Three sisters and two birds

July 20 2005

This morning, I took the train from Sydney to Katoomba....Note the family resemblance among the famous "three sisters"?
Image:Three sisters and two birds

One of the highlights for me was seeing these two parrots...I honestly don't think I've ever seen parrots "in the wild" before, though it's been pointed out to me that if I paid attention whilst in San Francisco, I'd see the Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill.
Image:Three sisters and two birds

I'll have a full album of photos ready by the end of the week.  Now, it's off to the "Geekdinner"....from the e-mails and posts, it looks like it's going to be a good time...

Ed Brill Blue Mountains, NSW Australia Category:  Travel  Add/View Comments [11]

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  1. 1  norm van bergen  | 7/20/2005 7:17:15 AM

    Great pics Ed - thanks. The parrots are great.

    "Three Sisters" seems to be a common name for triple-peaked formations. Here's the one I think of when I hear the name, a bit closer to my own backyard that Oz too: { Link }

  1. 2  Don Williams  | 7/20/2005 8:27:39 AM

    Ed - a few years ago I was over there and took a bus tour to the Blue Mountains. Saw the three sisters and the parrots. Very cool indeed. Also saw the only 'roo I have ever seen in the wild while there. Great trip!

  1. 3  Brian Benz http://www.softwaresoapbox.com | 7/20/2005 11:10:17 AM

    Yeah, the wilderness in Australia is wonderful. Amazing things growing all over the place. My most memorable experience was shortly after my arrival years ago, walking in the gardens near the opera house, along the waterfront, in the moonlight. The Sydney waterfront is beautiful but with all the office buildings and the modern architecture, it can feel like any other city in the world. All of a sudden, a small wallaby hops across my path and disappears into the bushes. Not a pet or a zoo escapee, a native wild animal. For the first time I thought about where I was and how far it was from everywhere else…

    Other memorable experiences – having Kookaburras in Pittwater steal bacon right off my plate while I’m eating breakfast. Salting leeches off unexpected places after a swim in a beautiful mountain stream near Tweed Heads….

  1. 4  Dave Hay  | 7/20/2005 1:44:18 PM

    Come by IBM Staines sometime, and check out the wild parrots living there

  1. 5  Randall Shimizu  | 7/20/2005 3:27:12 PM

    There is a bunch of Parrots in Point Loma (San Diego, CA) where I live. They used to hang out in front of my house and squawk like crazy.

  1. 6  Ed Brill www.edbrill.com | 7/20/2005 6:18:16 PM

    @3 Brian -- I was recently witness to such a bird manuver in Galveston, Texas. A bird snatched a piece of sausage off the plate of the guy at the table next to us... didn't even see the bird coming. It was incredible. Of course, Pittwater is a bit different than Galveston. :)

  1. 7  Tim Baker  | 7/20/2005 8:01:46 PM

    Ed

    I think your photo is of a Crimson Rosella. The Rosella is very common throughout australia. But for all I know the Rosella could be very close cousins.

    Cheers

    Tim

  1. 8  Tim Baker  | 7/20/2005 8:03:04 PM

    That last sentence should read:

    But for all I know, the Rosella and Parrot could be very close cousins.

  1. 9  Jan  | 7/21/2005 4:08:48 AM

    Took that tour last year too.

    Got myself a bunch of lifetime memories.

    The view over BlueMountains was one of the most beautiful views i have ever seen.

    Saw both Rosella's and Cockatoo's up close.

    Only thing i didn't like was the fake "aboriginal dreamtime legends" made up by the tourist industry. They really did not have to do that, the nature sells itself.

  1. 10  Ed Brill www.edbrill.com | 7/23/2005 12:39:42 AM

    @9 - I did one of those Aboriginal tours (Japukai) in Kuranda/Cairns several years ago. Wouldn't hurry back, though I am sure there are wonderful ways to experience their culture elsewhere.