Trevor's Birding

Happy Fifth Birthday to Trevor’s Birding site

4 Comments »3rd September, 2010; Category: Birders, Birds, Blogs

Crested Pigeon

Trevor’s Birding is five years old today.

It has been an interesting journey. This site now boasts over 1100 articles about Australian birds with nearly 4000 comments from readers. It is read in over 100 countries by about 1000 readers every day.

This site ranks regularly in the top 50 birding websites in the world and continues to grow in popularity.

Thanks to all of my regular and loyal readers. Thanks also to those who bother to leave comments and questions; you are very much appreciated.

Now for the next 5 years!

Happy birding.

Male Flame Robin, Mt. Macedon, Victoria

A sparrow has little accident

No Comments »1st September, 2010; Category: Bird Behaviour, Finches, Garden birds

A female House Sparrow seconds after an accident

This morning my attention was caught by a large bang on our kitchen window. I immediately went outside with my camera to see what had caused the noise.

On a table on the veranda was a female House Sparrow looking very sad indeed, but still breathing. I only took the one photo and backed off so I wasn’t adding to the bird’s stress. After about ten minutes she flew off, probably with a very sore head.

Window strikes are very common and can cause birds severe damage and often death. In our case, in certain light conditions, birds flying along in our garden think they can see the way clear to keep flying further into the garden. The reflection fools them into thinking the way is clear – until their flight comes to a sudden thudding stop when they hit the glass. Sadly, there is little we can do to prevent this. I am pleased the bird recovered and was able to fly. Some are not so fortunate.

A little later I discovered a dead male House Sparrow lying in the driveway. I’m not sure if his demise occurred at the same time as the female. Perhaps he was chasing her to mate. I guess it’s possible.

Fairy Martins

2 Comments »23rd August, 2010; Category: Swallows

While outside in the garden earlier today my attention was suddenly attracted by a small group of swallow like birds flying high above the house.

I didn’t have time to grab the binoculars or the camera, so I can’t be sure what they were. I’m guessing that they were either Fairy Martins or Tree Martins. Both species spend winter in northern Australia and start to appear in the southern regions about now.

Looking through my field guides I’m drawn to the conclusion that I probably saw Fairy Martins. While they are quite common in the area for most of the spring and summer, I don’t see them very often over our house, so it was a special treat. It is more common to see Welcome Swallows here as they are resident here all year round.

Click here to see a photo of a Fairy Martin taken by someone else.

Further reading:

Silver Gull eating a rabbit

2 Comments »16th August, 2010; Category: Bird Behaviour, Gulls and Terns, Murray Bridge

Silver Gulls, Victor Harbor, South Australia

Silver Gulls are the most common species of gull in Australia. They are found in all coastal regions around Australia as well as far inland near to water courses and lakes. Here in my home town of Murray Bridge in South Australia they are quite common along the River Murray which is about 4 kilometres from my home.

Last Saturday morning on my way down to the CBD of the town I needed to avoid hitting a Silver Gull feeding on, of all things, a dead rabbit in the middle of the road near our place. Silver Gulls are known for their scavenging habits, but this is the first time I’ve ever seen one eating a rabbit.

I didn’t have my camera with me at the time. My readers are probably relieved for that; the dead rabbit was not a pretty sight!

Magpie Larks nesting

3 Comments »15th August, 2010; Category: Bird Behaviour, Garden birds, Magpies and Currawongs

Magpie Lark

Magpie Larks are a breeding resident bird in our garden. We see them every day, the strident calls filling the air on many occasions throughout the day. Although the call is sharp and loud it is melodious and not at all annoying – unless the bird is only metres away.

Throughout the day they flutter around from fence post to roof gutter to tree top. Then they soar down to ground level and search for some tasty snack on the ground.

Magpie Lark

Over the last two weeks the pair of Magpie Larks living around our house have been very busy gathering mud, grass and feathers to make a nest near our back veranda. The bowl shaped nest took quite a few days to construct.

Yesterday I saw the pair violently pursuing an Australian Magpie away from the nest, so I assumed they now have eggs to hatch. Sure enough, one of them was later seen sitting tight on the nest, only its tail protruding from the nest (see below – just the tail can been seen on the left hand side).

It has been quite a few years since they nested in our garden. In more recent times they have preferred the large gum trees in our neighbour’s garden.

Magpie Lark's mud nest, Murray Bridge, South Australia