It’s something in the nature of birds that they can find their way home…..

Summary: Birds have natural homing devices, we have to depend on memory, directions, street directories, maps and satellite navigators. Here’s my experience in purchasing and using a NavMan.

The New York Times published an article on February 13, 1898

HOMING INSTINCT OF BIRDS.; Capt. Renaud, the French Specialist, Concludes that They Have a Sixth Sense, That of Orientation.

Capt. Renaud, the French specialist in charge of the military pigeon service, is a firm believer in a sixth sense in pigeons and other birds and animals possessed of the homing instinct, which he calls the sense of “orientation.”

Ref: http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?_r=1&res=9803E4DE1030E333A25750C1A9649C94699ED7CF

I however, have been through stressful days (and nights) of not being able to get home or find my way out of a new location. The latest incident happened a few weeks back in Waterloo. I went round and round, just to face dead ends, no righ/left turn streets, one way streets, no U turns, and this was late at night, and the streets were dark…. and quiet.

I resolved to get a satellite navigator. The first thing I did was use the trusty Google to learn all that I could about satellite navigators and the brands. Then I listed what I REALLY wanted and needed in a SatNav (my language became more fancy as I learnt more about these gadgets!). Then, I located stores that would stock what I needed and did my rounds, intently inquiring and testing out the various models (Tom Tom, Garmin, Navman) from the lowest range to the highest range that caught my eye. I then negotiated for the best prices around and ended up at Harvey Norman (who was willing to beat Office Works’ pricing by $1).

Here’s my evaluation of store service:

JB Hi Fi (Macquarie Centre, Sydney) – everyone was busy, nobody bothered with service. I was ignored and the staff looked too busy to acknowledge my presence, so after 15 mins of waiting and trying to flag down a staff member, I walked out. The last time I was there, the staff talked down to me like I was a freaking idiot. I haven’t enjoyed my visits to this store very much.

Dick Smith (Westfields, Chatswood) – superb personal service, reassuring 14 day return policies, knowledgeable staff, patient, listened to my needs, asked good questions  and products are reasonably priced.

OfficeWorks North Ryde – good pricing, has a good range, but scarce on staff (but they are always helpful although busy). The reason I didn’t end up buying here was that they had only 2 boxes left and both looked opened/not in mint condition.

Harvey Norman North Ryde – staff are slightly colder, sales-sy,  but they were willing to beat OW on price, and the product condition was great, so I ended up buying my NavMan MY50T there for $195.

Why NavManMY50T?

• The graphics are clear and simple.
• It’s got 3D for junction views.
• The street names and directions are spoken out loud.
• The street name and directions are stated clearly on the screen (if I want to see it, as well as hear it).
• The screen was of a reasonable viewable size.
• It has a walking mode, choices for tolled or non tolled roads.
• It remembers where ‘Home’ is.
• I can save my favourite/next/most difficult (ie I find hard to get to) destinations on it.
• The touch screen interface is so easy to use so it’s easy to navigate on screen and on the road.
• I do not need BlueTooth – I do not receive too many calls whilst I am driving, and my phone already has a handsfree speaker phone, so it’s not something I need (the Bluetooth model is about A$120 more)
• I do not need (Bluetooth) to surf the internet to get data whilst I am driving that the NavMan cannot already provide. Some info is great to have, but not 100% necessary, eg traffic updates. I have the radio for that.

My verdict after 3 weeks of use:

It’s not 100% perfect: Does not work in a underground car park, not great on heavily overcast days, does  not work in tunnels (and that is where I get lost a lot, and I learn from it, i.e. there are multiple lanes and signs in the tunnels and you just have to go with common sense and gut feel to know where to exit), and I did make mistakes of turning too quickly or keeping on the wrong side of the road.

BUT, I can now find my way home and to anywhere I want to go. It searches for cafes, parking, banks, petrol stations and more. The sound is clear and the voice feature is excellent.

I can drive more confidently, and it has saved me a lot of time from making the wrong turns. It’s better than a street directory as I do not have to stop in a dark alley to check where I am. It refreshes itself if I make a wrong turn and it recalculates a new route for me to take.

By and large, I am better off now than I was before. So, I feel freer, and more like a bird, soaring anywhere, and able to get home when I want to.

I wake and look at the day so bright,the flock they fly to there day’s delight.
To where, I say as they form a shape, so I can watch in full delight.
The trees are filling with special types of birds that in there plight
Will eat the fruit of delight.
The little ones are in the tree hiding,then they flee
Larger birds come to say that is enough for you today.
The willy wagtail sprints around the lawn to find a grub for breakfast dew.
High above the pelican flys by to the estry for a fish or two.
Driving by I see the swan say you;ll not get my fish today.
The crow sits in the tree above crowing it’s song in high note
While sweet little birds sing there song below.
Night comes in, daylight fading.
The flock returns to nest in the wet lands for a pleasant day they had.
Tomorow I will rise to see the events of yesterday
The songs of birds as they repeat the delightfull day I will keep.

Birdwatching in Oz

Camera at the ready, Holding it steady,
Was that a King Parrot or lorikeet?
Galahs in a pair, caught unaware hold my focus
While Rosellas meander at my feet

A Cockatoo in flight With feathers so white,
screeches loudly in search of his mates.
Magpie looks around, snatches food from the ground
Then flies back to where his family waits.

Kookaburra makes mention,just to get my attention,
Wait…There’s two, How lucky am I?
I aim, press the shutter, but alas! In a flutter,
They laughed at me and took to the sky.

Here’s a very brief slideshow (18 pictures) of the turtle dove, rainbow lorikeet and the sulphur crested cockatoo from my garden.

I have taken some videos and photos, which I will upload in my next blog to you.

My top 20 goals for 2010

My driving values to get these done are: focus, commitment, patience, energy, fun, adventure

Intention: To make an even bigger positive difference to the world.

1. Step up my relationship with God. Read, pray, meditate, immerse, integrate, share.
2. Take care of myself – facials, massages, rest days, healthy food, good friends, sleep
3. Get physiotherapy that works for my body (and claimable via health and insurance rebates)
4. Find different and creative ways to attract different types of birds to my garden regularly. They are just so delightful to behold.
5. Train/Coach and support in positively transforming the lives of others over at least 400 hours by Dec 2010
6. I outgrew my former coach. I want to hire a suitable mentor/coach that will challenge me and help me step up to the next level in my business, investments, business and life with creativity, encouragement, resourcefulness and confidence. Every very successful person has a coach, and every great coach has a coach as well so we continue to step up in our own game plan! Think about all the sports stars, top CEOs, top leaders and executives – they all have a coach and mentor that pushes them higher.
7. Commit and learn Tai Chi or Qi Gong truly and masterfully
8. Learn the Tango and Rumba skilfully and confidently. Sexy!
9. Improve my golf game. Specifically, to shave off 20 strokes by 31 Dec 2010.
10. Get fit and strong enough to go wakeboarding again by March 2010
11. Travel the Silk Road
12. Build up my cash flow sources – from work & business.
13. Develop one key joint venture/business associate that will have massive impact on my business
14. Organise 6 Superchicks adventure coaching activities
15. Design and run  2 major Superchicks adventure workshops (1 – 2 days each)
16. Learn/Explore 3 investment strategies and start acting on at least 1 of it: April 2010
17. Organise and get 12 of my articles actively published on the net with at least 3 other websites
18. Produce 2 solid e-books for 2010. I’ve written some this year, now to step up evern more!
19. Make my blog site the number 1 place to go for ‘Birds in the Garden’, build a place that delights, inspires and makes a difference to everyone around.
20. Speed Read about 1 book per week for the next 16 weeks (4 months) and integrate 3 key action points based on each book’s learnings.

i.            Spiral Dynamics – Beck Cowan
ii.            The Intelligent Investor – Graham
iii.            Think and Grow Rich – Napoleon Hill
iv.            Secrets of Top Business Builders Exposed – Dale Beaumont
v.            Why men lie and women cry – Alan Pease
vi.            Instant Systems – Brad Sugars
vii.            Secrets of Property Millionaires Exposed   Dale Beaumont
viii.            From 0 to 200 properties in 7 yrs  – McKnight
ix.            Seven steps to wealth  – John L Fizgerald
x.            From 0 to 130 properties in 3.5 yrs – Mcknight
xi.            Your investment property – Anita bell
xii.            $1,000,000 in property in one year – Mcknight
xiii.            How to create an income for life - Margaret Lomas
xiv.            Complete reading all 10 mini pocket books which I bought

What are your goals starting today for the next 12 months? What are you wishing for?

I had placed some hanging bird seed at different locations, and the birds came for it. One’s actually only 3 feet from my office desk, so I can see the birds in full view without disturbing them.

We had a dove and 2 lorikeets visit us in the few minutes that I observed. This video takes slightly over 6 minutes and you are accompanied by Stacey Kent in 2 lovely renditions of ‘Isn’t this a lovely day’ and ‘It might as well be spring’.

If you are experiencing Youtube video delays, just hit ‘play’ and then ‘pause’ and give it a few minutes for the data packets to load up, then play the video. I hope this short video brings a few more smiles to your world, even if virtually speaking.

Enjoy!

Now… to wait for the flowers to appear…..and the birds to come…. don’t hold your breath…..

I’ve got sufficient footage of the birds in my garden to do a short video compilation of the world of birds that have come to my semi-urban garden regularly only after 4 weeks’ effort.

Enjoy the accompaniment music by Renee Olstead. Would love your feedback!

If you are experiencing Youtube video delays, just hit ‘play’ and then ‘pause’ and give it a few minutes for the data packets to load up, then play the video. I hope it brings beauty to your world, even if virtually speaking.

Enjoy!

This is a lovely little video of a rainbow lorikeet and a turtle dove, accompanied by the voice of Michael Buble singing ‘When you’re smiling’. I was smiling and I hope today’s blog will bring a smile to your face as well. (My apologies in advance for any delays in the view rendition. It helps to give it a few minutes so the data can be loaded.)

We had a beautiful visitor this afternoon in our garden. In fact we had more than one. Today, a sulphur crested cockatoo visited our bird bar. I didn’t have my video camera with me, but I had my Blackberry and camera, so I managed to capture these shots of the cockatoo.

Photo compilation in video time: 1:14

The SCC is a large white parrot. They can be locally very numerous, hanging around in large flocks, leading to them sometimes being considered pests. People around the neighborhood tolerate these loud comical birds, but many do not want them hanging around their homes. Cockatoos can get somewhat destructive as it is in their nature to strip down bark off gum trees. They use their beaks for lots of functions. In a semi-urban setting, they turn their beaks on strips of wood, panelling, strip down cedar structures and do a lot of household damage. I love the look and sound of them. Their distinctive raucous call can be very loud; it is adapted to travel through the forest environments in which they live, including tropical and subtropical rainforests. These birds are naturally curious, as well as very intelligent. They have adapted very well to European settlement in Australia and live in many urban areas. There are large flocks around my neighbourhood, and they often perch high up in the gum trees in the neighbouring houses.

This cockatoo was happy to share his meal with the rainbow lorikeets who were already at the bird table. So today, we get a double bonus in terms of the types of birds in my garden. You get both the rainbow lorikeets and the sulphur crested cockatoo in one shot.

Enjoy the video compilation I’ve put together of my camera shots.

Keep well and stay chirpy.