Laughing kookaburra (Dacelo novaeguineae)

During my stay in Sydney I got real close to a family of kookaburras residing in the park just outside the house of my friend Pia Lindgren. First of all I was amazed by how tame they were. They could sit on the ground or on a branch, and when I slowly walked outside to take a closer look they did not pay much notice.

Their behaviour was relaxed and leisurely – looking for treats wherever they could think of – in the air or on the ground. They did not seem to have many worries at all.

Their impressive beak makes an astonishing sound when catching insects – it reminds me of castagnets.

I had so much fun listening in on their many vocalizations – not just their famous laughs.

Last updated on 13 March 2024