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Summer Grandstand continues the build up to the summer of Test cricket as Ben Cameron picks the brains of Phil Jaques, Trent Copeland and the Voice of Summer Jim Maxwell. Guests also include superstar Sophie Devine, golfer Marc Leishman, and you get to meet Mark Hager the new Kookaburras coach. And how will the pitch play at Perth Stadium for the first Test? All that and more on Summer Grandstand.
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Hockey is one of the sports that has been cut from the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, but former Kookaburra Simon Orchard isn't too bothered by the decision.Listen to his full interview with Sam Lane and Lehmo on Summer Grandstand here.
He's an Olympic Gold Medal winner, multiple World Cup and Commonwealth Games champion, and former Kookaburras captain. Now Mark Knowles extraordinary career has been recognised with induction into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame. Mark spoke to Quentin Hull on Summer Grandstand.
Celina Gratton, a standout member of the Ulster Kookaburras, is an inspiring and dedicated champion of women's footy. Her passion and innovative approach to growing the game extend beyond her club, influencing women's Aussie Rules football across Europe. Celina not only brings great ideas for clubs looking to recruit more players, but she also shares her own captivating journey in the sport. Her commitment and enthusiasm make her a vital force in advancing the game for women everywhere. Hosted by Adam Gomolinski
Live from the Olympics in Paris, Eddie McGuire is spending a lot of time by himself. Roy and HG discuss the not so weird ideas he's coming up with.
Paddy and Maz spoke to Trish Dawson, the mother of Matt Dawson, about his journey to the 2024 Paris Olympics See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Kookaburras have been chasing another Olympic Gold medal since the 2004 Olympic Games, but five-time Olympian Eddie Ockenden thinks this is the year they bring it home. Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Barra was in for a preview of the weekend's sport including the shocking way the Dockers have been treated with their flight home from Tassie, West Coast are rolling out the young guns as a stack of big players have a week out, and is it the end for the tackle in AFL plus the Mayor of Paris has swum in the Seine ahead of the Olympics and the Kookaburras and the Hockeyroos head to Paris.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Signs that you might be a Kookaburra: - You love to laugh
Our guest today will be representing Australia at the Olympic Games in men's Hockey. Tom Craig is at his second Olympics after he was injured in the third quarter of the opening game in Tokyo in 2021. The Australians are in Pool B with Belgium, Ireland, Argentina, New Zealand and India as they aim for their second-ever gold medal and 8th medal in the past nine games. Tom is a vital member of this Kookaburras side having been part of the team for 10 years. here is his story.. Thank you to our major sponsor Aussie Home Loans - visit them at aussie.com.au
Send me a text message. Suggestions? Subjects for future podcasts? Let me know--thanks!This podcast contains 26 sentences. Each sentence includes at least one 4-syllable word. The words are in alphabetical order, so the 4-syllable word in the first sentence is “alligator” beginning with “A” and so on. Sentence number 26 contains the word “zoology”.Note that some of the sentences are silly and nonsensical while others are perfectly normal. Don't worry about the ones that don't make sense. Your job here is to practice pronouncing English. Let's start:1. I was eaten by an alligator.2. She married a benevolent barbarian.3. He battled a cantankerous cauliflower.4. You can't deactivate a dandelion.5. We rode up on an entertaining elevator.6. She was flabbergasted by my fettuccine.7. I donate generously to gastronomic startups.8. His harmonica playing was heartbreakingly sad.9. I will now introduce you to the isosceles triangle. 10. She doesn't put jellyfishes in her jambalaya. 11. The kindergarten children of Kalamazoo are knowledgeable about Kookaburras.12. Our librarian spoke lyrically about her favorite books.13. Nobody wants to eat microscopic macaroni.14. The naturalist was also a skilled navigator. 15. My grandmother was a phone operator in Oklahoma. 16. I told the doctor about my peculiar palpitations.17. The politician's quick-wittedness was questionable. 18. We had to regularly repair our car's radiator.19. When we put out their dinner dishes, the dogs began synchronizing their salivation.20. Who put the teriyaki in the terrarium?21. Her ukulele playing was unbearably bad.22. A vacationer from Venice vaccinated me.23. Our watermelon was wonderfully juicy.24. I don't know what a xylotomist is.25. She used to work in Yosemite Park.26. Is zoology the study of zoos?If you need to translate any of the words in this podcast, DeepL is a good translator.This podcast took several hours to write, record, and edit. Whaddya think? Is it worth a few dollars to you? Should I continue this work or quit? Your support will answer that question. Thank you.Intro & Outro Music: La Pompe Du Trompe by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com Support the Show.You can now support my podcasts and classes:Help Barry pay for podcast expenses--thank you!
Leila Jeffreys was a young photographer when she built a tiny studio specifically for birds. She then began taking heart-stopping images of budgies, owls, eagles and cockatoos
Former hockeyroo and Channel 9 commentator, Georgie Parker joins Shane McInnes to discuss the Hockeyroos and Kookaburras chances at the upcoming Olympics. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Former hockeyroo and Channel 9 commentator, Georgie Parker joins Shane McInnes to discuss the Hockeyroos and Kookaburras chances at the upcoming Olympics. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Former hockeyroo and Channel 9 commentator, Georgie Parker joins Shane McInnes to discuss the Hockeyroos and Kookaburras chances at the upcoming Olympics. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Before 2004, the Kookaburras had never won an Olympic Gold medal. That was before Jamie Dwyer made history, with a golden goal in extra time at the Athens Olympics.Introducing Path to Paris - our new mini-series hosted by commentary royalty Mark Foreman, all about Australian Olympians on their Path to Paris 2024. Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Brent and Painey continued to discuss everything happening in Tassie sport, including Geordie Payne, Rhyan Mansell, the Kookaburras and answered your texts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Kookaburras in England, Kiwis in Pakistan ... and Ducks in India. As the IPL moves into mid-season madness, our knowledgeable friends assemble to kill many birds with one stone. We ruminate on Travis Head's special liking for opponents in shades of blue, the strange week in the life of Rishabh Pant, Jos Buttler's remarkable 100 v KKR, and a deep-dive into the unforgettable game between Mumbai Indians and Punjab Kings which, strangely, we all have forgotten. Will Ajit Agarkar follow the policy of Last In First Out (LIFO) when he picks India's squad for the T20 World Cup? Is Abdul Samad actually the Chennai martial arts mischief-maker Shihan Hussaini? Why bowlers? Answers to these vexing questions here. We are on X: 1. Max: https://twitter.com/maxdavinci 2. Chops: https://twitter.com/el_chopernos 3. VaMu: https://twitter.com/varunmurali43 4. Iman: https://twitter.com/imanpande 5. Nitin: https://twitter.com/knittins
Kookaburras star Tom Wickham joined flow sports and shared his excitement following the announcement that the Kookaburras and Hockeyroos will be playing a series on home soil next month as part of Olympic preparations. Tom also spoke about playing his junior hockey in Waikerie, the importance of country sport, his own Olympic preparations, and more.
This one is for the procrastinators and cowards in all of our hearts as guest Wendell Kimper, Amy, and Kate discuss "The Kookaburras", a poem by Mary Oliver. The episode covers the multitudes of potential, the desire (if not always the ability) to unlock the cages of suffering, and figuring just exactly what (or who?) is a god of flowers. Annnnnd we're taking it back to Buffy. Of course.
Josh made his debut for the Kookaburras in 2015 and has since competed at multiple Olympic, Commonwealth Games and World Championships winning multiple medals. Josh is an AIS Mental Health Fitness Program Ambassador and a qualified Mechanical Engineer. Join us in listening to how Josh balanced both his careers, the influence his family has had on his career, why playing for Tasmania is so special and what makes the Kookaburras culture so unique and successful.
Thousands told to evacuate amid bushfires in Victoria; New South Wales police are searching for one of their own in connection with two missing Sydney men; And in hockey, Blake Govers leads Kookaburras to 4-1 victory over Ireland in FIH Pro League.
Homes lost and properties damaged in raging western Victoria bushfire; The WHO aims to evacuate scores of patients from Gaza's second largest hospital and in hockey, Blake Govers leads the Kookaburras to a 4-1 victory over Ireland.
Western Australia to become the nation's first state to limit the number of guns someone can own, Gaza humanitarian shelter shelled, injuring staff, killing family members, The Kookaburras defeat Spain in F-I-H Hockey Pro League.
Four-time Olympian Eddie Ockenden needs no introduction. His record speaks for itself. Debuting in 2006 Eddie has been at the peak of his sport for almost 2 decades earning 3 Olympic medals 1 x Silver and 2 Bronze, 2 x World Cup Gold medals and multiple Comms Games Golds. Join us as we speak to the proud Tasmanian about his preparation leading into the Paris Olympic Games, how sessions with a Sports Psychologists and engaging in mindfulness has given the Kookaburras a competitive advantage, and how Eddie escapes the pressures of sport by doing one of his favorite things in Tassie trout fishing.
The Kookaburras have been unable to secure a major sponsor ahead of the Paris Olympics, Hockey Australia CEO David Pryles joins Wide World of Sports.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Winter in the UK is either mild and damp, or cold and windy - and who would want to be outside as a gardener at this time of year - well Saul and Lucy for one, as this time of year is some of the busiest in all the 12 months. While the garden may be slumbering, Head Gardeners and their teams are beavering away on major jobs, garden renovations, cleaning and tidying the years clutter and making plans for 2024. So join us every week to see what we're up to in the cold months in our work and home gardens.If there was any sign that Lucy was at the opposite ends of the earth then the weather (in true Talking Heads style) would be it. While Saul has put on the extra layers and woolly hat due to winter finally catching up with the UK, Lucy is sunbathing in +25C heat in the Australian summer. But the pair are still enjoying their gardens and plants - as dry weather means pruning is Saul's main focus and the beauty of the Hunters Valley means wine, chocolate and cheese is Lucy's! Instagram Links:Lucy headgardenerlcTwitter links:Saul @GardeningSaulIntro and Outro music from https://filmmusic.io"Fireflies and Stardust" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com)License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)Support the show
Winter in the UK is either mild and damp, or cold and windy - and who would want to be outside as a gardener at this time of year - well Saul and Lucy for one, as this time of year is some of the busiest in all the 12 months. While the garden may be slumbering, Head Gardeners and their teams are beavering away on major jobs, garden renovations, cleaning and tidying the years clutter and making plans for 2024. So join us every week to see what we're up to in the cold months in our work and home gardens.Happy New Year to all our listeners - another turn around the sun is in order, and the Talking Heads Podcast continues into its fifth year (madness I tell you!). So to celebrate what better than sending the Veg and Fruit queen down under. Lucy (with family in tow) have headed to the land of Vegemite and Roos to enjoy some winter time sun (or is that summer!?) and lets us into what she has been admiring in the gardens she has seen, her visits to the local garden centre and her battles with some of the local bird population. Instagram Links:Lucy headgardenerlcTwitter links:Saul @GardeningSaulIntro and Outro music from https://filmmusic.io"Fireflies and Stardust" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com)License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)Support the show
For this episode, I recorded interviews with visitors that stopped by my table at the Birders Bazaar of the Rio Grande Valley Birding Festival. In addition to those interviews, a returning guest, Victor Lawrence, spoke with us about the Kookaburra. I hope you enjoy the episode!Chapters00:00 - Intro00:33 - Welcome to the RGVBF01:04 - Janine from Harlingen08:06 - Jessenia from McAllen10:15 - Cathy from Palm View12:55 - Jeff from Edinburgh16:43 - Keri from Port Isabel21:01 - Scottie from Harlingen24:16 - Ivan from Victoria, Mx28:32 - Susan from Harlingen30:46 - Bird of the Episode: Kookaburra w/Victor43:42 - OutroFor pictures of the Kookaburras and some of the other birds discussed this episode, please check out @lookingatbirdspodcast on Instagram.Thank you for listening!
Tassie Tigers star Tim Deavin joined Brent to discuss the team's finals hopes, tomorrow's big game against the Adelaide Fire and his Kookaburras days. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Kookaburras and Perth Thundersticks Captain joins Pete Vlahos on Sportsday WA. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Catch up on today's Tassie Breakfast, featuring Kookaburras superstar Eddie Ockenden, Collingwood fan favourite Brodie Holland, AFL Grand Final Debrief, Questions Without Notice and reacting to the JackJumpers first game of the season. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Kookaburras superstar Eddie Ockenden joined Brent and Painey in the studio to talk the Tassie Tigers' Hockey One League season starting this Friday and the Paris Olympics. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Photo: No known restrictions on publication. @Batchelorshow #OzWatch: Kookaburras to the rescue. Jeremy Zakis, New South Wales. #FriendsofHistoryDebatingSociety
G'day cobbers! Giles and Esther take a considered look at the ECB equality report; they then take a far less serious look at ‘cheating Aussie b**tards'. Is twitter dead Esther pulls on the thread to find out. After a short break it is a whistle stop tour of Wimbledon past and present, Debrett's guide and puppy yoga before Giles heads off to practice his didgeridoo and Esther feeds the Kookaburras. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Scott Cummings & Tim Gossage are joined by: Tennis West CEO - Brett Patten; Former Fast-Bowler for Australia - Chadd Sayers; Racing Reporter for The West Australian - Jay Rooney; and Kookaburras' Head Coach - Colin Batch.
Head Coach of the Australian Men's Hockey Team, Colin Batch, spoke with Scott Cummings & Tim Gossage following the Kookaburras 4-1 series win over India and the WA State Government's successful proposal for Perth to remain Australia's home of Hockey.
Kookaburras, with their special laughs, are part of Australian backyards and neighbourhoods. Find out how you can live side by side with these amazing birds.
Shane lee & Tim Gilbert talk tennis as Nick Kyrgios wins the Washington Open, the Kookaburras beat India for gold at the Commonwealth Games, LIV vs PGA, Collingwood's Brodie Grundy out for the rest of the season + much more!The NRL has dished out punishment for Ricky Stuart, do you reckon that's the end of it? See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
With the Commonwealth Games set to start tomorrow, Kookaburras co-captain Eddie Ockenden joined Garry and Tim to talk about the honour of being asked to be a flag bearer, their preparation for the Games, the pressure their feeling, the set up at the athletes' village, and more.
On Thursday morning, Garry and Tim looked at the sporting public's investment in the Commonwealth Games and other international athletes in 'The Ramble', and quickly cleared the rest of their commitments to give themselves enough time for a classic chat with John from Epping. Alastair Clarkson and his third meeting with GWS was the key topic in 'Conversation Starters', and they then caught up with Cal Twomey who had all the latest free agency, contract and draft news from the AFL. After a chat with Kookaburras co-captain Eddie Ockenden, they moved into 'Questions Without Notice' where they asked if we've underestimated Charlie Curnow's return, have we gone too early on putting a line through Brodie Grundy, will Josh Kennedy return to the Swans' senior team, and more.
22/06/2022. The latest news from Australia, Ukraine and from rest of the world. The Australian Energy Market Operator's (AEMO) chief executive Daniel Westerman says they will adopt a staged approach to lifting the suspension of the electricity market. The New South Wales Minister for Multiculturalism, Mark Coure, says culturally diverse communities are among the big winners in last night's budget. New South Wales Premier Dominic Perrottet says a planned teacher strike is 'completely unacceptable'. Victoria has become the first state in Australia to officially ban the use of the Nazi swastika symbol, also known as the Hakenkreuz. The Kookaburras are going for their seventh straight gold medal, having won it at every Commonwealth Games since the sport was included in 1998. - 22/06/2022. Бюлетень SBS новин українською мовою. Кризи в енерґетиці не повинно бути - Федеральний уряд Австралії про енерґоринок. Війна в Україні. Страйк учителів у НПВ. Офіційна заборона на свастику ( відома також як Hakenkreuz) у Вікторії. Погрози Литві від Росії. Новий бюджет у НПВ для багатокультурних спільнот. Хокей на Іграх Співдружності. Про це і більше на веб-сторінці SBS Ukrainian...
Come and join Simon on his first Night-Time adventure! You can imagine using your Detail Detective skills to search out the famous Duck-Billed Platypus. You'll never believe how they find their food. Along the way, you'll also find out what those Kookaburras are laughing at all the time! This is a shortened preview version of the whole episode which can be found at BANDCAMP Amazing adventures hosted by Simon, the one and only Fact Finding Frog! Totally full of true facts, excellent sound effects, cool music, and Simon's jokes! All of Simon's 36 Adventures are now available to purchase on https://simonsadventurestories.bandcamp.com You can buy the whole collection or just your favourite episodes. On Bandcamp you can listen to each adventure up to 3 times before you need to buy. That means you can test drive their excellent app while you do that.
Emma Doyle has long been a fan of Coach Ric Charlesworth after reading his book in her early coaching years called: The Coach - Managing for Success. Then in January of 2018, she had the pleasure of speaking at the Australian Open Grand Slam Coaches Conference alongside Ric Charlesworth. Of course, Emma will never die wondering and asking the question 'what if...' and so she jumped at the opportunity to interview him on The Coaching Podcast. In this episode, you will hear his honest account of his biggest coaching failure and such interesting sliding doors moments in his life. Finally, his question for The Coaching Podcast is one that we must always ask of ourselves, that is: “What might seem impossible and unlikely but if we did it, it would make a big difference?” Read more about Ric Charlesworth's bio here: “There is a difference between being tired, and exhausted.” A sentence which rings through when describing Ric Charlesworth, and his approach to sporting pursuits and life itself. Charlesworth is a sporting icon, both for his playing efforts and later his coaching successes. During his sport, he studied Medicine and worked in Politics, but he will forever be known as The Coach. He specialises in knowing what triggers people (himself included) to be the best, and be their best. After retiring from coaching the Kookaburras in 2014, Charlesworth continues to spend his time working, part-time motivational speaker and full-time Dad. Sport – as a player: Charlesworth was an avid cricketer. He played for 8 years in the WA state team. But his first love was hockey, in the National team playing 18 years for WA, and National teams for 17 years. Throughout this period, he was selected for 5 and went to 4 Olympics with the Australian team. It was here in his own sporting life that he learnt the difference between being tired, and exhausted. He learnt that if he could take anything from his own playing days, it would be that to be a good coach you must distinguish the difference between the two, and push people beyond what they thought was possible. "In my 14 years of coaching National teams, both men and women, I have never met a player who knew how good they could be." Sport – as a coach: Charlesworth prided himself on preparation and being willing to try new ideas. Sometimes it is necessary to select based on attitude, rather than skill. A strong attitude ensures the individual has both the desire and ability to be pushed. Hockeyroos coach for 8 years (1993-2000); 2 Olympic Gold medals & 2 World Cup Golds. They sat ranked #1 in the world for the entire period with Charlesworth as coach. Kookaburras coach for 6 years (2009-2014); Olympic Bronze, 2 World Cup Golds & Commonwealth Games titles. He treated his coaching as an opportunity to elevate the sports ambitions of both himself, and others, placing emphasis on bettering the people he had and finding new and exciting talent. Adding value to the athletes and building depth in his squad. It was his background in medicine and politics that provided him with an unusual blend of expertise for his life as a coach.
We've made it- it's the final day of the Tokyo Games, and we have emerged intact, covid-free, and laden with sweet, sweet gold.The final days saw more success for Australia; God brought home Tom Green and Jean van der Westhuyzen for gold on a kayak, but could only afford Nicola McDermott a silver in the high jump. Nevertheless, does Liberal preselection await?Elsewhere, Keegan Palmer settled the debate on what constitutes an essential service, before we marvelled at the quick-thinking of Cedric Dubler in the decathlon. Then we pardoned the Kookaburras for breaking the rules for a few slabs.Triathlon is under the pump, with calls for a culture review emanating from a disgruntled former athlete- and that's good enough for us. Will they finally admit to the one glaring issue that has dogged the sport? And will Woman's Day play it's part?Finally, we wrap up this glorious no-fun event by discussing the winners and losers. Was our high finish in the medal tally adequate? How good was it to see the IOC finally get a win? Will the inevitable next wave of covid be worth it for Japan?Audio production courtesy of Tim ‘T-Dog' Eldridge. Graphic design courtesy of Julia Edwards.Thanks to everyone for joining us during this special Olympics series of Have a Go. We appreciate your support and we'll be back soon with more episodes once we've recovered. In the meantime you can follow us on Instagram (@haveagopodcast) or contact us via email (haveagopodcast@gmail.com) if you want.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
TODAY'S HEADLINES PM unveils vaccine threshold, admits need for restrictions NSW sets vaccination goal for lifting restrictions Wuhan back in lockdown amid Delta chaos Olympic finals for Kookaburras and Boomers Payphones to become free Follow The Briefing Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAU Twitter: @TheBriefingAU YouTube: http://bit.ly/TheBriefingSUBSCRIBE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
No music, no voices, just the sound of a valley halfway up a Tasmanian mountain. This soundscape is full of birds and breeze echoing backwards and forwards across a reservoir. Kunyani is swirled with mist and the city of Hobart spreads below, in miniature, on a still, early morning. We're halfway up the mountain, at the Hobart Waterworks Reserve where two huge reservoirs store water for use by the populace below. The deep valley where the reservoirs are situated means there is an echoey, dream-like quality to all the sound. You can hear a unique mix of forest and water birds at this place every single morning. There were tawny frogmouths coming as I trudged up the hill, and as I was sitting listening to the day unfold a scarlet robin danced on the edge of the bush — feeding, patrolling and, just maybe, calling for the microphone. Listening notes from Ann Jones: 06:06 A fan-tailed cuckoo calls, making a trilling, descending whistle, quavering slightly as it goes. This cuckoo is a parasitic breeder, sneakily laying its eggs into another bird's nest. The fan-tailed cuckoo in particular targets tiny birds, like scrubwrens, to bring up its offspring. 07:10 Kookaburras are not native to Tasmania, but were introduced in the early 20th century and are established. 12:51 The ploinking call is probably part of the call repertoire of the grey shrikethrush. 13:38 A single call of a green rosella. This bird is only found in Tasmania and is Australia's largest rosella. 14:10 The repetitive notes of the striated pardalote, calling in almost perfectly timed beats. 19:52 The deep oooom of a bronzewing pigeon calling from the bushland. Often heard, rarely seen! 23:15 The kelp gulls, normally associated with the seaside, love to visit the reservoir. You can hear their calls echoing over the water and around the hills. They look like a big, beefy seagull with a black cape on, a bright yellow beak with a spot of red lipstick. 25:10 The footsteps of a jogger running past the microphone. 37:14 European blackbirds are singing throughout much of this recording. Released into Australia and well established in the colder areas, these songsters fill the air with a distinctive song. Think the beginning of Blackbird by The Beatles — it is, literally, a blackbird recording. Here they're interspersed with native Australian birds, but it's the one that sounds like an old man whistling an unknown tune. 38:20 Listen for the flight calls of the green rosellas. 40:10 Behind the grey shrikethrush and the blackbird, there are tiny chirps and a sequence of extremely high-pitched twitters, like a sea shanty sung in super-fast motion. This is the grey fantail, who will be flitting and flying through the dappled sunlight catching insects on the wing. 41:07 This slightly grumpy sounding quack is probably a pacific black duck. 49:32 The grey shrikethrush sings with clarity and force, and all across Australia its call varies slightly. 55:30 The kookaburras are still solidifying the boundaries of their territories and their relationships by singing choruses across the other side of the reservoir. 56:36 A coot doing its harmonic squawk. 1:15:34 The alarm call of the blackbird, who has momentarily stopped singing to warn of danger. 1:24:18 You can hear a masked lapwing become upset and take off, calling and swirling in the air. 1:28:34 A short interlude from distant ravens. These are forest ravens, the only sort that can be found in Tasmania. 1:29:15 A duck is chattering away in the background. I think it's a wood duck! Quack!
No music, no voices, just the sound of a valley halfway up a Tasmanian mountain. This soundscape is full of birds and breeze echoing backwards and forwards across a reservoir. Kunyani is swirled with mist and the city of Hobart spreads below, in miniature, on a still, early morning. We're halfway up the mountain, at the Hobart Waterworks Reserve where two huge reservoirs store water for use by the populace below. The deep valley where the reservoirs are situated means there is an echoey, dream-like quality to all the sound. You can hear a unique mix of forest and water birds at this place every single morning. There were tawny frogmouths coming as I trudged up the hill, and as I was sitting listening to the day unfold a scarlet robin danced on the edge of the bush — feeding, patrolling and, just maybe, calling for the microphone. Listening notes from Ann Jones: 06:06 A fan-tailed cuckoo calls, making a trilling, descending whistle, quavering slightly as it goes. This cuckoo is a parasitic breeder, sneakily laying its eggs into another bird's nest. The fan-tailed cuckoo in particular targets tiny birds, like scrubwrens, to bring up its offspring. 07:10 Kookaburras are not native to Tasmania, but were introduced in the early 20th century and are established. 12:51 The ploinking call is probably part of the call repertoire of the grey shrikethrush. 13:38 A single call of a green rosella. This bird is only found in Tasmania and is Australia's largest rosella. 14:10 The repetitive notes of the striated pardalote, calling in almost perfectly timed beats. 19:52 The deep oooom of a bronzewing pigeon calling from the bushland. Often heard, rarely seen! 23:15 The kelp gulls, normally associated with the seaside, love to visit the reservoir. You can hear their calls echoing over the water and around the hills. They look like a big, beefy seagull with a black cape on, a bright yellow beak with a spot of red lipstick. 25:10 The footsteps of a jogger running past the microphone. 37:14 European blackbirds are singing throughout much of this recording. Released into Australia and well established in the colder areas, these songsters fill the air with a distinctive song. Think the beginning of Blackbird by The Beatles — it is, literally, a blackbird recording. Here they're interspersed with native Australian birds, but it's the one that sounds like an old man whistling an unknown tune. 38:20 Listen for the flight calls of the green rosellas. 40:10 Behind the grey shrikethrush and the blackbird, there are tiny chirps and a sequence of extremely high-pitched twitters, like a sea shanty sung in super-fast motion. This is the grey fantail, who will be flitting and flying through the dappled sunlight catching insects on the wing. 41:07 This slightly grumpy sounding quack is probably a pacific black duck. 49:32 The grey shrikethrush sings with clarity and force, and all across Australia its call varies slightly. 55:30 The kookaburras are still solidifying the boundaries of their territories and their relationships by singing choruses across the other side of the reservoir. 56:36 A coot doing its harmonic squawk. 1:15:34 The alarm call of the blackbird, who has momentarily stopped singing to warn of danger. 1:24:18 You can hear a masked lapwing become upset and take off, calling and swirling in the air. 1:28:34 A short interlude from distant ravens. These are forest ravens, the only sort that can be found in Tasmania. 1:29:15 A duck is chattering away in the background. I think it's a wood duck! Quack!
It's early morning and Ann is walking along the Murray River, listening to the gentle sound of the water flowing past. Oh… it sounds like someone is laughing at that kangaroo? Or are they laughing at Ann? The laughing sound is coming from higher up in the river red gum, so it surely can't be a person. What could be laughing, high up in that tree?