A day in the American south-west with Owls that burrow and stand around in the daylight and an Ibis of remarkable beauty.

Part Two of a conversation with Amadeo Rea, taxonomic ornithologist and ethnobiologist who has spent most of his life working with the Piman people of the greater south-western American deserts.

All I had to do was walk on stage and open my mouth and let the curse of God roar through me. Floods, fire and frogs leapt out of my throat. Though I had no notion of that then, God was talking not just to me but through me, and his breath stank.

A friend of mine, who was just finishing the manuscript for Birds of Arizona with the University of Arizona Press said “Why don’t you find out from your old Indian friends what the river was like when it ran and what birds were there?”

The real beauty of La Tanrrilla is only revealed when under threat or as part of their elaborate courtship rituals when they spread their glorious wings to reveal a truly magnificent display of colour and light.

Mitch: “Ahh the post i made when i was talking about the Aussie language, how we’re all a tinge racist and i love this country and if other don’t like it they can get stuffed. Unfortunately some don’t see it that way … This is a Free-Country is it not? It’s a democracy. We’re aloud to have opinions but if they’re any different from society, we get singled out and punished.”

That head stockman and my father had a good go in the yard. He wanted to beat my father but my father been too good for him. After my father knocked that bloke out he got a rope and jammed that bloke in the bronco panel – made that head stockman squeal. (laughs) My father and I pulled out from there. Got his swag, put me in the saddle-bags and we went walking towards Larrimah way.

“They used to go up to him and sort of play with him, wanking him, some of the kids used to suck him off. And I was one of them. There was a lot of others kids too that sucked him off and wanked him.”

I do not know whether Flinders did pay Armstrong or any organisations associated with him for the use of the trademark LIVESTRONG™ or the other matters raised here … I think it is important that these questions be asked – particularly because we know so little … about the arrangements between Armstrong and the South Australian government and other agencies in that state.