Gunning & District Historical Society

  They Fail as Husbands and As Wives Ogden Nash, in his poem The Cuckoo , characterised  these birds as leading Bohemian lives – failing as husbands and as wives while cynically disparaging others' marriages.  He was much better as a poet than an ornithologist.  Horsfield's Bronze Cuckoos, this month's featured bird species, are very successful serial monogamist husbands and wives.  And, as we shall see, their skills improve just that bit more year by year.    Gladstone's Notebook Image courtesy Wayne Weather stone. This article is number 8 in a 12 part series.  Each month we look at one of the birds recorded in Gladstone Weatherstone's notebook between 1962 and 1981, see if anything is different today and, if so, try to explain why.  Gladstone was a dedicated and knowledgeable amateur naturalist who lived on Lyndfield Park near Gunning between 1941 and 1996.  Horsfield's Bronze Cuckoo  On 24 August 1980, Gladstone wrote "First Hors...

March Bird of the Month – the Red-capped Robin  Red-capped Robin (C) Chris Dubar 2017 birdlifephotography.org.au      This is the third in a monthly series inspired by Gladstone Weatherstone, a dedicated and knowledgeable amateur naturalist who lived on his property Lyndfield Park near Gunning from 1941 until his death in 1996.  He had a particular interest in birds. Between 1962 and 1981 Gladstone kept a notebook in which he recorded bird sightings on his farm and its near surrounds.   Each month we will look at one of the birds that Gladstone recorded, try to place it in context and see if we can glean any lessons about the recent history of our district. The Red-capped Robin Red-capped Robin female. (C) Anne Burgess birdlife photography.org.au Gladstone's single entry for 29 March 1980 says "First sighting have had here of Red-capped Robin and one with a very large red cap but did not stay long.” To see a Red-capped Robi...