Beautiful Lake Tinaroo, not so beautiful bird.
Everybody knows that in Australia you have to watch out for sharks, jellyfish, funnel webs, cassowaries, crocodiles, redbacks and drop bears.
That’s right, isn’t it?
It’s common knowledge. Australia is one of the few countries on this fascinating planet that actually advertises how dangerous it is.
But I have a new menace to share with you, that all Aussie icon the laughing Kookaburra.
I hate Kookaburras!
They wake me up at sparrow’s cough every morning and have a good laugh at me in the process.
There is nothing quite as raucous, tuneless or rasping as a whole family of these overgrown kingfishers going for it at 5.30 am.
That aside, they’re not exactly pretty, give me a rainbow lorikeet or a galah any day, but kookaburras are ugly and generally look like they need a good wash.
They also steal your food and are quite brazen and fearless about it.
I once watched a lady eating chicken legs down in NSW. As she raised drumstick to lips, down came the chicken thief and snatched her lunch right from her mouth.
This weekend we have been camping up on Lake Tinaroo. This beady eyed horror sat watching me cooking alfresco, just waiting for his chance to snatch our sausages from the hot barbecue. He never moved, just watched and waited with malicious intent. I outsmarted him this time, but I was on constant snag vigil.
I leave you with a charming little song that my children like to sing, I think you know the tune.
Kookarurra sits on the electric wire
Jumping up and down ‘cos his bum’s on fire
Laugh Kookaburra laugh….
