Flocks

I think birds should live together in flocks. We should not hunt birds like we do now.
Claudia Westlake
Elizabeth Downs

Feathers

My name is Alister. I like picking up bird feathers and giving them as gifts to my Mummy. I like to collect very bright feathers and we try and guess which bird they belong to. I also like to chase birds. Even though I get told off I still try and catch them. Mummy says it's my caveman instinct to hunt. If I find a feather that is yucky I chase my big sister with it.
Alister Fitzgerald
Age 4
Tea Tree Gully

Wondrous Birds

Over the last few weeks I have been watching my 14 month old son discover birds in our backyard.  They're birds that I wouldn't normally consider very exciting - pigeons and magpies - but to him, they are a wonderous sight.  On some occassions he stands in wonder, face towards the sky, watching them fly high above his head.  Other times he stands, giggling, arm outstretched, with his little finger jabbing and pointing at the sky.  But my favourite moments are when he turns to me, "Mum, Mum", with a huge smile on his face, eyes gleaming, wanting me to share in this moment of joy and discovery in his life.
Megan Waters

Bird Tales from childhood into adulthood

I grew up on a farm on the Eyre Peninsula and remember a couple of Willy Wag Tails who took up residence just above our back door. With the coming and goings in and out of that door I’m surprised they bothered to build a nest - let alone stay as long as they did! I loved to look out for them as a little girl and now well into adulthood, when I see them I find myself still captivated by their elegance, beauty and life.

For many years I also keenly listen for the presence of a Golden Whistler as I walked our 1km driveway to meet the school bus. When I heard it whistle, I would return the whistle and wait for it to whistle back. We would continue this for a good 2-300m on my morning walk to the school bus.

As a child, I also remember tracking the path of Plovers and Moor Hens who left telltale prints in the mud along the banks of the waterhole and adjoining creek on our farm.

Now I live in Adelaide and my husband is reckoning on his newly fruiting trees will survive bird ‘attacks’ because we live in the flight path and only seem to have pigeons nearby. I don’t tell him about the other birds I notice around the neighbourhood!

Renae

A poem read by Mum

If you find a little feather
a little white feather
a soft and tickly feather
it's for you

A feather is a letter from a bird
and it says
"Think of me
Do not forget me
Remember me always
Remember me forever
Or remember me at least
Until the little feather is lost

So if you find a little feather 
a little white feather
a soft an tickly feather
it's for you
pick it up and put it in your pocket

By Beatrice Schenk de Regniers from the book 'Something Special'

submitted by Rebecca Taylor