Kookaburra Sits by a Front Door

@JudyEv (382542)
Rockingham, Australia
February 17, 2017 10:23pm CST
While at the retirement village yesterday we saw this magnificent stone kookaburra at the front door of one of the residences. There were other ornaments in the garden but I couldn't really get a good photo of them. The kookaburra is often called the 'laughing jackass' as they make a cackle quite like someone laughing. And it seems nearly everyone has learnt the song 'Kookaburra Sits In An Old Gum Tree'. Did you learn this as a child?
19 people like this
20 responses
Val
@valmnz (17095)
• New Zealand
18 Feb 17
We certainly did learn it here in NZ back in the 1950s. Not sure kids learn t at school any more though. We have our own NZ songs now.
3 people like this
Val
@valmnz (17095)
• New Zealand
18 Feb 17
@JudyEv I've seen some strange birds on my trips to Oz but I don't recall ever seeing a kookaburra.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382542)
• Rockingham, Australia
19 Feb 17
@valmnz I'm a bit surprised at that as they are relatively common and often hang out at parks or barbecue areas - but not coffee shops.
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382542)
• Rockingham, Australia
18 Feb 17
I'd be surprised if they learn it now but I know once before quite a few in the US had learnt it and, judging a quick glance through the responses, that's still the case.
1 person likes this
Fiacre Banks
@xFiacre (14805)
• Ireland
18 Feb 17
@judyev Oh yes, but it wasn't till the song was drummed into me that I found out what a kookaburra was then the song made sense.
3 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382542)
• Rockingham, Australia
18 Feb 17
Adults don't always think to explain things.
ElusiveButterfly
@ElusiveButterfly (45941)
• United States
18 Feb 17
As I read the title to your post it woke the voices in my head and they all began singing the tune. Never knew they were called the laughing jackass. LOL.
2 people like this
ElusiveButterfly
@ElusiveButterfly (45941)
• United States
19 Feb 17
@JudyEv it was a song that they taught us in elementary school as part of our music class!
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382542)
• Rockingham, Australia
19 Feb 17
I still find it amazing that so many Americans have commented that they learnt the song as children.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382542)
• Rockingham, Australia
20 Feb 17
@ElusiveButterfly It must have caught the imagination somewhere along the line and got transported all over the place.
1 person likes this
Barbara Radisavlejvic
@bagarad (14283)
• Paso Robles, California
18 Feb 17
I think any child in any organized group learns that song. I know we sang it in Campfire Girls and it's in the scout songbooks. It is you who have shown me what the bird looks like, so I thank you for that.
2 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382542)
• Rockingham, Australia
18 Feb 17
I know the first time the kookaburra song came up I was astounded at the number of people who had learnt it at some stage in their lives. If it was in a scout or guide songbook that would account for a lot of those who remember it.
1 person likes this
Barbara Radisavlejvic
@bagarad (14283)
• Paso Robles, California
19 Feb 17
@JudyEv It's amazing what silly songs are in those books or are sung by youth groups here. In Rainbow Girls ( a Masonic Lodge Youth Group for teen girls) we had to wear floor-length formals to meetings. After the meetings, we would come down for refreshments and sing silly songs, many of which had motions. I always had a hard time with the motions. One of them was "Oh Chester Have you Heard About Harry." Have you heard that one?
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382542)
• Rockingham, Australia
19 Feb 17
@bagarad No, I haven't heard that one. I've never heard of Masonic youth groups here but perhaps they have them.
1 person likes this
Gary Marsh
@garymarsh6 (24078)
• United Kingdom
18 Feb 17
Oh yes and occasionally it pops right back into ones mind! When I first saw the photo I thought blimey I did not think they were that big then realised it was a model.
2 people like this
Gary Marsh
@garymarsh6 (24078)
• United Kingdom
18 Feb 17
@JudyEv A beautiful looking bird similar in a way to the Kingfisher!
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382542)
• Rockingham, Australia
18 Feb 17
@garymarsh6 Kookaburras belong to the kingfisher family. Here is one we got a photo of when we were away once.
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382542)
• Rockingham, Australia
18 Feb 17
It's pretty massive. I have one on the kitchen cupboard but obviously it is a lot smaller than this one.
1 person likes this
Bhem
@JustBhem (70555)
• Davao, Philippines
18 Feb 17
I just know this bird in a cartoon movie but I haven't seen a real one.
2 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382542)
• Rockingham, Australia
18 Feb 17
We have them around here although they have been introduced from the Eastern States.
1 person likes this
Bhem
@JustBhem (70555)
• Davao, Philippines
18 Feb 17
@JudyEv I see. Are they nice bird?
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382542)
• Rockingham, Australia
19 Feb 17
@JustBhem They have been in our state for years but are not native here. They are bad news for smaller native birds as they are quite aggressive.
1 person likes this
me
@dfollin (27267)
• United States
18 Feb 17
Yes, I did. When I seen the title of this discussion, I said to myself, "Wow, I remember that, Cool!" That is a beautiful statue.
2 people like this
me
@dfollin (27267)
• United States
18 Feb 17
@JudyEv Oh my!!! I loved that song as a child.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382542)
• Rockingham, Australia
18 Feb 17
There are a few readers saying they remember the song.
1 person likes this
allen0187
@allen0187 (59827)
• Philippines
19 Feb 17
Never learned that song when I was a child. 'Laughing jackass' - what an appropriate description to politicians around the world!
1 person likes this
allen0187
@allen0187 (59827)
• Philippines
19 Feb 17
@JudyEv yes, that is amazing. I actually made a note to look up that song in YouTube. Just haven't done it yet.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382542)
• Rockingham, Australia
19 Feb 17
It certainly would suit many politicians. And 11 out of 19 comments so far have mentioned learning the song - and from several different countries. Isn't that amazing?
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382542)
• Rockingham, Australia
19 Feb 17
@allen0187 Just about every song seems to be on YouTube so quite possibly you'll find it.
1 person likes this
Always smiling
@allknowing (153529)
• India
19 Feb 17
Yes. We learnt that song and even now I sing it sometimes.
1 person likes this
Always smiling
@allknowing (153529)
• India
19 Feb 17
@JudyEv I wonder why all the 19 have not said that We all grew up singing that song.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382542)
• Rockingham, Australia
19 Feb 17
@allknowing It seems that you all didn't. :)
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382542)
• Rockingham, Australia
19 Feb 17
I think 11 out of 19 have said they know the song.
1 person likes this
aubrey
@averygirl72 (38848)
• Philippines
18 Feb 17
Beautiful sculpture. I don't know of the song
2 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382542)
• Rockingham, Australia
18 Feb 17
It's a children's song and was apparently in a guides and scouts songbook which is probably why quite a few people remembered it.
1 person likes this
Silvermist
@silvermist (19701)
• India
20 Feb 17
@JudyEv For a moment there,I thought that it was a real bird.No,we did not study that song.It is very beautiful.
1 person likes this
Silvermist
@silvermist (19701)
• India
20 Feb 17
@JudyEv Both are similar-the real one and the one in stone.
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382542)
• Rockingham, Australia
20 Feb 17
It's quite a nice looking statue. Here's a real one.
1 person likes this
Anna
@LadyDuck (502812)
• Italy
18 Feb 17
I did not Judy, I suppose your children songs are different from ours. We had a song about the cuckoo bird singing in a forest.
2 people like this
Anna
@LadyDuck (502812)
• Italy
18 Feb 17
@JudyEv May be in English speaking countries for sure. In France I have heard many funny children songs, because our apartment was right next to a kids school. They only sang French song all the time.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382542)
• Rockingham, Australia
18 Feb 17
Well, that's makes a lot of sense doesn't it? But it seems Girl Guides and Boy Scouts in other countries learnt it.
1 person likes this
James Higgins
@JamesHxstatic (29410)
• Eugene, Oregon
18 Feb 17
Now this is funny. I showed Anne the bird and since I never heard of the song was about to say nooo, we never. But Anne did learn it as child in school in California. I attended grammar schools in Texas, a much less progressive state, (then and now).
2 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382542)
• Rockingham, Australia
18 Feb 17
I was really surprised last time the subject came up, just how many non-Australians had learnt the song.
1 person likes this
Scott Ganschow
@teamfreak16 (43664)
• Denver, Colorado
18 Feb 17
No, I've never heard the song, but that's a neat looking bird. I always enjoy yours and Vince's photos!
2 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382542)
• Rockingham, Australia
18 Feb 17
This is actually one of MY photos - just for a change! You can tell which are mine usually by the unhorizontal horizons. :)
1 person likes this
Patsie Hatley is Deceased
@Hatley (163772)
• Garden Grove, California
21 Feb 17
oh yes indeed I 'learned tjhe Kookaburra song as a child but never knew what it looked likebefore sort of an attractive bird
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382542)
• Rockingham, Australia
21 Feb 17
I can't get over how many people have either heard of the song or learnt it as a child.
Judy Story
@jstory07 (148771)
• Roseburg, Oregon
18 Feb 17
That is a good picture that you took. I remember that song and used to sing it.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382542)
• Rockingham, Australia
18 Feb 17
It's a very big statue. You couldn't really miss it.
Marie
@Tampa_girl7 (54736)
• United States
19 Feb 17
Yes, I remember that sound very fondly.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382542)
• Rockingham, Australia
19 Feb 17
It does sound like laughter, doesn't it?
Jekca
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
19 Feb 17
that is a big bird statue (and I didn't, but I learned it later on a kid's tape at a children's day care center)
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382542)
• Rockingham, Australia
20 Feb 17
It's a nice catchy song I guess.
1 person likes this
Inlemay
@Inlemay (17712)
• South Africa
24 Feb 17
Isnt it the Australia National Bird? Its a lovely piece and looks quite regal at the front of the home
John Roberts
@JohnRoberts (109841)
• Los Angeles, California
18 Feb 17
I don't think that song was big in the US! I never heard of it. Terrific stone creation.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382542)
• Rockingham, Australia
18 Feb 17
It would have been taught in schools if at all and it seems some remember it.
1 person likes this