Bird of Third, TT09

There is no doubting that the hoopoe is an exceptionally fine bird. In a way, he combines many creatures in a single form. To wit (to woo): he has zebra-like wings, a vaguely lion-like mane/crest and a beak sort of reminiscent of an anteater's snout, with which he does indeed extract ants from the ground. Like many a human, he likes to sunbathe, which he does by spreading out his wings on the ground and tilting his head back. However, this does not result in a tan.

The hoopoe's name derives from his 'oop-oop-oop' call. Humans have traditionally had mixed feelings about this particular bird. To much of Europe they were thieves and to Scandinavians they were harbingers of war, while it is very possible that King Tereus of Thrace, who raped his wife's sister Philomela, was turned into a hoopoe as a punishment (please see Ovid's Metamorphoses for further details). On a more positive note, a non-bird-loving close relation of TWW recently saw a hoopoe in Italy and was so taken with him that she rushed out to buy an ornithology book in order to learn more. Plus: in Ancient Egypt they were sacred, in Persia they were a symbol of virtue, and in Israel the hoopoe has recently been chosen as national bird.

Bird of 1st Week, Trinity Term 2009

Welcome, Trinity Term 2009. And welcome, long-tailed shrike, chosen bird of first week. Only once have you set claw in the British Isles, and that was in November 2000. We'd like it if you came back because you have a nice peachy coloured body and pearl grey head, not to mention a black mask extending from the forehead across the eyes and to the ear coverts.

Welcome also, followers of the TWW blog. If YOU would like to see the long-tailed shrike, you must follow the law of Mohammed and the mountain and go to South or South-East Asia, where it can be found perched on bushes from Kazakhstan to New Guinea. Perhaps you could woo it with a tasty lizard, insect, small bird or rodent. However, it needs no human help and is quite able to fend for itself: the shrike is skilled at impaling its prey on a thorn or some such sharp point, and then ripping it apart with its strong hooked bill. Yum.

The flight of the long-tailed shrike is undulating, but do not be deceived, for its dash is straight and determined. We do like a bird of resolve.

DID YOU KNOW...

... that an owl has his ears at different heights so that he can catch a whole range of sounds?

red letter day

i.e. once again, the BBC takes great interest in the kingdom of bird.

or rather

TWICE again, because:

1. this morning, Radio 4's frequently excellent and informative Woman's Hour ran a feature about female falconers, who have borrowed this sport from medieval princes and, along with Hawkforce UK, are dragging it into the modern age. Have a listen:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/womanshour/04/2009_14_thu.shtml

2. this evening, BBC 1's The One Show - which I actually dislike extremely - discussed how the technology and structure of an owl's wings, which allow him to fly silently, can be used to make aeroplanes quieter. Planes can also learn a thing or two from the angle of an owl's landing (25 degrees). This means that the owl can catch eg a vole before the vole has noticed a thing. Not that an aeroplane would be catching a vole, of course, but this steep angle means that the owl stays far away from the vole for as long as possible, and in a similar manner, the plane could stay away from the houses below and therefore not disturb them so much.

They also had a real live barn owl on the show. Don't get too excited though because the owl was called Barney, which is crashingly unimaginative. Worse still, he was quite boring and refused to turn his head 360 degrees. (A finer show than The One Show would not have stood for it, that's for sure.)

An owly rump, a rumpy owl

Now you can add one more to your stock of bird phrases (birds of a feather flock together, don't count your chickens, a bird in the hand, the early bird catches the worm, one swallow does not a summer make, what's good for the goose etc. etc.)

'A NEVER DAY WHEN THE OWL BARES ITS RUMP'

which means that it (whatever it is) is absolutely never no way going to happen.

Thank you, distinguished Russian literary theorist Mr Roman Jakobson, for bringing this one to our attention.

You can breathe easily now

... because the results of the RSPB Garden Birdwatch Survey are finally in.

Here are Britain's ten most-seen birds:

1. House sparrow
2. Starling

3. Blackbird

4. Blue tit

5. Chaffinch

6. Woodpigeon

7. Collared Dove

8. Great tit

9. Robin

10. Long-tailed tit

Long-tailed tits are a shock entry, propelled for the first time into the Top Ten as a result of their sociable nature and diminutive stature. You see, they have only recently discovered the nutritional possibilities of garden feeders, and because they are very small and like to eat together, whole families can dine together at a single bird table. They also look quite lovely, as the picture above makes clear, and we warmly welcome their success.

For more news on the Birdwatch results, take a look at http://www.rspb.org.uk/birdwatch/results/

Look! Listen!

Birdwatching and good music: like peanut butter and jam, Poirot and his moustache, a window seat and a nice book or indeed any other happy and natural pairing. Find out more at:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2009/mar/13/elbow-doves-birdwatching-pop-music



You only have six days left to click on the link below and listen to a BIRD MYSTERY featuring nature detective Tom Heap investigating who or what is responsible for the suspicious disapperance of the cockney sparrow. Or 'sparrer', as Radio 4 would have it.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00j4hk8