The Sticky Beak Gallery
Welcome to The Sticky Beak Gallery.
Maggie's cam turns its gaze on the activities of the birds in their daily lives - capturing cute moments and presenting slideshows .
Birds have a sense of joy of living and 'being in the now' in a way that eludes many humans. Watching them in action lifts the heart and brings a smile, even when we are feeling tired. We hope you enjoy them as much as we do. New slideshows (and videos and audios) will be added regularly. Updates will be announced in the Wild Bird Talking newsletter and blog to which you can subscribe.
Baby Wendy's First Visit
These shots were taken on the first day that Vicky brought Wendy to our backyard. Wendy had been out of the nest for only a few days. Magpie chicks have dark plumage while they are still in the nest, their plumage lightens when they come out. From the colour of Wendy's chest, it seems that she had not yet lightened when she came out of the nest. Vicky trusts us and is quite confident in bringing her young chick to mix with the others. Renuthri (noisy-miner) and Sophie (two years of age) were in a trance on the bank when Vicky scatters them on her way down to get some food for Wendy. Dimpy who is the same age as Sparky hides under the may bush to catch up on his sleep, while Sparky (who is now one year old) watches her mother and younger sister sleepily from a shady spot down below.
(click on the 'next' button to forward through the slides).
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Dimpy Trancing on the Roof
The birds love having a few short naps during the day. We call them 'trancing' because they look like they have gone into a trance. In this slideshow we catch Dimpy the pied-butcherbird go off into a trance with Renuthri his Noisy-miner friend and other noisy-miner cousins keeping watch around him.
(click on the 'next' button to forward through the slides).
Previous Image 1/18 NextDimpy Trances On the Roof
Hmmm... I feel a little lazy this afternoon - Dimpy and Renuthri
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Fireworks At The Lilypot!
OMGosh! What's that exploding in the short lilypot?
(click on the 'next' button to forward through the slides).
Previous Image 1/14 NextExplosions galore
What's creating this ruckus?
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I Can Be A Duck Too ......(and not just a butcherbird)!
Butch and Cass the pied-butcherbirds have had a better year too. Chucky is the newest addition to their fold. Butch and Cass took a leaf out of Maggie's book and have let two year old Dimpy stay on for another year. They reckon they need the extra pair of eyes (or rather wings) to help them mind their super energetic kids. Kerry too is enjoying the company having an older and younger sibling around. Chucky has a beautiful singing voice - really fine and mellow - quite unusual as he is just a very young chick.
Not to be left behind Monty, Chucky too wants to try his hand (or rather feet) in the other spa. Like the lilypot, here too there are pebbles and sand under their claws.
Take a look at the slideshow below for a peek at the birds.
(click on the 'next' button to forward through the slides).
Previous Image 1/13 NextChucky Wants A Swim Too
Dimpy is having a bath
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If I Were A Duck....(and not just a magpie)!
After the tragic loss of three gorgeous chicks (and possibly more) Maggie and Vicky are happy to be blessed with Monty and Mindy from Vicky's second clutch in 2007. Sophie loves the pair dearly, they help her heal from her loss. Wendy is happy to have two younger playmates - but is a bit overwhelmed by them at times.
The birds love the lilypot - and look at them bathe. Contrary to what it seems - no, they are not swimming....the pot is filled with well rounded pebbles and fine sand. The birds seem to love the combination as they can rest themsleves in the batch and sink their claws in the sand, while still having the sure surface of the rocks to help them climb out.
Take a look at the slideshow below for a peek at the birds.
Previous Image 1/27 NextMonty Loves A Swim
Monty urges Mindy to give him room Is your Magpie a male or a female? Click here to find out more.
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Maggie and Minnie share a spot at The Lilypot
Maggie Magpie and Minnie Noisy-miner are long time friends. Here they enjoy a drink together. Maggie's daughter Sparky ( two years old) also want to join them while her juvenile sister Wendy waits her turn.
(This is an Auto slideshow, if it does not run press 'next' to start ).
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Sneaky Karitu - But Karivon Wins the Day
The magpies, currawongs, butcherbirds, noisy-miners - they are all friends and interact daily in many ways. They play with each other, negotiate with each other, tease each other and help each other. This slideshow tells a really cute story that we have seen played out in many variations.
(click on the 'next' button to forward through the slides).
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Kerry finds a juicy bite
See more slideshows and read more about the birds and their relationships in the other galleries on this website.
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Splish! Splash! Kerry's in the Bath
Baby Kerry like all his siblings before him loved having a bath from the first time he visited us. On the day of these slides, he was preening himself after a first dip by the time we got out with the camera. He looked so cute and fluffy as he preened himself that we couldn't resist taking a few shots and then much to our delight he obliged us by taking a second dip. Little Chipkin too enjoyed the fun watching from below.
(click on the 'next' button to forward through the slides).
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You can read more about the birds in Not Just A Bird.. and Birds I View galleries on this website.
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Synchronised Curries at The Lilypot
Synchronised swimmers in disguise? Almost.... It's Karivon and Karitu the Currawong twins having a drink at the lilypot.
(This is an Auto slideshow - if it does not run, click on the 'next' button to start ).
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You can read more about the currawongs in the Birds I View and the Feathery Tales galleries of this website.
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The Lilypot Explodes!
There's another explosion - this time at the big Lilypot!
(click on the 'next' button to forward through the slides).
Previous Image 1/21 NextAnother Explosion At the Lilypot!
I wonder how this can be?
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