Azure Experience

WORDS AND PHOTOGRAPHS BY KELLY BUDGEN

During a recent fishing trip with my over enthusiastic partner we set out to explore the wilds of the Upper Brisbane River and what it had to offer.

After a steep decent down the river bank we successfully boarded the somewhat unstable canoe. Armed with fishing rods and my trusty SLR Camera our adventure began. Admittedly, our first and only goal was to catch our dinner but to my excitement, one hour into the trip we came across the most beautiful feathered creature known to man—the Azure Kingfisher Alcedo azurea.

With plumage in full display this Azure flitted from one low lying branch to another keeping a sharp eye on the waters. Curiously watching for shoals of guppies and gudgens intended for its next meal the Azure Kingfisher plunged from overhanging perches into the water to catch its prey.

Whilst observing its eating habits that day it became obvious that this particular kingfisher wasn’t only eating for one. It seemed that there must be a reason for this unusually extreme appetite. After following the Azure slowly and stealthily up the river about 500 metres our questions were answered. There, in amongst the dead branches of a recently fallen iron bark, was to our delight the first of the Azure Kingfisher young we would sight and photograph that day.

After observing the parent bird continuing to fly back and forth to this particular young one feeding on demand, we started to wonder whether there was more than one fledgling. This one seemed to be rather young with its quills still yet to unroll on top of its head. Could there possibly be another?

It is a known fact that the Azure Kingfisher generally has clutches of 5−7 eggs with two clutches a year. Azure Kingfishers form monogamous pairs that defend a breeding territory—breeding season is September to January. Both parents share the task of incubation and feeding the chicks. The Azure nest is unique as it is usually at the end of a burrow, dug out of soil in a riverbank.

Sure enough, after watching the same parent bird for some time it eventually diverted its usual feeding path across the river to another secluded safe area covered and surrounded by vegetation. It was a second chick, this one was older—the plumage more vivid than the first and all feather quills were unrolled and in full bloom. The young chick was calling intently to the parent bird seeking its next meal.

This was a truly amazing sight, nature’s beauty at its best. Hopefully we will experience more wonderful sightings like this in future adventures.

                            

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