Ducks upside down
Laratinga Wetlands, Mt Barker, South Australia
On my recent visit to Laratinga Wetlands at Mt Barker in the Adelaide Hills I saw many water birds, including plenty of Pacific Black Ducks. This is a common Australian duck species found throughout much of the country where suitable habitat exists. They are often found in wetlands like this one, but also swamps, lakes, rivers, creeks, reservoirs, ponds, parks and gardens and even in suburban home swimming pools. We’ve had ducklings in our swimming pool on many occasions.
What amused me on this occasion was capturing a number of them upside down – see the photo below. They were all feeding on the bottom of the pond, tails stuck up in the air.
See also: Rescue of the ten little ducklings
Pacific Black Ducks, Laratinga Wetlands, Mt Barker, South Australia
Pacific Black Duck, Laratinga Wetlands, Mt Barker, South Australia
Young Ducks, Laratinga Wetlands
Grey Teal with ducklings, Laratinga Wetlands
On my visit to the Laratinga Wetlands, Mt Barker earlier this week I was pleased to see how many birds were breeding, or had young. Many of the water-birds had young in various stages of dependence, including this family of Grey Teal swimming on one of the ponds.
These wetlands are on the eastern side of Mt Barker in the Mt Lofty Ranges about a half hour drive from Adelaide, South Australia. The series of ponds have been made next to the treatment works and they purify the water which is later used in irrigation projects nearby.
Grey Teal are a very common duck, being found throughout Australia where there is suitable habitat. They usually respond quickly to flooding and heavy rainfall, breeding up in large numbers. I didn’t see as many Grey Teal on this occasion. Many have probably flown to more northern and inland parts of Australia where there has been extensive flooding in recent months.
Related Articles:
- Australian Shoveller, Laratinga Wetlands
- Australasian Grebe
- Pacific Black Ducks breeding
- Australian Wood Duck family
- White-eyed Duck
Grey Teal with ducklings, Laratinga Wetlands
A flying visit from a Budgerigar
No Comments »21st December, 2010; Category: Aviaries, Bird Behaviour, Garden birds, Parrots and Lorikeets
Budgerigar
I has been quite a while since my last post here, and I certainly haven’t posted much in recent months. I’ve been very busy completing my thesis paper for my Master of Arts (Creative Writing). That’s now done and dusted, printed and bound and sent off to the examiners. You can read all about the journey – and how I went about writing my children’s novel here.
The week before last I took a short break from my writing and sat outside with a refreshing coffee. I needed to clear my head from all that editing, proofreading and rewriting on my book. I’d only just sat down and a brilliant flash of green landed in a tree in our back garden, just a few metres from where I sat enjoying my cuppa.
A solitary Budgerigar parrot had come to visit. Over 26 years living in the same house, this was only the second time we’d had a wild budgie in our garden. They are far more common much further north than where we live. Sadly, it was but a flying visit. It gave a couple of hearty chirps and flew off. It hasn’t been back.
There is some chance that it could have been an escaped bird from someone’s aviary; this species is commonly kept as a pet. It’s behaviour suggested otherwise – it was very nervous and flew off quickly, even when I whistled to attract its attention. Still, a flying visit is better than no visit at all.
And it’s certainly better than missing it completely while stuck in front of my computer.
Good birding.
Further reading:
The importance of bird baths
Mallee Ringneck Parrot
Quite a few of the photos shown on this site are of birds at one of the bird baths we have in our garden. Providing water by means of a bird bath is one of the most effective ways of attracting birds to your garden – and keeping them coming back.
Near the end of spring here in Australia is an ideal time to add a bird bath to your garden. The days are warming up and the hot weather is on the way. Our native birds appreciate a reliable source of water. Installing one or more sources of water is also an excellent way of observing our birds close up.
On this morning’s gardening show on ABC radio here in South Australia (Adelaide 891) the host Jon Lamb interviewed a guest speaker on the principles to follow with bird baths. I took some written notes and share them here:
Acclimatisation:
It will take some weeks for the birds in your garden to get used to a new structure in your garden. Now is the time to install it, knowing that by the time the really hot weather comes the birds will be used to it. Our bird baths have been in place now for four or five years, so our resident birds are quite used to it. Within minutes of adding water they are there enjoying themselves. Two weeks ago I added another just outside my office window; so far only 2 species have visited it.
Hygiene:
Birds use the same water they bathe in to also drink from, so it is important to regularly clean the bird bath. Change the water every few days adding fresh water. If the bath becomes stained, scrub it clean but use no chemicals doing so. In fact, it is probably wise to scru each bird bath at least fortnightly; weekly if you can.
Depth of water:
Most of the smaller birds that will come to your bird bath will not be strong swimmers. The bird bath must be shallow, or have shallow areas so if a bird gets into trouble it can safely get out. Steep sides are to be avoided. I have placed a small brick or stone in each of our baths, and the birds use this for perching on when using the bath, or drinking.
Location:
Choosing the right location for a bird bath is essential. You can have one out in the open and it will be used, but it is far better to locate it near thick shrubbery, so the birds can quickly escape if a predator like a hawk is hovering nearby. They feel much more secure if they have a quick escape route and will therefore be happier about using your bird bath. It is also suggested that you choose a shady spot as the water can get very hot and uncomfortable on very hot days if it is in full sun.
Enjoyment:
We get a great deal of enjoyment watching the passing parade of birds coming to drink and bathe. We consider sitting in our sun room watching the birds is a “good” waste of time, right up there with taking time to “smell the roses’. In addition to the location considerations I’ve already mentioned, locate one of your bird baths where you can see it from a room in your house, or perhaps a veranda or pergola area. This will give you countless hours of enjoyment of our feathered friends.
Ponds:
More ambitious gardeners may incorporate a pond to provide water for the birds. If the water is deep, be sure to provide shallow parts, or add a log partly in the water, or stones or pebbles for the birds to perch on without the danger of drowning.
Eastern Rosella in our garden
Clever Magpie
One of our resident magpies gave us a good laugh yesterday. It was cold and wintry – despite it being in the middle of spring according to the calendar. The wind was bitterly cold and the rain was pelting down. Said magpie was spied sheltering underneath our car in the driveway. I guess any car in a storm is good. It was too far and dark to get a photo – so here’s one I prepared when the sun was shining.
Australian Magpie, Victor Harbor, South Australia