Well this series was inspired by Harry's Bird on a stick shots of his eagle in the Viera wetlands. I just spent 2 weeks in the SW of Western Australia, where I came across quite a variety of bird life. Somewhere along the way I had the idea to get as many bird on a stick shots as possible for a series. I'm using the word "stick" quite loosely in some shots ;)

First of all, the ones that didn't quite make the cut...
#1 Bird near a stick - Pied Oystercatcher


#2 Bird almost on a stick(post) - duck


#3 Bird almost on a stick(post) - raven


#4 Bird on a stick(well, piece of wood!) - welcome swallow


#5 Bird on a stick (post) - darter


#6 Bird on a stick (post) - crested tern


#7 Bird on a stick (well piece of wood) - Grey fantail


#8 Bird on a... well... sign(with an identity crisis!) - Nankeen kestrel



#9 Bird on a metal stick! - Little pied cormorant


#10 Noisy bird on a stick (post) - seagull


#11 Bird on a stick (post) - laughing kookaburra


#12 Birds on sticks - cormorants and terns


#13 Bird on a stick (post) - Barn Owl at raptor refuge



And now for the real bird on a stick shots!

#14 Birds on a stick - galahs


#15 Bird on a stick - black kite


#16 Bird on a stick - swamp harrier at raptor refuge


#17 Bird on a stick - yellow-billed spoonbill


#18 Bird on a stick


And for the last Bird on a stick shot, my personal favourite, this little nankeen kestrel.
#19

Gorgeous shots, Mike. But that Kestrel is off the charts!!

Wonderful series Mike

Very entertaining, Mike!

I like the swallow and the last, of course.

Wow Mike ... what a great series. I think the Kestrel and the Cormorant are my favs.

It's nice to know that Harry can be so inspirational! He is a blessing to us all (seriously).

Now for the trip to SW Australia ... It's official, I hate you!

All are nice! The oystercatcher looks like the North American Black Oystercatcher. But 17, the spoonbill, and 19 the nankeen kestrel are incredible. I'm still looking at the kestrel....wonderful pose, perch and detail!

Originally Posted by kdog Gorgeous shots, Mike. But that Kestrel is off the charts!!

Thanks Kdog! I was amazed at how close it let me get. I was moving clumsily and noisily through the bush to get close enough for a half decent shot, and it let me get right up to within 3 meters away! It was watching me the whole time, but didn't seem too bothered. It was out in the country so it maybe hadn't had too much interaction with humans. I thought it might have been a juvenile, but my bird book tells me otherwise. It's a female, and she was quite beautiful!

Originally Posted by dlplumer Wonderful series Mike

Thanks Dan Glad you enjoyed!

Originally Posted by Ric Grupe Very entertaining, Mike! I like the swallow and the last, of course.

Thanks Ric! Yeah the swallow turned out quite well indeed

You gotta add # 14 to the "more true love" thread Mike

great assortment of birds Mike last one is my fav also!!!

Originally Posted by bhowdy Wow Mike ... what a great series. I think the Kestrel and the Cormorant are my favs. It's nice to know that Harry can be so inspirational! He is a blessing to us all (seriously). Now for the trip to SW Australia ... It's official, I hate you!

Thanks bhowdy! Not just Harry, but a lot of the photographers on here provide inspiration Harry is certainly one of the big guns though!

Now, as for the SW trip, well it is my backyard!

Originally Posted by Maestro All are nice! The oystercatcher looks like the North American Black Oystercatcher. But 17, the spoonbill, and 19 the nankeen kestrel are incredible. I'm still looking at the kestrel....wonderful pose, perch and detail!

Cheers Stephen! Yeah you can imagine the huge grin on my face after I got that shot! Hehehe. I couldn't stop grinning and talking about it to my wife when I got back to the car after stopping and dashing off through the bush to get it!

Excellent set of pics.

Originally Posted by dlplumer You gotta add # 14 to the "more true love" thread Mike

Yeah will do!

Originally Posted by kdog Gorgeous shots, Mike. But that Kestrel is off the charts!!

Very enjoyable shots !!!

Originally Posted by dbaker1221 great assortment of birds Mike last one is my fav also!!!

Thanks Dave! I was reaching on some of those shots. Not the best quality but trying to get the theme going.

Originally Posted by summerz Excellent set of pics.

Cheers Summerz Glad you enjoyed them.

Marvelous set Mike.