It's that time of the year again when Christmas is fast approaching, and our thoughts are consumed by organising the annual family gatherings and associated festivities.
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One of those activities in our house is putting together the Christmas Carol playlist.
A favourite is "Carol of the Birds", with lyrics written by John Wheeler, who died in 1948.
The carol features Australian birds, with their behaviour beautifully described in the lyrics reproduced below. (Orana is an Aboriginal word for welcome or hail.)
Some of the birds are mentioned here.
Brolgas are a member of the Crane family and are found in north-eastern Australia. They have been sighted in the Macleay/Hastings area over the years, not too far from the Hunter. They are a long-legged graceful bird, with scarlet colouring about the head and are known for their energetic dance routines.
Bell Birds (Bell Miners) and are found in south-east Australia in gullies and mountainous areas. An inconspicuous olive-green bird, they form colonies and call continuously.
The Noisy Friarbird, or "Leatherhead" for the bare black skin on its head, is a member of the Honeyeater family and forms noisy gregarious groups, feeding in flowering trees and shrubs. During the cooler months they migrate to areas with feeding trees in blossom.
Rainbow Lorikeets are a common bird, recognizable by everyone and their striking colourful plumage and bright red bill, make them a very festive bird for this time of the year. They feed noisily in any flowering trees and can be found all over the Hunter.
The Carol of the Birds
Out on the plains the brolgas are dancing
Lifting their feet like warhorses prancing
Up to the sun the woodlarks go winging
Faint in the dawn light echoes their singing
Orana! Orana! Orana to Christmas Day.
Down where the tree ferns grow by the river
There where the waters sparkle and quiver
Deep in the gullies bell-birds are chiming
Softly and sweetly their lyric notes rhyming
Orana! Orana! Orana to Christmas Day
Friar birds sip the nectar of flowers
Currawongs chant in wattle tree bowers
In the blue ranges lorikeets calling
Carols of bush birds rising and falling
Orana! Orana! Orana to Christmas Day.
This year the devastation of the bushfires and hot weather make this carol even more poignant. Merry Christmas and happy birding.
