Guide to Aussie chooks

Visitors to Australia will no doubt encounter many of our chooks  (chickens, to the rest of you).

Another is this screechy psychotic chook

The Australian Magpie was recently voted in as the 2017 Aussie Bird of the Year!

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-12-11/bird-of-the-year-magpie-defeats-teambinchicken/9245242

When you hear a carolling magpie in the outdoors, you know you're in Australia.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/science/2017-12-11/magies-ten-things-you-didnt-know/9245780

The Magpie narrowly won the contest over another chook, known locally as the bin-chicken.

(Not) Sir David Attenborough had this to say:

Other runners-up in the Bird of the Year contest

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/dec/11/magpie-edges-out-white-ibis-and-kookaburra-as-australian-bird-of-the-year

Stunning images from Birdlife Australia's 2018 Calendar

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/gallery/2017/dec/07/birds-of-a-feather-australian-birdlifes-2018-calendar-in-pictures

lol

We were surrounded by the laughing chickens and screechy chickens, sounding alarms  late yesterday afternoon (Christmas Day). 

It was well over 100 degrees in American, had been 100% humidity for several days - a weeklong heatwave - and finally an electric thunderstorm was rolling in while we were in my brother’s pool (surrounded by golden palms, so pretty against the black clouds). Blessed relief in a little while!! 

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-12-25/severe-storm-warning-for-seq-after-a-scorching-christmas-day/9285248

And, as requested, a Christmas surprise story, like something Matt Groenig (sp?) might dream up:

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2017/dec/26/crocodile-surprise-melbourne-christmas