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Anyone for a swim? Forget it baby Blackbird

11 Comments »26th October, 2006; Category: Bird Behaviour, Garden birds

I had been planning on cleaning our swimming pool for some time, but other jobs kept getting in the way. The weather has been warming up quite suddenly in recent weeks here in Murray Bridge, South Australia. After a very cold winter with many frosts the warmer air is quite a pleasant change.

And so it is that our thoughts turn to swimming. We have a small in-ground swimming pool in our garden. It is a lovely spot to relax in or around after a hot summer’s day. The exercise is also very good for us. Over the winter months it has become somewhat neglected, to the point where it would be more aptly called “Le Swamp.” It’s green – very green and murky. Not good for swimming. Even the local ducks are now shunning it, though one did pay a visit yesterday.

Now to clean the pool I have to vacuum all the rubbish off the bottom; things like leaves and sticks blown in from nearby trees during winter storms. I use a flexible blue rubber hose attached to the pump which vacuums (or rather sucks) the debris off the floor of the pool.

Good theory.

I have a problem.

I can’t use the hose; someone has used it to make it their home. A Blackbird couple have moved into the pool pump shed and made a nest on top of the hose where I hang it up between uses. Now the nest has babies. And so I cannot begin to prepare the pool for swimming. It doesn’t matter; the forecast for next week is for quite cool weather.

Related Articles:

  • Common Blackbirds – information about Balckbirds with many comments from my readers about their experiences with this species.
  • Do Blackbirds Swoop? – How to deal with aggressive bird behaviour. Again there are many comments from my readers. This is currently my most popular article.
Common Blackbird nest

Common Blackbird nest

Bird Word: Accidental

2 Comments »25th October, 2006; Category: Bird Word, General, Glossary
  • Accidental: when a species is observed in an area or region where it is a long way from its normal range or distribution, it is said to be ‘accidental’.

A few years ago there was an accidental occurrence of a male Rose Robin here in Murray Bridge. Apparently it is a totally beautiful bird but I didn’t get to see it. I was in bed with the flu that week. [Sigh] I still haven’t seen this species. [Bigger sigh].

The Rose Robin is found through eastern and southern Australia. Its normal habitat is wet rainforests and in dense wet gullies. None of these exist in Murray Bridge. However, it does occur from time to time in the Adelaide Hills, about 60-70kim to the west. It must have been on its way there and decided to have a few days holiday by the river.

As I said, I still haven’t seen this species, so I haven’t taken a photo of a Rose Robin. The next best is this photo of a Red Capped Robin. Just pretend the red is rose coloured.

For more in this series of articles check out the Glossary of Bird Words here.

Should I belong to a Bird Club?

No Comments »25th October, 2006; Category: Frequently Asked Questions, Hints

This is # 19 in a series of frequently asked questions about birds and birding.

Should I belong to a bird club?

  • Being with like minded people, especially if they have more experience than you, is an excellent way of learning about birds.
  • Many organisations have excellent monthly meetings, often with very experienced speakers.
  • Most organisations also have monthly or quarterly journals or magazines, another excellent way of learning about birds in your area.
  • Most clubs often have monthly, even weekly, outings and excursions to great birding spots.
  • Sometimes the leaders can arrange access to areas where the general public cannot go, so this, of itself, is worth the annual fee.
  • I would highly recommend belonging to at least one local bird group and one national birding organisation, providing you can afford both. I am confident that you will not regret your decision.

Bird Word: Aberrant

No Comments »24th October, 2006; Category: Bird Word, General, Glossary

Aberrant: something that is unusual or abnormal

A bird that is aberrant is one that is unusual or abnormal, one that has strayed from its normal range or habitat.

If a Pelican landed in my swimming pool I would say this is rather unusual, though I have had a Little Pied Cormorant and a White Faced Heron investigate the pool and check it out for frogs and fish.

Frogs, yes, fish, no. That was also somewhat aberrant behaviour. On the part of the birds, not the frogs.

For more in these series of articles check out the Glossary of Birding Words.

Australian Pelican

Australian Pelican

Spotted Pardalote nesting

21 Comments »24th October, 2006; Category: Garden birds, Pardalotes
Nest hollow of the Spotted Pardalote

Nest hollow of the Spotted Pardalote

For several weeks we have been looking for a nesting hollow of the Spotted Pardalote in our garden or nearby, without luck until yesterday. Today I approached the hollow cautiously and took several photos of the nest. A few seconds later one of the nesting birds came cautiously towards the hollow carrying some soft, fine grass in its beak. The hollow was obviously finished and now they were furnishing it ready for the eggs.

Spotted Pardalote with nesting material in beak

Spotted Pardalote with nesting material in beak

Pardolotes are certainly on my list of favourite birds. We have two types here in Murray Bridge, both of them resident in our garden. This one is the Spotted Pardalote and the other is the Striated Pardalote. Both make the nest in a hollow at the end of a tunnel in sand, in the bank of a creek or river, in the cutting on the side of a road. The Pardalotes will also use a small hollow in a tree and even in gaps between brickwork in a building.

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