Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Kununurra, Western Australia
When one hears the word 'twitching', typically one thinks about Tourette's Syndrome; but to wildlife enthusiasts, it's extreme-challenge birding. See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birdwatching#Twitching I personally think 'tweeting' would have been more appropriate.
So, I went on a limb (as birds do, you see!) and ventured for a weekend of fowl fun with an avid birdwatching friend to Kununurra, Western Australia in the Kimberly region. We (more precisely, he) sighted 100 different birds (evidenced here). Although I can't guarantee that I will ever become a professional birdwatcher, I have a new appreciation for ponds in the middle of arid land, interesting bird noises, jerky movements in trees, dry stream beds and telephone lines. The slamming on the brakes to identify a bird of prey circling ahead, 30 minutes of squatting next to a pond in a dried up river and waking up way too early while on vacation is not most holiday-goers' cup of tea, but it was different and interesting to me nonetheless. There weren't any roses to stop and smell, but the pacifistic activity of lounging by the lake at sunset/sunrise to sight the comings and goings of birds, not racing around to catch a Ranger tour, admiring the uniqueness of the boab trees, following random tracks in a 4WD, and most comforting of all, being a follower instead of a leader made life taste even sweeter, smell rosier and feel more refreshing. Maybe it was because I had absolutely no knowledge and no expectation of the area that my breath was so taken away by the magesty of the Cockburn Range as when I went to the Valley of the Gods.
Does this mean my structured planned out backpacking trips are over? Nah. Who would get us lost? Pics: http://www.flickr.com/photos/livealittle/sets/72157607562644528/So, I went on a limb (as birds do, you see!) and ventured for a weekend of fowl fun with an avid birdwatching friend to Kununurra, Western Australia in the Kimberly region. We (more precisely, he) sighted 100 different birds (evidenced here). Although I can't guarantee that I will ever become a professional birdwatcher, I have a new appreciation for ponds in the middle of arid land, interesting bird noises, jerky movements in trees, dry stream beds and telephone lines. The slamming on the brakes to identify a bird of prey circling ahead, 30 minutes of squatting next to a pond in a dried up river and waking up way too early while on vacation is not most holiday-goers' cup of tea, but it was different and interesting to me nonetheless. There weren't any roses to stop and smell, but the pacifistic activity of lounging by the lake at sunset/sunrise to sight the comings and goings of birds, not racing around to catch a Ranger tour, admiring the uniqueness of the boab trees, following random tracks in a 4WD, and most comforting of all, being a follower instead of a leader made life taste even sweeter, smell rosier and feel more refreshing. Maybe it was because I had absolutely no knowledge and no expectation of the area that my breath was so taken away by the magesty of the Cockburn Range as when I went to the Valley of the Gods.
