Opportunistic Birds
I am sometimes amazed at how opportunistic some birds can be. Quite a few species of Australian birds will migrate long distances to take advantage of rain or floods in some part of this country. Honeyeaters come and go in response to the flowering of native trees. Various hawks and kites will come to an area over run with a mouse plague, while other species respond to a locust plague.
This week I’ve witnessed a response to a very localised situation. We are having some areas next to the house concreted tomorrow. A few days ago the builder did some quite extensive work with a bob cat, leveling the area to be covered. A storm water drain was also installed, further disturbing the soil.
Both the resident Willie Wagtails and Australian Magpies took immediate advantage of the situation, feeding on the exposed worms and beetles. Both species are quite unafraid and feed within a metre or two of where we were working. Unfortunately I was too busy to race inside for the camera.
UPDATE:
The concrete slab was poured the next day, denying the birds any more feeding opportunities on that patch. Looks good too – this area will become a great outdoor living area for us – and I hope the birds like it too when we introduce a few plants into the scene.
Below is a photo of the cement being poured.
A new concrete slab being poured in our back yard.
Galahs by the hundreds
My regular readers are probably wondering what has happened to me.
Fear not – I’ve just been incredibly busy writing and completing all of my study assignments due at the end of the semester. At the beginning of the term I had 7 due in 8 weeks. Then I still had 7 due but in 5 weeks and now I have 3 due in 3 weeks, so the task is diminishing – and so is the available time. It left no time for blogging and little for birding.
One significant observation of recent weeks has been of large flocks of Galahs around Murray Bridge. On many occasions I have seen flocks of 300 to 500; such large flocks make a spectacular sight. I must get the camera ready and try to capture a large flock in flight – or on the power lines like I saw this afternoon.
An awesome sight
Hanging the washing out on the clothes line is often a very interesting birding time. It has the advantage of casting one’s eyes skywards and I have frequently been delighted with the sightings I’ve made during this otherwise mundane household chore.
Yesterday morning was one of those awesome moments not easily forgotten. I heard the alarm call of the resident New Holland Honeyeaters; this always prompts me to quickly scan the sky for any birds of prey lurking around.
I was just quick enough to see the final stages of the stoop of a Peregrine Falcon, wings swept right back, as it swept low over the trees heading for a small group of Common Starlings. I couldn’t see if it caught its breakfast.
The traffic past our property travels at about 80kph. This bird was going at least twice that speed.
What an awesome sight!
Pity I wasn’t quick enough to race inside, get the camera and take a photo.
Australia: Land of Parrots
No Comments »4th May, 2008; Category: Aviaries, Bird Behaviour, Birds on Television, Parrots and Lorikeets, Reviews
Just a short while ago I had the delight of watching Australia – Land of Parrots on ABC TV. It was a brilliant programme highlighting the behaviour of many of our wonderful parrots. While it didn’t cover all of the parrots of Australia it gave a good coverage of several species.
Eclectus Parrot (female) Adelaide Zoo
I found the section on the bizarre – and rather unique – breeding habits of the Eclectus Parrots to be quite fascinating. Apparently, the female stays in the nest hollow for many months and the male comes to feed her. Furthermore, the male often mates with several other females in his territory during the breeding season, as does the female. This species is also unusual in that the female is the more colourful of the two.
Eclectus Parrot (male) Adelaide Zoo
The photos shown above were taken of some captive birds in a walk through aviary in the Adelaide Zoo. This species is quite commonly kept in captivity, though very expensive to buy I believe.
World Water Day
After two weeks of scorching weather here in South Australia when numerous records were broken, the cooler autumn weather has finally arrived. I’ve just put on a jumper because the office was about 18C and a little on the chilly side. Last week it hovered around the 30C in my office. On Thursday we even had some drizzle – one could hardly call it rain. It didn’t register in our rain gauge either. Things are really looking grim around here during this prolonged drought and record high temperatures.
World Water Day
Today is World Water Day. The major theme this year is sanitation. I have spent some time in both Thailand and Nepal and this helped me to understand a little of the sanitation needs of underdeveloped nations, especially Nepal. It is my understanding that the sanitation needs in many other countries are far greater even than Nepal and quite desperate in some cases. It is an urgent need indeed. If only the warring nations of the world could down their weapons and take up the cause providing fresh, drinkable water and improved sanitation in those needy countries.
Water needs in Australia
While most of Australia is blessed with good fresh water, there is a growing and urgent need to do something about the Murray-Darling River system.There are still far too many large irrigation schemes growing unsuitable crops from this system. The lower Murray where I live is in desperate straits; the system is nearly dead, the levels are at the lowest levels in decades and the flow almost non-existent. The internationally recognised wetlands area of the Coorong and nearby lakes system near the Murray mouth is almost dry and this is having enormous implications for the birds and all aspects of the environment. And still the politicians argue about what is to be done, despite the money being available to make a start. Adelaide – along with large areas of South Australia – relies heavily on the Murray River for its annual water supply; our rainfall is inadequate not to do so. Our reservoir system is also both inadequate and antiquated.
Birds and the cooler weather
On a more local scale – our own garden – the cooler weather has had a disappointing side effect. During the recent hot spell the birds were constantly using our bird baths. Now that the cooler weather is here their visits are less frequent. I guess I can’t have all my own way. It certainly is nicer to have the cooler conditions.