Woman Sees What She Thought Was A Happy Bird, Then Suddenly Realises It's Something Else
Kym Beechey was out hiking in Australia’s Popran National Park when a tiny shape in the distance caught her eye. She was there to photograph wildflowers, but this time she thought she had spotted something even better.
The bird looked like it was smiling right at her, so she reached for her phone and moved in for a closer shot. Then the illusion fell apart, and the sweet little creature turned out to be something far less alive.
It was a banksia pod, and the mix-up made the moment even more memorable. Read on to see why the “bird” fooled her so easily.
It does look like a smiling baby bird, doesn't it?
And if you thought birds were done surprising us, meet the tiny bee hummingbird that looks like it belongs in a different world.
Turns out, the baby bird was actually a banksia pod.
Banksia pods come from southwestern Australia. However, they can also be found growing in New Zealand and Papua New Guinea.
They are often compared to pine cones; however, banksia trees are not conifers.
Therefore, they are not at all related to pine trees. The fruit of the banksia tree is the pod itself.
They grow from banksia genus trees. The pods from Bull Banksia are large and durable enough to be used for wood applications.
The tree from which the pods grow can vary in size. The species that can produce large seed pods is called Banksia grandis.
They are attractive to artists and are commonly turned into crafts. You can also find them being sold online!
After the banksia's beautiful red or yellow flowers fall off, the cone still grows on the tree.
Then the seeds grow. It is also possible for flowers and growing cones to be spotted on one tree at the same time.
Their unique appearance comes from the pods bursting open, releasing their seeds in the process.
Even though the adorable creature was a fraud, in the end, Beechey was still glad about what happened. Now, she has another picture to add to her collection of beautiful wildflowers.
Since these plants have a distinctive look, they can be mistaken for something else. In fact, one banksia pod can look different from the rest of its kind.
Have you ever seen a plant that looked like something else? Did it resemble a bird or another animal?
For another “wait, that’s not what it looks like” moment, see the woman who accidentally photographed an endangered bird with a wild optical illusion.
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