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Bird Word: Hybridisation

2 Comments »25th March, 2007; Category: Bird Word
  • Hybridisation: the cross-breeding between different species.

Most species stay true to their kind. King Parrots breed with King Parrots and produce young King Parrots. Occasionally, one species will interbreed with another species. In some parts of Australia the introduced species of duck, the Mallards, will hybridise with the native Pacific Black Duck. The offspring show characteristics of both species. These offspring may also breed, though success rates tend to be poor (citation).

For more about hybrid species of animals and plants click here.

UPDATE: One of my regular readers and frequent commenters has added some interesting observations of bird hybridisations in the comments section. I have copied and pasted this below. I inviteyou to add your observations in the comments section.

When we used to live in northern NSW, we had a malaysian lady in town who like to try to FORCE hybridization of various Australian Parrots. One day, we thought we had a new bird for our garden list, but the closest we could put it to was a Superb Parrot, though it wasn’t ‘right’ and we were out of range. Eventually, we heard that one of Connie’s “creations” had escaped – a hybrid between a Mallee Ringneck and a Pale-headed Rosella! It didn’t stay long, but whether through misadventure or ‘travel’ I’m not sure. The neighbours also had a Galah in a cage, to which lots of local Galahs got attracted, including one which had paired with a Little Corella. For about 20 years, they brought their offspring (like pale, washed out Galahs, with a yellow ‘wash’) to feed on spilled seed each year, but none ever lasted more than a season. One day, we saw a dead Corella by the highway, and this ‘pair’ never returned, so it must have been that one.

Thanks to John for these observations.

How to Attract Birds to Your Garden

16 Comments »24th March, 2007; Category: Birds, Garden birds, Hints

One of the great and constant delights I have in my interest in birding is to witness the constant movement and activity of birds in our garden. Many of the articles on this blog come directly from observations of birds in the garden. Many of the photos appearing on this blog and in my photo gallery have been taken in the garden or nearby.

People who have an interest in birds often ask “How can I attract more birds to my garden?” There are some simple ways of ensuring a greater number of birds in your garden which will, in turn, bring many hours of pleasure over many years. Here are some simple “rules” to help you:

  1. Water: Provide a constant source of water, such as a pond, bird bath or dripping tap into a bowl.
  2. Food: Provide a variety of native trees and bushes that become a suitable food source. (In Australia – never put out food like parrot seed for them).
  3. Protection: Never let your cat roam the garden – and actively discourage neighbour’s cats from entering your garden.
  4. Safety: Provide a safe environment for the birds by not using any poisons like snail bait in your garden.

These are simple and effective methods of ensuring a safe and happy habitat for the birds in your garden.

For more information, go to the Bird Observers Club of Australia website. They have available two downloadable leaflets on attracting birds to your garden. Highly recommended.

Links:

  • Attracting Birds to your Garden – part 1
  • Attracting Birds to your Garden – part 2
  • Bird Observers Club of Australia – one of our largest birding clubs.
  • Garden Birds – over 80 articles from my archives about birds in gardens, mostly our garden.
New Holland Honeyeaters

New Holland Honeyeaters

Small bird tries to fly a plane

No Comments »23rd March, 2007; Category: Bird Behaviour, Birds, Birds in the News

This report recently appeared in the Daily Times newspaper in Pakistan.

A flight was delayed for several hours after a tiny bird flew into the cockpit of the plane and refused to leave. The bird came in through an open door of the plane as passengers boarded at the Ben Gurion Airport, near Tel Aviv.

All 178 passengers of the Israeli airline EL Al flight to Vienna had to leave the plane while the airline brought in a professional bird-catcher. They had to wait in the passenger lounge for hours until the bird had been caught and removed from the plane. A spokesman of the airline called the incident ‘extremely rare’.

I guess the major problem was that this bird didn’t have a licence to fly.

Bird calls in the morning

20 Comments »23rd March, 2007; Category: Bird Behaviour, Clare, Garden birds

On those days I am feeling a little lazy and sleep in a while I enjoy lying in bed listening to the morning chorus of birds in our garden. When we stay with our daughter in Clare (mid-north South Australia), or with our son in Sydney or with friends or family in other parts of the country, the bird calls in the morning have variations we don’t get at home. When we are holidaying in our caravan or camping in our tent there is a different set of calls to identify. Call me a lazy birder but it is very enjoyable.

A while ago we were in Clare. At dawn I identified the usual birds in my daughter’s garden or nearby. Laughing Kookaburras could be heard down by the lake. The “chock-carock” of the Red Wattlebird is another easy one to ID. The Common Blackbird skulking in the bushes nearby gives its warning “cluck-cluck” call and a mournful Little Raven flies unhurriedly overhead. The “sweet pretty creature” call of the Willie Wagtail is very familiar and easy to hear. Up the street I hear a small flock of Adelaide Rosellas and their “chink-chink” calls. The screeching Musk Lorikeets rocket their way to another tree nearby for a feed. A pair of Australian Magpie Larks on the back lawn begin their piercing duet calls, “pee-wee” answered immediately by the other with “tee-o-wee”.

But there is one call that intrigued me. On first waking I dismissed it as a Red Wattlebird but then I wasn’t so sure. I wondered if it was a Little Wattlebird. In all my years of birding in the Clare district I’d never recorded the Little Wattlebird there but it was theoretically possible. Its call is what intrigued me the most. Not once but many times over about five minutes it called, mostly from the bush just outside the bedroom window. It distinctly sounded like the bird was saying “Rach-maninoff” with a very brief pause after the first syllable.

I must take more notice of the birds around here.

UPDATE: If you are trying to identify a bird call, a good place to start is the Birds in Backyards website (click here). This site features many Australian birds with plenty of information about each one. Many of the entries have sound files of the calls. Some of our field guides also have excellent apps for phones – I frequently use the Michael Morcombe eGuide to the Birds of Australia. This has all the information contained in the book version plus sound files. It costs around $30 Australian.

I and the Bird #45

No Comments »22nd March, 2007; Category: Carnivals, I and the Bird

The latest edition of I and the Bird #45 has been posted over at Journey Through Grace. This edition celebrates a special birthday and every contribution is a wonderful gift just waiting to be opened.

As usual, my gift to you is a part of this bird carnival.

Links:

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