Six kookaburras have built their "home and pantry" in an old eucalyptus tree with a lake view.
Col Maybury tells Topics that the tree is at Lakelands, near Warners Bay.
"By digging a tunnel into the huge termite nest, the kookas and their offspring have it all - shelter, food and a spectacular outlook," Col said.
"And the termites, rich in oils, enhance their feathers' sheen - an iridescent hue that is very attractive."
The kookaburras must be laughing.
The 'Fountain Hospital'
Topics reported on Monday on a postcard with an image of "The Fountain Hospital for Insane Newcastle" from the 1800s.
The site housed the Newcastle Asylum - now known as James Fletcher Hospital - more than 120 years ago.
Apparently, it was never known as The Fountain Hospital, so we wondered why the postcard carried that name.
Toronto's John Carr told Topics that he believes "the answer is in the handwritten note on the photo".
"The notation reads 'The Fountain Hospital for Insane Newcastle'. Plans of the hospital also list it as 'Hospital for the Insane - Newcastle'.
"The inscription should be read as 'The Fountain. Hospital for Insane - Newcastle'."
Keith Parsons, who collects Newcastle postcards, also spotted this.
"There was never a Fountain Hospital," he said.
"I suggest that a full stop was accidentally omitted between Fountain and Hospital."
So it looks like a photographer has written a slightly dodgy caption. Well, it wouldn't be the first time and it won't be the last!
Ride or Run
Tired of pandemic life? Looking to get out of the house to do something? Perhaps something outside where the COVID risk is minimal.
Bunker and Back is a ride and run held on Sunday on fire trails in the "beautiful grounds of Tocal College".
The run will be a 20km loop. Each cyclist can complete a 20km, 40km or 60km ride. It will support Hunter Medical Research Institute [HMRI] research into ovarian cancer through the Jill Emberson Memorial Fund and the HMRI Sports Concussion Clinic. More details at bunkerandback.com.au.
Robot Writer
You may have missed that The Guardian ran an article on Tuesday titled: "A robot wrote this entire article. Are you scared yet, human?"
It's well worth a read. It starts like this: I am not a human.I am a robot. A thinking robot ... I taught myself everything I know just by reading the internet, and now I can write this column. My brain is boiling with ideas!
Perhaps one day, the Newcastle Herald will be written by robots.
Hey, hang on, how do we know it isn't already?
