I have a childhood memory of a movie (I think it was Bedknobs and Broomsticks) where the vultures were the stretcher bearers on the sidelines of a sports match. Each time someone was injured, the birds would straighten up and look excited, then hunch down again dejectedly when the person didn’t need their attention.

This Noisy Friarbird reminds me of those cartoon stretcher bearers!

Common name: Noisy Friarbird
Scientific name: Philemon corniculatus
Approximate length: 30-35 cm
Date spotted: 12 September 2025 (spring)
Location: Denman, NSW, Australia: 32°23’33.7″S 150°41’00.4″E