During my time reviewing the DJI Mavic Air 3, I woke on a foggy Aussie Winter morning and my mind immediately went to the opportunity to capture something special.
Having lived by our hill for 6-7 years, I know the fog lifts quickly, so the coffee would have to wait, nature was waiting and I was determined to share it with the world.
Just a couple of minutes later, I had the drone in the sky and quickly realised just how dense the fog was. The visibility on the camera was the worst I had ever experienced, but I wasn’t letting that defeat me.
Among the thick, cold fog, was a gem, a single, well-fed, mature Kookaburra, sitting quietly in a tree, almost posing for the camera.
I’m careful when flying around animals, as the sound of the props can often be enough to disturb wildlife. After getting as close as I was comfortable with, I then leveraged the zoom capabilities of the new Air 3 drone, leveraging the 3x optical zoom of their new dual-lens system. This allowed me to capture the tight shot of the Kookaburra I hoped for, without disturbing it.
It’s times like this that make me love flying drones.. something special you can’t experience or capture from the ground. For a full review of the DJI Air 3 drone, head here.
For those not familiar with the Australian Kookaburra, these are native to Australia and New Guinea.
It is the largest of all kingfishers, and is known for its distinctive call, which sounds like laughter. The name “kookaburra” is a loanword from the Wiradjuri language, and means “laughing one”.
Kookaburras are typically about 43 cm (17 in) long and weigh 465 g (16 oz). They have a white head with a brown eye stripe, dark brown back and wings, and white underparts. Their bills are large and strong, and they have sharp claws for catching prey.
Kookaburras are carnivores, and their diet consists of insects, frogs, snakes, small mammals, and birds. They are often seen sitting in trees, watching for prey on the ground. When they spot something they want to eat, they will swoop down and catch it in their beaks.
Kookaburras are social birds, and they live in family groups of up to 12 individuals. They are often seen roosting together in trees at night. During the day, they will often gather in large groups to feed.
The kookaburra is an important part of the Australian ecosystem. They help to control populations of insects and other small animals, and they are also a source of food for other animals, such as snakes and owls.
The kookaburra is a popular symbol of Australia, and it is often featured in movies and television shows. It is also the namesake of a popular brand of cricket balls.
