Lesley Smitheringale Fine Art

BIRDS do not usually go for rides on cats’ backs, but they do at Kay Calder’s house.

The Wongaling Beach resident is one of hundreds of people in the Far North to have submitted their own pictures for The Cairns Post’s Weekender Wildlife Photo Competition.

Check out the great Weekender Wildlife photo galleries.

“It’s not an unusual sight at all,” Kay says.

“The birds have always lived near our house and have always harassed our cat.”

The newspaper has been inundated with about 920 photo submissions for its Weekender Wildlife Photo Competition which runs in five categories - butterflies, birds, reptiles, insects and Australian mammals.

Readers can also post a non-returnable hard copy to Weekender Wildlife Photography Competition, Features Desk, The Cairns Post, PO Box 126, Cairns, 4870.Winning photographs will feature in a special picture spread in Weekender and be included in a glossy wildlife poster series. Entries close September 5.

“Good Morning Willy” by Ruth Schumi

The Willie Wagtail is almost always on the move and rarely still for more than a few moments during daylight hours. Even while perching it will flick its tail from side to side, twisting about looking for prey. Birds are mostly encountered singly or in pairs, although may gather in small flocks. Unlike other fantails, much of its time is spent on the ground. It beats its wings deeply in flight, interspersed with a swift flying dip. It characteristically wags its tail upon landing after a short dipping flight. The Willie Wagtail is highly territorial and can be quite fearless in defence of its territory; it will harry not only small birds but also much larger species such as the Australian Magpie (Gymnorhina tibicen), Raven (Corvus coronoides), Laughing Kookaburra (Dacelo novaeguineae), or Wedge-tailed Eagle (Aquila audax). It may even attack domestic dogs and cats. When harassing an opponent, the Willie Wagtail avoids the head and aims for the rear. Both the male and female may engage in this behaviour, and generally more intensely in the breeding season.

Excerpt from Wikipedia