The kookaburra is a miraculous Australian bird. They usually sit quiet on the branch of a tree waiting until they see a worm or a bug moving on the ground. They take a deep dive, pick up, swallow and fly back to the tree. Except when they are with more kookaburras in the same tree, and especially at dawn and dusk, they start… laughing. Yes, really… laughing ! That’s why they are called ‘laughing kookaburras’. If you have never been in Australia before, the sound is equal to fun making monkeys. I always have to laugh too when I hear them ! Watch the video; they are not close by, but you see them sometimes flying from tree to tree in the distance. The sound however is obvious, and with the green bush behind our house, it really sounds like a rainforest.
They are curious birds as well, but they will never laugh when alone
Wikipedia explains it very nice:
The name “Laughing Kookaburra” refers to the bird’s “laugh”, which it uses to establish territory amongst family groups. It can be heard at any time of day, but most frequently shortly after dawn and after sunset to dusk.
One bird starts with a low, hiccuping chuckle, then throws its head back in raucous laughter: often several others join in. If a rival tribe is within earshot and replies, the whole family soon gathers to fill the bush with ringing laughter. Hearing kookaburras in full voice is one of the more extraordinary experiences of the Australian bush (…)
grappig het lijkt inderdaad net of je in zuid afrika in de bush bent