Project: Birdland
Birdland is calling for celebratory, thoughtful, descriptive, creative works that engage with the human/avian relationship.
To see uploaded contributions, click here
Birds are everywhere. Even in the center of the cities, the white cockatoos call as they form silhouettes against blue sky; the rosellas squabble for fruit.
And in the bush birds are the canaries of the environment. They tell us which places are thriving, which are dying.
Australia’s bird populations are under threat. Even such iconic and common birds as the Kookaburra are diminishing in numbers.
This project explores the idea of birds as part of the Australian identity - both individual and cultural.
And this is where you come in with your contributions celebrating Birdland. PLEASE join Pool, and then click on Inspired, Upload, ensure you tick the Birdland group, and put your musings there... we're looking forward to it!
Outcomes:
The most suitable written and audio works will be selected for inclusion in a radio documentary exploring birds and our sense of identity as Australians, as well as the science of diminishing bird populations.
So, what do birds mean to you? What is it about birds that you love? Does your human community have a relationship with a bird community? Are you one who notices the change in seasons by the birds which appear, and then vanish?
Have you ever dreamed of being a bird? What sort of bird would you be? Is a family you know of more birdlike than human? Have you written poetry about birds?
Deadline:
COB September 15, 2010.
Important - for further details, including how to join the group and upload, duration and terms and conditions, please click here!
DON'T FORGET TO 'GROUP' YOUR CONTRIBUTION BIRDLAND!
For Birdland discussions, to ask questions etc go here
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There are currently 0 users and 117 guests online.Recent comments
- Yes AG, you have seen
4 hours 47 min ago - Nice lighting mannnn, also
5 hours 20 min ago - RAGE is running this clip
7 hours 45 min ago - The splendid quality of
7 hours 51 min ago - Is "baited" breath some kind
7 hours 52 min ago - WOW!!
AG
7 hours 57 min ago - i think this is fantastic!
10 hours 35 min ago - I have an elephant as well.
11 hours 52 min ago - Thank you guys for taking
12 hours 15 min ago - nice work on the distortion
13 hours 15 min ago
08.08.10 — Guest
Birds are the most sophisticated creatures on our planet, but heir sophistication makes many of them amonst the most vulnerable.
A small measure of care for the environment would go some way towards repaying the pleasure birds have given us with their song and their beauty.
04.08.10 — Guest
What a wonderful thing to see! So many imaginations taking flight by the concept of sharing ideas and connections around birds. In my PhD work on the impact of climate change on Australias tropical rainforest birds (at the Centre for Tropical Biodiversity and Climate Change, James Cook University: http://www.jcu.edu.au/ctbcc/research/JCUPRD_051978.html) I have increasingly become aware of the threat posed to populations of some of our most beautiful and rare birds, like the Golden Bowerbird and Grey-headed Robin. At the same time, in working with the wider communiy and especially school children to raise awareness of global warming impacts on biodiversity and things we can do to help prevent it's worst effects, I have become aware of the great potential for birds as ambassadors of the natural world. Perhaps it is because of their omnipresence, their wildness, their archetypal beauty and freedom? who knows, but for whatever reason, people of all ages and walks of life can relate to them, and empathise with their plight. They have certainly inspired me! I look forward to submitting some collaborative works to the Birdland pool based around rainforest birdsong in the near future... I hope it does them justice...
regards
Alex Anderson
webpage: http://www.jcu.edu.au/ctbcc/research/JCUPRD_051978.html
blog: http://carbonneutralecology.wordpress.com
11.08.10 — Gretchen Miller
How nice Alex,
Yes I hope you join and share some of your thoughts inspired by your research... sounds good, cheers
Gretchen
10.07.10 — Guest
As a contradiction to some reports, where I am living in a retirement village at Culburra Beach on the south coast, one of the great delights is the variety of birds to be seen.
I have counted over some time as many as 30 different types. Some are seasonal but that is to be expected.
Also on the near by Lake Wollumbula (spelling) many birds from the northern hemisphere come to breed in spring
Recently some trees were removed because they were considered a fire hazard and I wondered how that would affect the birds, but they just moved a bit further away
After watching the birds I have to say whoever uses the unkind expression
"Bird Brain" should observe them and find how clever they are.
03.07.10 — Pen_Gwynne
Gift of life
This precious gift of life,
That we can cup in our hands,
We watch their moving wings,
Their brightly coloured bands,
We look into their eyes,
Search for friendship and delight,
How one day we hope to copy,
Their wondrous acrobatic flight.
But if all that we can give them,
Is buttered bread and some seed,
With clear pure cool water,
Or some fruit to meet their need,
Then we will not have failed them,
We will have done our little bit,
Given our love to them,
Told them they are our big hit.
So let us all go and gaze,
Peer and laud at the homes they build,
Be awestruck and amazed,
As they construct their weather shield,
But let us take a moment,
To gather in the precious sight,
A young mother with her children,
The first day of magical flight.
John A. Gamblin 2010
03.07.10 — Pen_Gwynne
If we had feathers
If we were birds, what would you wish to be?
Flying wingtip to wingtip, or roosting in a tree,
Pecking on the shore, or stabbing the muddy ground,
Wading in the shallows, where small fish can be found,
Soaring in wide circles, checking the earth below,
Feeding our young, watching them safely grow,
Calling out in panic, as we spy the neighbourhood cat,
Climbing up our tree, the children say
"Hey! Mom what's that?"
Teaching our young to soar and dive,
Happy with our world cos we're all alive.
What would you think?
What would you wish to be?
Photo deleted due to Pool confines
John A. Gamblin 2010
01.07.10 — Guest
The big bird story is a true story I wrote with sadness as development is wiping out so many of our local species.When i first came to North Queenland thirty years ago I was overwhelmed with the abundance of fabulous bird life and now ever expanding housing is consuming habitat. Rare species in our area are under threat with little regard for their preservation.
Gabrielle:pool contributor and conservationist.
30.06.10 — Guest
The back of my house is two stories, (sloping block), & thus is a fabulous advantage in viewing the back garden area. When my dearest Wife was alive (passed away 1998), & some years ago, she compiled a list of thirty two (32) different birds she observed from our kitchen windows. I still see magpies, ravens, noisy miners, rainbow lorikeets, musk lorikeets, crested pigeons, rosellas, occasionally kookaburras, but nothing like the number mentioned previously. My most joyous occasions are when there are 30 to 40 rainbow lorikeets bathing in my bird bath. This is a sight to behold, as some of these birds are very bossy, & try to have the bird bath all to themselves!!!
Norman S. Kent
30.06.10 — Guest
I have always loved observing birds wherever they turn up, especially around the inner west and inner city areas of Sydney. I have always had them in my garden, no matter how small the garden and particularly love the bul buls. They are such gentle birds and will share the bird bath with silvereyes and smaller birds and never bully them. While I love the regular common garden birds like magpies, currawongs, doves etc it is a real thrill to see a spangled drongo or a sacred kingfisher turn up in the garden, totally out of their usual area, and occasionally a kookaburra who has strayed from a larger park.
They all add so much to our day just by their presence.
Heather
29.06.10 — Guest
I love to wake up to the magpies early on sunday mornings before the trains start up. We live on a suburban railway line in Melbourne, and it always gives me a thrill to hear the maggies, and even moreso, the occasional currawong.
Currawong calls make me tingle right through!
Its the sounds of Australian birds which mean a lot to me.
19.06.10 — Guest
After walking in the rainforests at Mt Tamborine and hearing not one, not two but three distinct Alberts Lyrebirds calling, I just had to write and say how exciting this project is. Well done Gretchen! Cathie
16.06.10 — breeze
I have dreamed of being an eagle flying out of a cave, and soaring over a turquoise bay with two white cockatoo's on my back. This dream was so vivid,and it may sound strange but it was a good dream.
12.06.10 — Brian Howley
Captured inside out.
28.05.10 — Guest
The Canary is dying now. What are we going to do?
I am very concerned for the long term future of Western NSW, especially the delicate natural habitats of the Darling River ecosystems.
European attitudes, introduced animals and industrialised pillaging have almost completely crushed the natural life support systems and biodiversity on this continent. Now we sit at the brink of a massive collapse in natural life support systems throughout all temperate and semi-arid regions of Australia.
In the cities, while politicians and economists argue about fiscal growth and so-called development, antiquated failed and failing farming and “land-use” practices drag us all backward onto a slippery-slope leading to certain failure.
At this stage I consider capitalism to be a failed experiment.
Now as Earthlings one and all, we need to realise, life on Earth is not about money, it is simply about life.
Mark Merritt
09.05.10 — Brian Howley
While working at a gold exploration site in WA just off the Gun Barrel myself and a drill rig team watched in awe as a pair of wedge tails mated in a tree close by. It was a ferocious sight. That they caused a truck to shut down and ignored our presence spoke of their power and territorialness. Beautiful.
06.05.10 — Guest
Birds are the window to the soul of our planet.
05.05.10 — Guest
Sounds wonderful Gretchen
I'm sending you something soon. This is a wonderful project.
Anthony Lawrence
01.05.10 — Guest
Its cooll!
22.04.10 — Guest
Comment made by young anonymous twitcher has been moved here:
http://pool.org.au/forums/topic/young_anonymous_twitcher_comment_moved_h...
17.04.10 — Guest
If only we as a society valued birds as we do cats and dogs. Birds are beautiful, fun, full of character and most of all enrich our lives everyday in every way.
My life would be empty and above all lacking in beauty without birds.
Paula Searle
07.04.10 — Guest
Birds inspire, delight, amuse, bemuse and sometimes annoy us. We want to protect what we know and appreciate, so the link between the creative arts and conservation science is a natural one when it comes to birds. A most welcome initiative Gretchen. We will promote it and hope we can get involved. Graeme Hamilton, CEO Birds Australia
08.04.10 — Gretchen Miller
Thanks Graeme,
welcome to Pool to all the Birds Australia members...
Can't wait to hear your stories of a life spent passionately connecting with birds...
Feel free to wax lyrical, or short and sweet, tell us how birds make you feel, and what it is about Australian birds you feel contributes to that slippery sense we have of 'belonging' to this country, this landscape...
The primary outcome, aside from the lovely collection already building on the Pool site, is for radio. So do contribute your bird recordings, consider combining them with a recording of your musings, or just write us something and we'll have an actor read the ones that best fit into the broadcast, as it develops.
warm wishes,
Gretchen
Producer
ABC Radio National
Features and documentaries.
26.03.10 — Gretchen Miller
ah thanks bob!
that's great... tell your friends... can't wait to hear what comes up...
cheers!
Gretchen
Birdland producer
22.03.10 — Guest
Come on recorders-of-bird-calls, we all comment (read "complain") that the general population doesn't listen to birds enough: well, this is our opportunity to put our collective best foot forward, and submit our most interesting calls to this commendable, bold and nationwide project. Be daring, use your imagination - go for it!!!
sgnd Bob Tomkins, Australian Wildlife Sound Recording Group (AWSRG)