I realize my title is totally confusing! This beauty, the Kookaburra, no not a Kookaburra as I had originally ID’d it, but identified as a Kingfisher by Elephant Child as you can see in her comment. Thank you very much! I looked up the various Kingfishers and stretching myself out at the end of the limb, I found a Red-backed Kingfisher here. Please let me know if you think I am correct, or not. The rest of my writing will apply to the Kookaburra in my second photo. The bird I now know as a Kingfisher was seen at the San Diego Zoo in September 2010. I remember being enthralled, totally riveted. I am at a loss as to how I misidentified it back then. Perhaps there were other birds in the aviary that I didn’t see at the time and read the sign nearby.You can read about the kookaburra at this link. Our Australian friends may have personal knowledge of both extraordinary birds, which I would love to read in a comment, and thank you again Elephant Child for clearing this up for me.
And now for the ‘real’ one. I have to say, the Kingfisher is still a gorgeous bird! I have provided several links that the website shared about the Kookaburra in the following paragraph. I read:
"Kookaburras are terrestrial tree kingfishers of the genus Dacelo native to Australia and New guinea, which grow to between 11 and 19 inches (28 and 47 cm) in length and weigh around 11 ounces (300 g). The name is a loanword from Wiradjuri, "guuguubarra", onomatopoeic of its call. The loud, distinctive call of the laughing kookaburra is widely used as a stock sound effect in situations that involve an Australian bushy setting or tropical jungle, especially in older movies. They are found in habitats ranging from humid forest to arid savannah, as well as in suburban areas with tall trees or near running water. Though they belong to the larger group known as "kingfishers", kookaburras are not closely associated with water."
Addition on the same day:
I found this on my old blog just now. It was quite a while after seeing the one above in San Diego on the west coast. This was found at a small zoo in our general area (east coast). I added it and also the poem.
I am also adding a cute video of the Kookuburra song on YouTube here.
“I took a photo of this sweet bird at the Reston Zoo a few weeks ago (this was actually in 2010). It is a dream to see one in its own habitat one day.”
The Kookaburra
~Frank Halliwell~
They congregate at break of day,
When night is almost done,
For a joyous benediction
To the rising of the sun.
And once again come evening,
When the western sky so bright,
Surrenders all its duties
To the velvet cloak of night.
I'd like someone to explain to me,
Before I turn to clay
'Cause I've never heard that cackle
In the middle of the day.
Why they sometimes start at 4 AM
And wake me with a fright,
To join with them, to celebrate
The middle of the night.
