The story of “Little Dave” Part 5: Dave the Brave

Before we start some real sad news: Sorry all.

This morning I found Little Deb at the side of the pond. She had passed away. Buried her next to Little Dave: RIP Deb 2009-2022. Just say this and no more. There is no doubt in my mind that she died of a broken heart. Bugga.

So lets continue!

During the Courtship, mating time and raising the kids, Little Dave was one of the bravest animals I had ever seen. Once Deb and him had courted it was protect and fight for his space and Deb. Over time every bird that frequented his area copped the wrath of Little Dave. He just took off one time into the air and a Whistling Kite was over head looking for a feed, Little Dave just went straight at him. Harassed the kite so much it left. Came back later and got the same treatment, all the other Egrets, Great, Intermediate and cattle, Seagulls, Spoonbills and Ibis, Crows and even our resident Wedgetail Eagle, Little Dave let em all know it was his territory.

He would not miss a beat, take off, sort out the intruder and then straight back to catching fish, he was the master. He would catch them, tail first, in the middle of the fish then he would clean out any weed he might of grabbed, toss the fish or prawn up and down inside his beak, get it so it was head first and swallow. So I made it my mission to capture the fish in mid air between his beak, gotta tell you, now we are talking skill, after awhile started to nail it, I now have a folder of birds that do this, there are many with over 2,000 images of fish in mid air between beaks. Makes for a cool image, check out the group of 4 Little Daves fishing photos, look a little longer. Now there is a challenge!!!!

For me I saw a period of dating, then home making, having baby’s, the change to the relationship after the baby’s. A period of total routine, fantastic work ethics. I also saw and captured, I feel every emotion that you could with a bird, happy, sad, excited, pissed off, angry, love, lust just to name a few, you kinda knew how they were by the way they walked, yapped, moved. Said to myself one day that I had turned into a Voyeur? But they tolerated me hidden on the side in my snipper suits, after awhile there were times when I would rock up in jeans and just spent 10 minutes there.

I did 1,000 days and 1,000 nights wandering our wetlands over a 3 1/2 year period. I had a tripod set up, just to the left of Little Daves main feeding ground I concreted it into the ground and every morning for 365 days I captured the sunrise, same place, different time, rain hail or shine, did not realise how much the sun moves, well I did, but you just forget. If I could not get there I had a mate who took the camera down and did it for me, I missed 9 as I was away, that was winter time (best sunrises in winter).

TIP
Rain covers for your cameras and lenses can be very expensive, Find an old Rain Coat or pants and cut the sleeves or legs off, you get 2 per garment. Jackets for smaller lenses pants for your big ones, elastic goes over your lens hood and you have plenty room at the back to work both hands and see. Cheap safe way.

To be continued.