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The Brush Turkey (Alectura lathami) seems a topical subject for a blog post in the light of the present Federal Liberal party shenanigans.  Although it’s only a few years since brush turkeys began to colonise, or rather recolonise, Sydney’s Lower North Shore, my experience with them goes back to the last century.
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In the 1920s a thoroughbred racehorse was given the name of Drongo, after the Australian bird of that name. Sadly, in spite of his impeccable bloodlines, Drongo finished winless in all of his 37 races. The result was that in Australia a “drongo” became a standard term for a no-hoper or loser.
This is a little unfair on poor Drongo, who was a well-regarded stayer racing in top company. He was good enough to come 2nd in the 1923 Victoria Derby and 1924 VRC St Leger, and 3rd in the AJC St Leger, and took £2,200 in prize money. He also ran in two Melbourne Cups. The bird he was named for, the Spangled Drongo (Dicrurus bracteatus), isn’t such a drongo either—despite its flared and forked tail which makes it look like it’s wearing a Little Mermaid costume. |
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