R.I.P, Plume the cockatiel
“I just lost my best friend Plume, a beautiful hand-raise cockatiel. I was crying in the garden near his resting place when I had company – a butcher bird was a step away from me, just looking at me. I was so surprised I didn’t move. He kept on looking at me, then decided to fly onto my magnolia tree, just on top of Plume’s grave, and stay there. We were looking at each other and I talked to him for quite a while. The following day he was back. I left some water and food, and my little friend was not afraid of me at all. On the third day he was in front of my glass door waiting for me. As I opened the door he flew inside, into my kitchen, and allowed me to hand-feed him. This went on for a month. Then he didn’t come back but another butcher bird took his place. This was repeated four times. Now only once in a while I have a visitor, but I do believe Plume sent me these friendly birds to make my pain more bearable.” – Gigi Jensen
Kings of the Bush
“I feed kookaburras, magpies and a butcher bird. They all trust me and take the pet mince right out of my hand. I invited two kookaburras round nearly 32 years ago and the next day there were 10 there – and they all knew why they were there: free food. The word got around overnight; they have a language and use a lot of different vocalisations. I’ve come to understand a few of them. Kookaburras don’t just laugh; I know their call for ‘eagle’ and ‘danger’. I know when the babies have hatched because they cluck like chickens that have just laid an egg. The magpies do a double scream if an eagle is flying high overhead, and all the birds take cover. I’ve had kookaburras land on my head and shoulder and I feed them there. Kookaburras definitely are Kings of the Bush.” – Carole Jackson
Charging elephant
“July 2017 in Moditlo Private Reserve, South Africa, I was on an evening safari when we came upon a herd of elephants on the road. The guide/driver parked so we could sit, watch and photograph them. Next thing, a young bull elephant came charging towards the jeep and attempted to push an umbrella tree (which has massive and dangerous thorns) onto the back of the jeep where a young couple sat. This was the signal for us to get out of there. While scary, I didn’t feel my life was in danger.” – Penny Auld