Confusion
Last week five unexpected visitors turned up at the RUC in the shape of white Guinea Fowl.
They’re not tame, but not native to Australia either – so I have no idea where they’ve come from. I travelled around to neighbours to see if anyone had lost this cute little Confusion (yes – the collective noun is a Confusion of Guinea Fowl and they really live up to it!)
No one is claiming them. I’ve looked online – no one has reported them missing.
I can’t catch this Confusion because they become confused when I approach (and they’re faster than chickens). My Snow White Powers (as hubby calls it when I’m near animals) don’t work on them.
This morning when I went outside I could only see four of them. Good grief! What happened to the fifth? Dogs, wild cats, snakes – I don’t even want to think about it.
I’ve left some seeds in the shed hoping they’ll settle in there every night, but they just run into the sugar cane and disappear for the evening looking really confused. I feel like a Mother Hen trying to protect them.
If you know anything about Guinea Fowl your expertise would be greatly appreciated.
Last week I talked about some photos I‘d sent to the local newspaper in the hope that they would publish them. They didn’t (hey, I’m used to rejection), so I’m now going to share them here with you.
The Sunbirds love my passionfruit vine and most afternoons they come by to drink their fill of nectar. So I finally captured a shot of this little beauty.
Looking for a flower
Found one!
Having a nice sip of nectar
*** Have a great week!***
Dianne Gray author 
Wow these are some great bird shots 🙂
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I’m so glad you think so! Thank you 😀
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R and I had guinea hens on the hobby farm. While they are good at eating wood ticks and other nasty things, they are also loud as hell. I grew to hate them. http://thefreerangelife.com/5-reasons-not-to-own-guinea-fowl/ If you like quiet, reconsider your desire to tame them. 🙂
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Haaaa – they really are noisy. I only knew they were there on the first day because it sounded like someone was jumping on rusty bed-springs 😀 I have a chicken pen a long way from the house so if I cane catch them – they’ll be relegated to that 😉
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They missed their opportunity. Rejection just means didn’t have a need at the moment. That’s the glory of blogging. You are the publisher. You get to decide. You made the right decision to publish the pics. The Sunbird is particularly spectacular. Good luck with the confusion of guinea fowls. They may be my peeps! We have a lot in common. I think I’d go for the sugar, too! 🙂 Be honest, Dianne, wouldn’t you?
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I would probably go for the sugar cane as well, Marsha – very sweet and loads of places to hide. The only problem is that the cutting season has started and – well, you know what that means 😦
I’m really glad you like the pics. I take rejection well, you have to in this business 😀
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Amen to that! Rejection and criticism comes with the territory, as do praise and compliments. Cutting season doesn’t sound really healthy for birds on the ground. Hope they can fly! 🙂
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Actually – they can! They don’t fly a lot, but I saw them take to the air when my dogs chased them (naughty dogs!) 😉
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Well, they were fools not to publish your photos, Dianne. The Sunbirds are amazing! That is so strange about the guinea fowls. I hope you’re able to solve the mystery. Have a great week!
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Fools – great word, Jill 😀 It gave me good giggle. I’m so glad you like the Sunbirds – they are so colourful (but very fast) 😉
The guinea fowls really have me scratching my head. I have no idea where they have come from and they’re not cheap (no pun intended). As they say in the crime scene shows “someone somewhere must know something” 😀
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LOL! The fact that the Sunbirds are so fast, makes your shots even better. I’ve been trying to get some good pictures of the American Goldfinch…they split whenever there’s movement.
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I feel your pain 😀
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Have you thought about contacting your local animal shelter or vet in the area? They might know something or even come help you round them up. I can’t imagine it is very safe out there for them because they aren’t native. I would be calling around asking people for any ideas. If they came in through someone else I would imagine they would have to be registered as they aren’t native and might get loose (as these obviously have done). Just a few ideas that popped in my head. Otherwise, Love the pics of them and those other cuties…Sunbirds…how nicely named. 🙂
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Thanks, Jackie. Great advice! I don’t think they need to be registered, but I will go to a breeder and ask these questions 😀
The sunbirds are very aptly named 😉
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Your photos are really beautiful. I’m sure that your locals would have loved to see them, I don’t remember ever seeing a confusion of guinea fowl. Hope #5 returns to the fold. xx
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#5 is still not around, Sylvia 😦 Hopefully it just got confused and lost instead of succumbing to any ‘fowl’ play 😉
Thanks so much for the compliments on the photos, I think they’re pretty cool too 😀
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Dianne, the sunbird is gorgeous. I’ve not heard of them before.
Blessings ~ Wendy
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They certainly are a beautiful bird, Wendy – I’m so glad you had this opportunity to see one! 😀
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That top shot of the sunbird is a Top Shot!
Maybe the confusion of new-to you guinea fowl flew in from New Guinea in confusion.
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Haaa – they might have flown all the way from New Guinea, Nancy – it’s not very far away from here (as the crow flies) 😀
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great input on your guinea fowls. I think they’re tasty eating, too–at least from my primitive tribe research they sound to be. Not that you’d want to do that!
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I heard that they are great for eating as well, Jacqui! Yum yum – if only I could catch them. But then I’d get all cowardly and feel sorry for them and let them go again (LOL) 😀
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Those photos are stunning. Truthfully, they are too good for the paper. As far as your confusion goes, I don’t know, but I am always worrying and counting quail, too. I wonder where that word confusion comes from. I LOVE that Snow White powers comment. Hahaha. I screwed with mine the other day. I brushed off a bug on my shoulder without thinking and it was a hummingbird who flew off surprised I didn’t want him on me! I was really surprised!
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Oh no! You had a hummingbird on your shoulder and brushed it off? I did that with a damselfly last week. I’d actually written a story about damselflies and put it into a competition and I couldn’t believe I brushed the thing away. I was so annoyed with myself. I was hoping it didn’t mean bad luck for my story.
I’ll have to write to the paper and say “Luanne said my pictures are too good for you.” LOL – thank you so much xxxx
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No, it doesn’t mean bad luck. It’s a warning to pay more attention. At least that is what I thought for myself.
Yes, far too good for them!
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My heart stopped as I read the first sentence… until I got to the words “in the shape of guinea fowl”! Unexpected feathered visitors are fine 😋I’d be more than happy to have that sort of confusion in my yard.
Love the Sunbird and passionfruit flower pics. Passionfruit flowers are amazing, and Sunbirds are a lovely complement.
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Oh I hope I didn’t make your heart stop, Dale – you’ve got too much travelling to do! 😀
I’m so glad you like the pics – the Sunbirds and passionfruit flowers go so well together 😀
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Confusion of Guinea Fowl
how cool.
the do look surprised.
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I sometimes wonder who makes up these collective nouns – what a great job that would be! 😀
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I’m steeped in my own confusion–as to why in the world they didn’t publish your stunning and gorgeous photos!
Personally, I’m grateful–otherwise I wouldn’t have been able to see them. And as all of us widely share and give credit, you are touching more hearts with your photography (and writing!) gifts as well.
Bless you. And keep at it, m’dear!! ❤
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What a beautiful comment, Gina! Thank you so much. I hadn’t thought that I was reaching more people this way – you’ve made my day! 😀
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Guinea fowl are tasty but damned noisy little birds. If you can catch them, pen them for a while, fatten them up and then eat them.
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If I pen them I’ll probably keep them for a while for their delicious eggs, Allen 😀 Then when I’ve got a few chicks running around I’ll keep an eye out for the fat juicy ones 😉
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The good thing about your rejection is that you get to share them with us instead and we are a very admiring audience. Did the lost guinea fowl turn up? I hope one of your neighbouring crocs didn’t have it for lunch.
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Unfortunately there is only one here this morning – oh dear, I’m such a mother hen. I hope the rest are somewhere close by 😉
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Gorgeous photos Dianne, I can’t understand why they didn’t publish them! I hope you solve the mystery of the guinea fowl before they come to a fowl end 🙂
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I’m so glad you like the photos, Andrea 😀 The guinea fowl mystery is still not solved. I’ll have to start thinking of fowl conspiracy theories 😀
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I raised Guinea fowl in the States and we loved having them around. They make the best watchdogs. If you can find their nest the eggs are delicious. Almost impossible to cage, since they roost in trees or on top of buildings, which unfortunately makes them venerable to hawks, owls and such. Never had white ones, but I imagine they are just as non-smart and the gray ones. Originally from Africa. Tried to get some in Thailand, but very hard to come by. Feed them a bit and you’ll have friends that you’ll enjoy.
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I really love having them around, Dannie. I’m a bit worried though, because there is only one here this morning 😦 I hope they’ve just become separated and the others will turn up soon. It’s made me think I might get some young chickens and geese and guinea fowl next time I go to the markets. I’m such a mother hen! 😀
Thank you so much for the tweet xxx
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I did not know this – you sent me scurrying across the Internet to find out more!!! Love your photos – a reminder that there are many conversations that occur around us. I wish that I understood their language. What stories they could tell us…
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I often wish my animals could talk, but then hubby says I’d soon regret it! lol 😀
It’s so good to learn something new. I love this blogging life xxx
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Interesting encounters with nature, Dianne. Confusing or not, those guinea fowl look kinda pretty, but not as pretty as that very colourful bird!
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The guinea fowl have a colorful face, Cynthia and I think they’re a pretty bird too 😀 But that sunbird really is spectacular 😉
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Love the collective name for them. I had 2 when we house sat at Malander. I didn’t have to do anything for them. They would come over and peer through the bedroom window in a very confused way as though saying you shouldn’t be in there. Those ones were the dark grey speckled ones, I’ve never seen white ones. Well done capturing that photo of the gorgeous sunbird. Winter has arrived here this week. Put extra blanket on the bed last night
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It’s getting pretty cool here too, Pauline. Apparently you might be getting snow this weekend – wow, that would be spectacular in your neck of the woods! 😀
I’d love to know who makes up these collective nouns – what a great (and funny) job that would be. ‘Confused’ suits the guinea fowl to a T 😀
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How crazy snow would be. It is almost cold enough for snow at the moment. I’ll have to get the camera ready
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I’d love to see that! 😀
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I’d like to see it just long enough for a photo!!!
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A “confusion”, how interesting! You lead me on an interesting search. We have turkey vultures here. Ugly birds, I hate to say. I was curious to see what they were called in the collective and it turns out there are a few names for a group of them, among them: a wake or a committee.
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Both wake and committee are great names for vultures, Letizia. I wonder who comes up with these? I’d love to have that job 😀
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Must be a committee of vultures that come up with the names, when they are not confused by the fowl or murdered by the crows, haha!
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Haaaa – so clever! 😀
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A Confusion of Guinea Fowl! I just love that they’re called a “Confusion” and that they’re confused when you approach. I hope they all safe! And the Sundbird (another great name) is lovely. Great photos, Dianne.
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Thanks, Amy. I’m so glad you like the Sunbird 😀 A Confusion of Guinea Fowl is absolutely perfect. Whoever named them that knows them well! 😀
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I feel so useless! I know zilch about guinea fowl 😦 (hope you’re not down to 3!)
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One this morning (so far), Jo. There were still four yesterday so I can’t understand how three could vanish overnight. I’m still hopeful the other’s will appear. I really enjoyed having them around for a while. Maybe I’ll go out and get some chicks from the markets to fill the empty void xxx
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Oh heck! Glad I didn’t see this comment before the other- I’d have been out looking! 🙂 I love a happy ending.
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Wait! I just checked outside and there’s four again. I’m doing a Happy Dance now 😀
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Love your photos and the stories along with them. So much fun. Hope the little confusion family is safe through the season.
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They’re doing really well now, Sharon (fingers crossed) – they should make it safely through the season and I’d love them to have some little confused chicks! 😀
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I have a funny/sad stoy about a Guinea hen, but it’s too long to share here. I think I posted about it a couple of years ago. I’ll have to scrounge it up, but in the meantime, all I know about them is that farmers sell their eggs, so they could have come from a local farm, and they’d be classified as exotic birds. They also fly short distances, very much like turkeys. And I think confusion is part of their nature. 🙂
Great photos, btw. Surprised they weren’t published! I love the one of him drinking the nectar.
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I’m looking forward to reading that story about the Guinea hen, Kate 😀
These ones aren’t used to people at all. My mother-in-law had some years ago that would run towards you when you called them and threw food (these ones run the other way). So I’m thinking they were wild when they hatched – maybe their parents ran off into the sugar cane and eloped! LOL 😀
I’m so glad you like the pics! 😀
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How funny about the guinea fowl! What a mystery as to where they came from. And who comes up with these group animal names? A confusion! How funny. I suppose whoever named it did so by observing them. I’d love to hear more about your Snow White Powers! Sorry they didn’t take your pictures, but yeah, for us!
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I’d love to have that job of naming collective groups, some of them are totally classic (like a murder of crows and a wake of vultures) What a great job that would be! 😀
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Ooh, a wake of vultures. That one’s new to me. What a terrific name for them, though!
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I think you should be wary – five unexplained guinea fowl – and WHITE! Oh, there has to be some mystic significance. Until you are certain I would avoid walking too near pointy church steeples or over dark bridges, in case there’s a Trollish influence. Next time you feed them be sure to turn around three times first, and face the sun as you scatter their seed.
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Haaaa – so true, Fredrick! Maybe my Snow White powers are working – I attract some pretty strange creatures 😀
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These are fantastic bird shots! I can’t believe they didn’t publish them. Their loss.
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Thanks, Kourtney! You’re wonderful xxxx
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Oh, this sounds like such fun, Dianne! I’ve only seen guinea fowl in the wild in Africa, so I shall look forward to more reports from you on your little confusion of birds.
I love your sunbird too – beautiful bird, beautiful photos!
Susan at
Travel, Fiction and Photos
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These ones must have come a long way, Susan! I’m sure now that they must have hatched wild because they’re not tame at all. But they’re staying here – which is really nice 😀
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We had a pea hen show up in our yard one fall. She was a very nice bird, except she pooped on our deck all the time. Since she was definitely not native, we checked with the zoo and several other sources. We eventually found the bird farm that she had escaped from!
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Haaaa – oh dear. My mother-in-law loves ducks, but they constantly poop on her back porch 😉 Your pea hen must have been a great escape artist 😉
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The photos that were not accepted are wonderful – and I think more of us need your cool take with rejection!
And a confusion –
Good to know the terminology …
Also – if you ever have the chance – you bed to watch the movie called “fly away home” – wonderful movie !
A girl loses her mum to a car accident – goes to Canada to live with dad – finds geese eggs and they hatched and she helped them migrate –
Based on a true story and so good!
She had a bit of the Snow White thing you mentioned – 😉
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Wow – this movie sounds fantastic! I’m going to try and find it. Thank you 😀
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It – 90s I think? But hope u get to see it!
And try and see “Babette’s Feast”
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I can’t believe the awesome strides your photos have taken – they have a life of their own now. Congratulations on the work to develop another outlet for your creativity.
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I’m working on the pictures – not quite good enough yet for the local paper, but I’ll get there one day 😀
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Your photos are exquisite. I love the form of the passion fruit flower and can’t believe that it’s considered an invasive species in Oz. it’s too pretty.
Love the collective noun for GF, haha. It’s perfect. The only thing I know about them is how to cook them, which I did once. Never again. 😆
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People tell me to cook them, but I couldn’t bring myself to to do that 😉 The collective noun really sums them up in one word 😀
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beautifully written
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Thank you! 😀
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Dianne i have never seen the sunbirds they look so beautiful and the other birds must have dropped in to say hello, you seem to get quite a variety of visitors to your home. Very lucky indeed.
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Those sunbirds are awesome – cute little things 😀
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Oh, Diane, I loved the pictures and I learned a new term, too! A “Confusion of Guinea Fowl”–I never would have known without your post!–but if it ever comes up as a question on Jeopardy! then I’m ready! 🙂
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It’s a fantastic term, Marylin. Every time I see them they look so confused! 😀
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To add to the confusion, take a look at the etymology of the word guinea http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=guinea I had no idea! It seems there is even confusion about the word guinea and its origins.
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WOW! Now that IS confusing 😀
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