Awsome picture!! How did you manage to get three kingfishers to hold still for a picture that close?

Dennis, I don't think those are real kingfishers. The trees don't look quite real, either. Maybe the boat is, though. But the airport owner seems real... ornery.

Not to be too ornery, myself--but I wonder what would happen if David hit the starter with those guys perched on the prop. Would they be able to get out of the way of the next blade? Or would they get sliced like Arby's roast beef? That's only an academic question, of course. They look right cute, those kooky kingfishers. Really neat photo, David!

AH Ha! I wasn't duped as bad as I thought. At least they are related.

From Wikipedia:
Laughing kookaburra in Tasmania, Australia
Kookaburras are terrestrial tree kingfishers of the genus Dacelo native to Australia and New Guinea, which grow to between 28–42 cm (11–17 in) in length. The name is a loanword from Wiradjuri guuguubarra, onomatopoeic of its call. The loud distinctive call of the laughing kookaburra is widely used as a stock sound effect in situations that involve an Australian bush setting.

They are found in habitats ranging from humid forest to arid savanna, as well as in suburban areas with tall trees or near running water. Even though they belong to the larger group known as "kingfishers", kookaburras are not closely associated with water

Did I get duped?

Don't feel bad, Dennis. Last year I went down to our seaplane base, and on one of the plane's docks was an owl, just sitting there. It slowly turned it's head and looked right at me. I stared at it for the longest time, wondering why there was an owl sitting there during the day. Then I saw a second one - and realized these were decoys to scare off birds. The heads pivoted in the breeze. Talk about feeling stupid. I was just glad no one else was around.

Mark, Years ago on the Chesapeake it was fashionable to post Owls on docks, the theory being they would scare away the seagulls
and their messes. NOT. Somewhere in my photo archives I have a photo of the "whitest" pier on Kent Island.

The problem with the way they look, Dennis, is that they are upside down Downunder in Australia. That's why Laughing Kookabura laugh (or maybe, as Rob L. told me, it's in anticipation of rare rain....but, then again, as a naïve yank I got told a lot of stuff). Yup, the trees growing upside down look strange too. And, obviously, the boat is rightly upside down. What I observed in a cockeyed way is those Kookabura are smart. They've probably already buggered the starter, so, no worries about hanging around upside down on the prop. And, as for the airport owner, well, he's likely very friendly but lawyered up.

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Maniacally Kooky Laughing

Congratulations Dan. Kookaburra correct, had a feeling you might know our feathered friend.
Interesting bird the Kookaburra has a
very loud laugh and likes catching snakes. They are friendly, bit like us Australians.

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Kookaburra2

Hi Dennis, Kookaburras are extremely friendly and easy to approach. I was actually having trouble keeping them away when I wanted to start the engine.