of creative licence and a reflection of the increasing ecological disassociation inherent in the australian population
looks to me like someone photoshopped tanager or similar stock photo colours onto a spinebill template, compare
Zosterops, I think you're on to something with the "ecological dissocation in the Australian population". Boy, will that dissocation eventually bite us on the bum - if it's not biting us already.
i've met australians who didn't know what a galah was
and as evidenced by the apparent lack of concern of the part of a significant majority of the general public when acts of environmental vandalism, etc. are committed
and with recent trends towards a modernist tryglodytic lifestyle i don't see the trend alleviating anytime soon
No signs yet, zosterops, but keep your eyes peeled. I fear the the only wildlife we'll see soon will be in animated animal movies & reruns of David Attenborough documentaries - although some years ago there was a serious Adelaide City Council plan to install in the parklands slot machines so that people could hear the sounds of birds. Seriously.
How revolting - to make up some crappy neon-bird amongst other bits of "Australiana" - when you think of all the beautiful real birds we have! Ridiculous!
i've met australians who didn't know what a galah was
From a comment on a birding forum perspective to other readers yes but I'm not sure that should really be of a surprise to you. Not everybody is interested in birds even the very common ones. I would be less than impressed if a person making environmental decisions didn't know what a Galah was though which is probably something you might be very surprised about.
I don't know zip about AFL even though I live in Australia. In fact I only learnt the other day that one of the unique features of Australian football is that there is no standard size for grounds. Each ground has its own idiosyncrasies, character and charm (or otherwise). But to AFL followers they would be astonished that I didn't know that. Golf is another one. I have no idea what "birdies" or "an Eagle" are when used in relation to golf and to be honest I don't care or want to know. It's not important to me in any way just as to some people the ability to identify a Galah is not important to them.
but the point is it should be important; nature is more important to human survival than golf
birds are vital environmental indicators
i'd like to see birds and plants (and fish, mammals and reptiles etc.) taught in all high schools
ignorance of ecological processes can have its ramifications
under Mao's cultural revolution sparrows were eradicated as they were seen as pests. then caterpillars were free to proliferate without their natural control agents leading to mass crop failures, this was a central contributing factor in the deaths of tens of millions of people from starvation.
I agree with you 100% on all accounts especially the part about golf.
I would have loved to have been taught more at school about nature but the fact remains not everyone would be interested in learning more about nature despite telling them that it is important.
not everyone is interested in mathematics despite being told it can go some way to explaining the mysteries of the universe; yet the fact remains it's still taught and is held to have some value, so why not educate about the natural processes which support our very existence?
to those more interested in sport etc., the point could be raised that we can't have football, golf, basketball etc if all the world's ecosystems collapse
nature education might instil some semblance of environmental awareness, anything is better than nothing.
on the radar is better than out of sight out of mind.
many people are aware of pollution causing climate change, it doesn't necessarily mean they alter their behaviour immediately but at least they are aware of the issue.
you don't need to be a passionate whale-watcher to be opposed to whaling.
Wise words indeed, zosterops. The fact is our very existence depends on biodiversity which includes galahs. So far, few people (including politicians), if any, make the connection between nature/biodiversity/ecology & our economy. Nor are they able to extrapolate from the drop in production in the Murray-Darling Basin production to large scale human interference in the Basin's ecosystems. If we don't care for our waterways, for example, we'll be left with gravel playing fields rather than lush grass on which to kick our footballs.
Looks like a new Spinebill specimen?
The bird on the left looks like a red headed myzomela - the other looks like a mix of different bird colours.
Wow! Australia's best kept secret! Perhaps that will mean a $5 note will be worth zillions very shortly.
It would be interesting to know how they could get it so wrong. Are there not enough of the right coloured inks? Does it reflect a degree of national immaturity?
Further thoughts?
i suspect it involves some degree of creative licence and a reflection of the increasing ecological disassociation inherent in the australian population
looks to me like someone photoshopped tanager or similar stock photo colours onto a spinebill template, compare
http://neotropical.birds.cornell.edu/portal/image/image_gallery?uuid=e907e532-5f94-4ac9-95e6-408c80316029&groupId=11003
abstract art has always been a waste on me, but why is QR not in the same/similar abstract state?
Peter
Zosterops, I think you're on to something with the "ecological dissocation in the Australian population". Boy, will that dissocation eventually bite us on the bum - if it's not biting us already.
i had thought it was already manifest
i've met australians who didn't know what a galah was
and as evidenced by the apparent lack of concern of the part of a significant majority of the general public when acts of environmental vandalism, etc. are committed
and with recent trends towards a modernist tryglodytic lifestyle i don't see the trend alleviating anytime soon
No signs yet, zosterops, but keep your eyes peeled. I fear the the only wildlife we'll see soon will be in animated animal movies & reruns of David Attenborough documentaries - although some years ago there was a serious Adelaide City Council plan to install in the parklands slot machines so that people could hear the sounds of birds. Seriously.
Its an abomination.
LM
How revolting - to make up some crappy neon-bird amongst other bits of "Australiana" - when you think of all the beautiful real birds we have! Ridiculous!
From a comment on a birding forum perspective to other readers yes but I'm not sure that should really be of a surprise to you. Not everybody is interested in birds even the very common ones. I would be less than impressed if a person making environmental decisions didn't know what a Galah was though which is probably something you might be very surprised about.
I don't know zip about AFL even though I live in Australia. In fact I only learnt the other day that one of the unique features of Australian football is that there is no standard size for grounds. Each ground has its own idiosyncrasies, character and charm (or otherwise). But to AFL followers they would be astonished that I didn't know that. Golf is another one. I have no idea what "birdies" or "an Eagle" are when used in relation to golf and to be honest I don't care or want to know. It's not important to me in any way just as to some people the ability to identify a Galah is not important to them.
Samford Valley Qld.
but the point is it should be important; nature is more important to human survival than golf
birds are vital environmental indicators
i'd like to see birds and plants (and fish, mammals and reptiles etc.) taught in all high schools
ignorance of ecological processes can have its ramifications
under Mao's cultural revolution sparrows were eradicated as they were seen as pests. then caterpillars were free to proliferate without their natural control agents leading to mass crop failures, this was a central contributing factor in the deaths of tens of millions of people from starvation.
I agree with you 100% on all accounts especially the part about golf.
I would have loved to have been taught more at school about nature but the fact remains not everyone would be interested in learning more about nature despite telling them that it is important.
Samford Valley Qld.
not everyone is interested in mathematics despite being told it can go some way to explaining the mysteries of the universe; yet the fact remains it's still taught and is held to have some value, so why not educate about the natural processes which support our very existence?
to those more interested in sport etc., the point could be raised that we can't have football, golf, basketball etc if all the world's ecosystems collapse
nature education might instil some semblance of environmental awareness, anything is better than nothing.
on the radar is better than out of sight out of mind.
many people are aware of pollution causing climate change, it doesn't necessarily mean they alter their behaviour immediately but at least they are aware of the issue.
you don't need to be a passionate whale-watcher to be opposed to whaling.
david attenborough documentaries remain popular
BirdLife Southern Queensland has a pilot program in primary schools
Peter
Wise words indeed, zosterops. The fact is our very existence depends on biodiversity which includes galahs. So far, few people (including politicians), if any, make the connection between nature/biodiversity/ecology & our economy. Nor are they able to extrapolate from the drop in production in the Murray-Darling Basin production to large scale human interference in the Basin's ecosystems. If we don't care for our waterways, for example, we'll be left with gravel playing fields rather than lush grass on which to kick our footballs.