CLANCY OVERELL | Editor | CONTACT
The trials and tribulations of living in a leafy suburban Queensland enclave were felt by all on Daroo Crescent in Betoota Grove this morning.
Local tradesman, Leo, has had waited until 6:00 am on the dot to fire up his beloved drop saw – as his non-council approved renovations continue to edge further out the backyard.
While Leo’s neighbours try their best to drift in and out of sleep between each incision, a local kookaburra has also decided to join in on the action.
As a species of the laughing kookaburra, the local bird is triggered by the noisy drop saw, which in turn spurs several other kookaburras who can be heard distantly throughout the neighbourhood.
The name laughing kookaburra refers to the bird’s “laugh”, which it uses to establish territory among family groups.
It can be heard at any time of day, but most frequently at dawn and dusk, and harmonises beautifully between the reee-reee sounds of a 22-year-old carpenter’s drop saw.
What starts with a low, hiccuping chuckle eventually fills the street with ringing laughter.
While hearing kookaburras in full voice is believed to be one of the more extraordinary experiences of the Australian bush, the kookaburra’s laughter harmonising with mounted power tools an hour before the morning alarm clock is also of note.
