Rising above his surroundings like a Soviet phoenix, The Cowra Eagle serves as a tribute to the wedge-tailed wonders of Western NSW. With his barrel chest and piercing gaze, this Big has watched over his comrades since 1972. No wonder he’s the hawk of the town! The majestic creature was conceived and designed by the ever-affable Don Kibbler. Inspired by Cowra Council’s original corporate seal … Continue reading The Cowra Eagle, Cowra, NSW
Amidst the rolling glens and castle-like homesteads of the sprawling Imagine Estate, an enormous kingfisher surveys his kingdom. This steel-and-perspex critter was built by gifted artist Folko Kooper and, perched high above a billabong, offers a breathtaking photo opportunity for all Bigs-thusiasts. Pleased with my happy snaps – my light grey shirt really popped against the native flora – I prepared to leave the park … Continue reading The Big Kingfisher, Strathfieldsaye, VIC
Have you been running round like a headless chicken in search of roadside attractions? Then strut over to Fruita, Colorado, where you’ll find a bonkers statue dedicated to Mike the Headless Chicken! The bizarre story of a chook who lived for 18 months after having his noggin lopped off – and went on to become a national celebrity – has long enthralled locals and visitors … Continue reading Mike the Headless Chicken, Fruita, CO
Looking to cross a majestic Big off your list and grab a competitively-priced home loan for your Guatemalan chalet at the same time? Then head to any branch of Banco Industrial, where you might find El Majestuoso Tecolote, a festively-decorated owl of epic proportions, right next to the ATM. I’m talon you, it’ll be worth the trip! Twenty-two of these enormous creatures were created by … Continue reading Majestuoso Tecolote, Ciudad de Guatemala
Guatemala is home to a vast array of birdlife, from quetzals to macaws to toucans, earning it a reputation as a feather fancier’s favourite place in Central America. For lovers of hummingbirds – known as colibri in the local dialect – Guatamala is without peer. On warm spring afternoons, the air becomes heavy with sound of their hovering. There are 38 varieties of the flamboyant … Continue reading Ebony y Ivory, Los Pocitos, Guatemala
Holey moley, check out Canoli! Cheeky, colourful and charismatic, this king-sized cockatoo is as irresistible as the ricotta-laced desert he’s named after. With his devil-may-care attitude and trendsetting mohawk, the wooden Big is widely regarded as the mascot of Wagga Wagga – the town so nice they named it twice. Canoli is the crowning achievement of Justin McClelland, a gifted yet enigmatic artist who expresses … Continue reading Canoli the Cocky, Wagga Wagga, NSW
Let me tell you of an interview with The Real Big EmuHe’s one of the most gorgeous Big Things, but the poor old fella ain’t got no wingsAren’t you jealous of The Big Wedge-Tailed Eagle? – dom ba da little da da da “While the eagle’s design is very sound, I keep my two feet firmly on the groundI can’t fly, but I’m telling you, … Continue reading The Big Emus, Strathfieldsaye, VIC
Trundle down Rundle Mall any day of the beak, and you’ll flappen upon the peck-tacular Big Pigeon. The elegant, mirrored bird was lovingly crafted by local artist Paul Sloan and strutted into town in late-2020. Adelaidians, not surprising, have been cooing and ahhing at him ever since. Despite his flashy looks, he’s a bashful chap and the epitome of the boy nest door. The Big … Continue reading The Big Pigeon, Adelaide, SA
Peli-can you imagine anything more de-flight-ful than this wonderful waterbird? No, I don’t bill-ieve you can! The Big Pelican is the main attraction of South Australia’s verdant Riverland region, and has a story more wing-credible than you can imagine. With a personality even larger than his beak, The Big Pelican has long been the darling of Loxton’s robust social scene. He’s vivacious and outgoing with … Continue reading The Big Pelican, Loxton, SA
Put the hot chips away, because the Gold Coast has been taken over by a behemoth beach chicken with an amazing appetite. Fortunately, Katey Seagull is as hungry for hugs as she is for deep-fried potatoes. Named after glamorous Married… With Children actress Katey Sagal, this super-sized seabird has made her nest out front of the Tugun Domestic and Commercial Waste Facility. Leggy Katey was … Continue reading Katey Seagull, Tugun, QLD
Howdy pardner, this is your hat-wearing hawtie Biggie the Kid! I don’t mind a cockatoo, so when word rang round the holler that a gang of giant birds was causin’ trouble out near Ipswich, I jumped on my trusty stead Liberace and moseyed on out to the badlands of Camira. The settlement’s welcome sign has long been a thing of cotton-pickin’ beauty, and a source … Continue reading The Camira Critters, Camira, QLD
I believe I can flyI believe I can kiss this big guyI think about Big Blue every night and dayHis handsome wings take my breath awayI believe he wants moreCuddlin’ each other till we’re both soreI believe I can flyI believe Big Blue’s all mineI believe he’s my guy (wooooooo) The words of urban visionary R-Kelly resonate with visitors to The Big Blue-Faced Honeyeater, who … Continue reading The Big Honeyeater, Logan Reserve, QLD
The benevolent bowerbird is nature’s great recycler, borrowing anything bright and blue to beautify his abode. Bonza bloke Nick Warfield is the mid-north coast’s great recycler, borrowing anything bright and blue to build the beautiful Big Bowerbird. The metal marvel has been lovingly pieced together from door handles, garden equipment, bike parts and even a few fans. I assume Nick used a crow bar and … Continue reading The Big Bowerbird, Raleigh, NSW
Hey hey hey, good old Big Eagle Rock’s here to stayI’m just crazy ’bout his wings – so smoothDoin’ the Big Eagle RockOh oh oh, don’t drive past, he’s nicer than a crowI’m just crazy ’bout his wings – so smoothDoin’ the Big Eagle Rock Watch out, there’s a hat thief about! This enormous Wedge-Tailed Eagle soars through the skies of northern Victoria, on a … Continue reading The Big Eagle, Mt Alfred, Vic
Do you feel clucky, punk? Well, do you? Then pullet all the stops to flock down to Myrtlebank Roaming Farms, where you can chick out Chickaletta, a feathered friend of egg-straordinary proportions! Chickaletta was ass-hen-bled from rusted bike parts and old farming equipment – similar to Murray the Cod and the Big Kookaburra – but she’s far more than a poultry pile of old junk. … Continue reading Chickaletta, Myrtlebank, Vic
Forever stylin’ and profilin’, Bruno the Big Pheasant has been sauntering around rural Gippsland for decades. But this colourful character is more like a phoenix, having survived a terrorist attack and come out the other side looking better than ever. During a dark and stormy night October 2011, a deranged terrorist stormed into Bruno’s enclosure and, with hatred in his heart, approached the enormous bird. … Continue reading Bruno the Big Pheasant, Tynong North, Vic
Alright, stop your hooting! Let’s get the obvious out of the way – the Big Powerful Owl looks more like the Big Powerful Male Appendage. But don’t let that scare you away from this eight-metre avian, who was erected in 2011. The Owl was pumped out by Bruce Armstrong and cast from steel, hard wood and lots of nuts, based on a design doodled on … Continue reading The Big Powerful Owl, Belconnen, ACT
Love is in the air, everywhere in Canberra townLove is in the air, no native bird has a frownAnd I don’t know feather I’m being foolishDon’t know feather I’m being wiseBut Big Galah love’s something I believe inBeak-ause they’re making out in front of my eyes As a hopeless romantic who aches to discover love, the allure of Australia’s most passionate Big Things proved irresistible. … Continue reading The Big Kissing Galahs, Watson, ACT
Without feather ado, I’d like to in-duck-t this oversized owl – and I’m talon you, be prepared to fowl in love! Say hello to Chinute Chinute, who’s so nice they named her twice! The 1.8-metre-tall avian landed outside the Northern Territory’s Supreme Court in 2010, and is modelled after a Dreamtime spirit who’s watched over the Top End for thousands of years. Aboriginal elder and … Continue reading Chinute Chinute the Big Owl, Darwin, NT
Everybody’s heard about this bird, which isn’t surprising because Stanley’s 18 metres tall and one of the nest-looking Big Things around. Yes, he’s aviary nice chap indeed! The elegant emu was lovingly crafted by local artist John Murray out of old VW Beetle bonnets and doors, then placed atop a stunning steel girder. This gem took up residence on the outskirts of the opal-mining village … Continue reading Stanley the Emu, Lightning Ridge, NSW
What’s chookin’, good lookin’? This king-sized cockerel really is something to crow about, and you’ll have egg on your face if you don’t chick him out! A Western Sydney icon for decades, the Chook is an extremely charismatic old-school Big. He looks a bit homemade, like the Big Golden Dog and fellow feather-head the Big Parrot, but that just makes him more relatable. He stands … Continue reading The Big Chook, Mount Vernon, NSW
I highly recommend you take a squawk on the wild side and have a claws encounter with this odd, little-known and underappreciated Big Thing Continue reading The Big Parrot, Apple Tree Creek, QLD
make a splash landing in the seaside resort town of Noosaville, home of the Big Pelican! Continue reading Pelican Pete, Noosaville, QLD
the Big Burra should be considered a genuine work of art Continue reading The Big Kookaburra, Kurri Kurri, NSW
