My photos won’t be up to the same quality of the PM, but here are a couple of birds that have come visiting. Most of them were taken through the glass door so as not to disturb them.

This maggie has just finished having a bath

I think this is a juvenile King Parrot that came visiting Chester and was checking out the top of his cage

one of the locals (right) chatting with Chester

bluegreen said:

one of the locals (right) chatting with Chester

Aww, sweet :)

bluegreen said:

one of the locals (right) chatting with Chester

That is so cute :)

bluegreen said:

one of the locals (right) chatting with Chester

Somebody didn’t take long to make some friends.

bluegreen said:

My photos won’t be up to the same quality of the PM, but here are a couple of birds that have come visiting. Most of them were taken through the glass door so as not to disturb them.

This maggie has just finished having a bath

I think this is a juvenile King Parrot that came visiting Chester and was checking out the top of his cage

the difference between the juvenile and the female is the colour of the eye…. looks like you have a Juvenile here :)

bluegreen said:

one of the locals (right) chatting with Chester

very cool! :)

more galah shots

baby sparrow

bluegreen said:

more galah shots

Number 2 is a beautiful shot. You had his full attention.

pomolo said:

bluegreen said:

more galah shots

Number 2 is a beautiful shot. You had his full attention.

My favourite too!

bluegreen said:

baby sparrow

Therer was an adult sparrow making a meal out of a cicada on my back deck this morning.

pain master said:

bluegreen said:

My photos won’t be up to the same quality of the PM, but here are a couple of birds that have come visiting. Most of them were taken through the glass door so as not to disturb them.

This maggie has just finished having a bath

I think this is a juvenile King Parrot that came visiting Chester and was checking out the top of his cage

the difference between the juvenile and the female is the colour of the eye…. looks like you have a Juvenile here :)

Love the parrots, but I am over magpies. They keep coming up onto the verandah and pooing everywhere; them and the swallows (or robins or whatever they are) that have built nests under the eaves. I have heap of their mess to clean up too. The worst thing with them is that they have pooed all over the lounge that we have on the verandah :(

We are still waiting for the baby Kookaburras to leave their termite nest. Miner birds have built, raised young and left. Crested Pigeons have built, raised young and left and the Kookas are still mucking about. I have a crink in my neck on the right side from trying to keep an eye on the nest.

PM will be able to confirm for me, but I gather that this little fella is an eastern spinebill. He’s been having a lovely time in amongst the chinese star jasmine that is climbing up my back verandah pole :)

pomolo said:

We are still waiting for the baby Kookaburras to leave their termite nest. Miner birds have built, raised young and left. Crested Pigeons have built, raised young and left and the Kookas are still mucking about. I have a crink in my neck on the right side from trying to keep an eye on the nest.

Incubation around 23-25 days and fledglings should take off around 32-37days.

AnneS said:

PM will be able to confirm for me, but I gather that this little fella is an eastern spinebill. He’s been having a lovely time in amongst the chinese star jasmine that is climbing up my back verandah pole :)

Certainly looks like an immature Eastern Spinebill Anne, they often have 2 broods between Aug-Jan so this might be a young one for the first part of the season???

pain master said:

pomolo said:

We are still waiting for the baby Kookaburras to leave their termite nest. Miner birds have built, raised young and left. Crested Pigeons have built, raised young and left and the Kookas are still mucking about. I have a crink in my neck on the right side from trying to keep an eye on the nest.

Incubation around 23-25 days and fledglings should take off around 32-37days.

Thank you for putting that up PM. I have lost how long they have been in there but I know they will come out one day so I’ll just keep watching.

the sparrows started off by cleaning up any dropped seed around Chester Galah’s and Jeremy Budgie’s cages. but they are getting bolder and have discovered that they can push their way through the bars of Chester’s cage and go direct to the source!

I have found that the Sulphur Crested Cockatoos are not as curious as the Galah’s so they have always been too far away to photograph, but the fruit on the cherry plum has tempted them closer.

bluegreen said:

the sparrows started off by cleaning up any dropped seed around Chester Galah’s and Jeremy Budgie’s cages. but they are getting bolder and have discovered that they can push their way through the bars of Chester’s cage and go direct to the source!

Does that make them freeloaders or intelligent?

Yeehah said:

bluegreen said:

the sparrows started off by cleaning up any dropped seed around Chester Galah’s and Jeremy Budgie’s cages. but they are getting bolder and have discovered that they can push their way through the bars of Chester’s cage and go direct to the source!

Does that make them freeloaders or intelligent?

intelligent freeloaders?

bluegreen said:

Yeehah said:

bluegreen said:

the sparrows started off by cleaning up any dropped seed around Chester Galah’s and Jeremy Budgie’s cages. but they are getting bolder and have discovered that they can push their way through the bars of Chester’s cage and go direct to the source!

Does that make them freeloaders or intelligent?

intelligent freeloaders?

I knew a lot of the other kind of 2 legged variety years ago, maybe that is why we are not friends any more lmao I ended up the smarter one lol

bluegreen said:

the sparrows started off by cleaning up any dropped seed around Chester Galah’s and Jeremy Budgie’s cages. but they are getting bolder and have discovered that they can push their way through the bars of Chester’s cage and go direct to the source!

You’ll have to start out thinking the sparrows now.

bluegreen said:

I have found that the Sulphur Crested Cockatoos are not as curious as the Galah’s so they have always been too far away to photograph, but the fruit on the cherry plum has tempted them closer.

Now that plum tree…..Would that be the same type that my son in Adelaide calls an ornimental plum? I only ask because he rang me the other day to ask if they could eat the fruit from their tree Apparently it is loaded with fruit this year and very yummy when the fruit is ripe. I told him I had no idea because I know nothing about southern stone fruit. What would you reckon BG?

pomolo said:

Now that plum tree…..Would that be the same type that my son in Adelaide calls an ornimental plum? I only ask because he rang me the other day to ask if they could eat the fruit from their tree Apparently it is loaded with fruit this year and very yummy when the fruit is ripe. I told him I had no idea because I know nothing about southern stone fruit. What would you reckon BG?

it is grown as an ornamental because of the purple leaves but the fruit is still edible (at least I plan to eat some!) Possibly a bit on the tart side. I picked half an ice-cream container’s worth yesterday.

bluegreen said:

I have found that the Sulphur Crested Cockatoos are not as curious as the Galah’s so they have always been too far away to photograph, but the fruit on the cherry plum has tempted them closer.

I had 6 Sulphur Cresteds on my bottlebrush the other day and they allowed me to get really close! Little clowns they are…

was watching some little birds flitting around and feeding in my back yard and neighbouring paddock. I think they might have been Yellow-rumped Thornbills

They looked fairly plain in colouring but when they fly off you see the flash of a bright yellow rump :) didn’t notice the spots on the head but then I didn’t see them up that close. I really need some binoculars I think ;)

bluegreen said:

was watching some little birds flitting around and feeding in my back yard and neighbouring paddock. I think they might have been Yellow-rumped Thornbills

They looked fairly plain in colouring but when they fly off you see the flash of a bright yellow rump :) didn’t notice the spots on the head but then I didn’t see them up that close. I really need some binoculars I think ;)

yes binocs are good.
yellow rumps are a fair bet – pardalotes are also likely IMHO

pepe said:

bluegreen said:

was watching some little birds flitting around and feeding in my back yard and neighbouring paddock. I think they might have been Yellow-rumped Thornbills

They looked fairly plain in colouring but when they fly off you see the flash of a bright yellow rump :) didn’t notice the spots on the head but then I didn’t see them up that close. I really need some binoculars I think ;)

yes binocs are good.
yellow rumps are a fair bet – pardalotes are also likely IMHO

they looked a bit plain for pardalotes, although these are in the same family.

pepe said:

bluegreen said:

was watching some little birds flitting around and feeding in my back yard and neighbouring paddock. I think they might have been Yellow-rumped Thornbills

They looked fairly plain in colouring but when they fly off you see the flash of a bright yellow rump :) didn’t notice the spots on the head but then I didn’t see them up that close. I really need some binoculars I think ;)

yes binocs are good.
yellow rumps are a fair bet – pardalotes are also likely IMHO

Pardalotes are usually not in larger numbers but thornbills can be in larger groups.

roughbarked said:

pepe said:

bluegreen said:

was watching some little birds flitting around and feeding in my back yard and neighbouring paddock. I think they might have been Yellow-rumped Thornbills

They looked fairly plain in colouring but when they fly off you see the flash of a bright yellow rump :) didn’t notice the spots on the head but then I didn’t see them up that close. I really need some binoculars I think ;)

yes binocs are good.
yellow rumps are a fair bet – pardalotes are also likely IMHO

Pardalotes are usually not in larger numbers but thornbills can be in larger groups.

this was a sizable flock, so points to Thornbills again.

bluegreen said:

roughbarked said:

pepe said:

yes binocs are good.
yellow rumps are a fair bet – pardalotes are also likely IMHO

Pardalotes are usually not in larger numbers but thornbills can be in larger groups.

this was a sizable flock, so points to Thornbills again.

thornbills both yellow and chestnut rumped.. gather in groups with silvereyes and variegated wrens, even sparrows too.. and do the vacuum circuit.. ie clean up all the tiny insects in my yard during the cooler months.

saw a Common Bronzewing trying to make love to broken solar garden light today :)

bluegreen said:

saw a Common Bronzewing trying to make love to broken solar garden light today :)

think it was just a young one

Common Bronzewing

bluegreen said:

saw a Common Bronzewing trying to make love to broken solar garden light today :)

uhh? a bird and a solar light? you need more birds there BG.

For painmaster.

Remember I was talking earlier in the year about the birds that I thought were firetails that come to my place. And you were jealous? Well guess what they’re back. Although they are flighty little buggers and that makes it difficult to get a good shot with my little Sony Cybershot, I did have a go and here is one of the results. Not very good granted, but at least you should get an idea:

AnneS said:

For painmaster.

Remember I was talking earlier in the year about the birds that I thought were firetails that come to my place. And you were jealous? Well guess what they’re back. Although they are flighty little buggers and that makes it difficult to get a good shot with my little Sony Cybershot, I did have a go and here is one of the results. Not very good granted, but at least you should get an idea:

lovely – i reckon ours have got even more red on them – i haven’t seen them for years tho’
g’ay anne

AnneS said:

For painmaster.

Remember I was talking earlier in the year about the birds that I thought were firetails that come to my place. And you were jealous? Well guess what they’re back. Although they are flighty little buggers and that makes it difficult to get a good shot with my little Sony Cybershot, I did have a go and here is one of the results. Not very good granted, but at least you should get an idea:

look like Red Browed Finches

bluegreen said:

look like Red Browed Finches

Yep that be them. One website I saw called them firetails.

bluegreen said:

AnneS said:

For painmaster.

Remember I was talking earlier in the year about the birds that I thought were firetails that come to my place. And you were jealous? Well guess what they’re back. Although they are flighty little buggers and that makes it difficult to get a good shot with my little Sony Cybershot, I did have a go and here is one of the results. Not very good granted, but at least you should get an idea:

look like Red Browed Finches

We’ve had a definate increase in bird life since those nasty bushfires.
Neighbour has seen blue wrens again after years of absence…I’m yet to see one again tho.

pepe said:

AnneS said:

For painmaster.

Remember I was talking earlier in the year about the birds that I thought were firetails that come to my place. And you were jealous? Well guess what they’re back. Although they are flighty little buggers and that makes it difficult to get a good shot with my little Sony Cybershot, I did have a go and here is one of the results. Not very good granted, but at least you should get an idea:

lovely – i reckon ours have got even more red on them – i haven’t seen them for years tho’
g’ay anne

I’ve seen a finch with red on it’s face a couple times over the years but I assumed mine was an escapee.

Muschee said:

We’ve had a definate increase in bird life since those nasty bushfires.
Neighbour has seen blue wrens again after years of absence…I’m yet to see one again tho.

Cool. We get blue wrens too, though at the moment mainly only females. Haven’t seen many males for ages

AnneS said:

bluegreen said:

look like Red Browed Finches

Yep that be them. One website I saw called them firetails.

OK. Had another look and some call them Red Browed Firetail Finch :)

bluegreen said:

AnneS said:

bluegreen said:

look like Red Browed Finches

Yep that be them. One website I saw called them firetails.

OK. Had another look and some call them Red Browed Firetail Finch :)

Cool. Here’s the one I looked at Fire Tail

AnneS said:

bluegreen said:

AnneS said:

Yep that be them. One website I saw called them firetails.

OK. Had another look and some call them Red Browed Firetail Finch :)

Cool. Here’s the one I looked at Fire Tail

there is also a Diamond Firetail

AnneS said:

For painmaster.

Remember I was talking earlier in the year about the birds that I thought were firetails that come to my place. And you were jealous? Well guess what they’re back. Although they are flighty little buggers and that makes it difficult to get a good shot with my little Sony Cybershot, I did have a go and here is one of the results. Not very good granted, but at least you should get an idea:

They are prtty no matter what ones they are.

bubba louie said:

pepe said:

AnneS said:

For painmaster.

Remember I was talking earlier in the year about the birds that I thought were firetails that come to my place. And you were jealous? Well guess what they’re back. Although they are flighty little buggers and that makes it difficult to get a good shot with my little Sony Cybershot, I did have a go and here is one of the results. Not very good granted, but at least you should get an idea:

lovely – i reckon ours have got even more red on them – i haven’t seen them for years tho’
g’ay anne

I’ve seen a finch with red on it’s face a couple times over the years but I assumed mine was an escapee.

I never see anything as small as a finch. The miners keep all at bay.

bluegreen said:

AnneS said:

bluegreen said:

OK. Had another look and some call them Red Browed Firetail Finch :)

Cool. Here’s the one I looked at Fire Tail

there is also a Diamond Firetail

Another beauty.

AnneS said:

For painmaster.

Remember I was talking earlier in the year about the birds that I thought were firetails that come to my place. And you were jealous? Well guess what they’re back. Although they are flighty little buggers and that makes it difficult to get a good shot with my little Sony Cybershot, I did have a go and here is one of the results. Not very good granted, but at least you should get an idea:

Red Browed Finch

AnneS said:

bluegreen said:

look like Red Browed Finches

Yep that be them. One website I saw called them firetails.

sometimes even called Olive Backed Firetails.

bluegreen said:

AnneS said:

bluegreen said:

OK. Had another look and some call them Red Browed Firetail Finch :)

Cool. Here’s the one I looked at Fire Tail

there is also a Diamond Firetail

close but no cigar.

pain master said:

AnneS said:

bluegreen said:

look like Red Browed Finches

Yep that be them. One website I saw called them firetails.

sometimes even called Olive Backed Firetails.

When we were discussin them way back when I think I said I didn’t remember the birds having much grey. Well I was wrong eh…so probably not such a rare sight after all :(

Still I think they’re cute.

AnneS said:

pain master said:

AnneS said:

Yep that be them. One website I saw called them firetails.

sometimes even called Olive Backed Firetails.

When we were discussin them way back when I think I said I didn’t remember the birds having much grey. Well I was wrong eh…so probably not such a rare sight after all :(

Still I think they’re cute.

They are indeed cute.

not quite my backyard, but while in Benalla yesterday I saw a group of Blue-Faced Honeyeaters that were attacking some juvenile magpies. It looked like the maggies were hoping the honeyeaters would feed them as they were getting worms/grubs from the grass, but the honeyeaters weren’t feeling like complying. They then flew up onto the trunk of a nearby tree and started pulling off bits of old bark, no doubt looking from grubs. First time I have ever seen these birds.

bluegreen said:

not quite my backyard, but while in Benalla yesterday I saw a group of Blue-Faced Honeyeaters that were attacking some juvenile magpies.

I think I’ve got them, but I thought they were miner birds…I’ve seen them investigating various trees, they also seem to look for stuff in the native blossoms (such as the bottle brushes)…

bluegreen said:

not quite my backyard, but while in Benalla yesterday I saw a group of Blue-Faced Honeyeaters that were attacking some juvenile magpies. It looked like the maggies were hoping the honeyeaters would feed them as they were getting worms/grubs from the grass, but the honeyeaters weren’t feeling like complying. They then flew up onto the trunk of a nearby tree and started pulling off bits of old bark, no doubt looking from grubs. First time I have ever seen these birds.

They are loud and agrressive birds Though very acrobatic and agile for their size. I get them here most days.

roughbarked said:

bluegreen said:

not quite my backyard, but while in Benalla yesterday I saw a group of Blue-Faced Honeyeaters that were attacking some juvenile magpies. It looked like the maggies were hoping the honeyeaters would feed them as they were getting worms/grubs from the grass, but the honeyeaters weren’t feeling like complying. They then flew up onto the trunk of a nearby tree and started pulling off bits of old bark, no doubt looking from grubs. First time I have ever seen these birds.

They are loud and agrressive birds Though very acrobatic and agile for their size. I get them here most days.

they were certainly giving these magpies what for! Almost carrying them off physically!

bluegreen said:

not quite my backyard, but while in Benalla yesterday I saw a group of Blue-Faced Honeyeaters that were attacking some juvenile magpies. It looked like the maggies were hoping the honeyeaters would feed them as they were getting worms/grubs from the grass, but the honeyeaters weren’t feeling like complying. They then flew up onto the trunk of a nearby tree and started pulling off bits of old bark, no doubt looking from grubs. First time I have ever seen these birds.

We get them here occasionaly. Don’t they have a shrill cry?

a lovely family has graciously let us house sit here in Alice Springs and it has a lovely feel to the garden. Pity it is so cold, but we will put the fire on later. The garden has a Bowerbird I have not seen before and some very cute honeyeaters I have not seen before plus some Port Lincoln Parrots perhaps? I do not have my birdbook with me… D’oh!

On my travels I have seen Spinifex Pigeons for the first time, a Crested bird that I have not seen before and heaps and heaps and stacks of Zebra Finches.

pain master said:

a lovely family has graciously let us house sit here in Alice Springs and it has a lovely feel to the garden. Pity it is so cold, but we will put the fire on later. The garden has a Bowerbird I have not seen before and some very cute honeyeaters I have not seen before plus some Port Lincoln Parrots perhaps? I do not have my birdbook with me… D’oh!

On my travels I have seen Spinifex Pigeons for the first time, a Crested bird that I have not seen before and heaps and heaps and stacks of Zebra Finches.

Maybe the local library has a bird book as part of its’ permanent collection?

Dinetta said:

pain master said:

a lovely family has graciously let us house sit here in Alice Springs and it has a lovely feel to the garden. Pity it is so cold, but we will put the fire on later. The garden has a Bowerbird I have not seen before and some very cute honeyeaters I have not seen before plus some Port Lincoln Parrots perhaps? I do not have my birdbook with me… D’oh!

On my travels I have seen Spinifex Pigeons for the first time, a Crested bird that I have not seen before and heaps and heaps and stacks of Zebra Finches.

Maybe the local library has a bird book as part of its’ permanent collection?

I’m hoping to photograph them now, and ID later.

pain master said:

a lovely family has graciously let us house sit here in Alice Springs and it has a lovely feel to the garden. Pity it is so cold, but we will put the fire on later. The garden has a Bowerbird I have not seen before and some very cute honeyeaters I have not seen before plus some Port Lincoln Parrots perhaps? I do not have my birdbook with me… D’oh!

On my travels I have seen Spinifex Pigeons for the first time, a Crested bird that I have not seen before and heaps and heaps and stacks of Zebra Finches.

D and I have been watching what we think is a Pheasant Coucal in the bushes beside our house. If it hangs about I will try to get a photo. The books all show pics in breeding plumage and this one certainly isn’t in breeding mood.

pomolo said:

pain master said:

a lovely family has graciously let us house sit here in Alice Springs and it has a lovely feel to the garden. Pity it is so cold, but we will put the fire on later. The garden has a Bowerbird I have not seen before and some very cute honeyeaters I have not seen before plus some Port Lincoln Parrots perhaps? I do not have my birdbook with me… D’oh!

On my travels I have seen Spinifex Pigeons for the first time, a Crested bird that I have not seen before and heaps and heaps and stacks of Zebra Finches.

D and I have been watching what we think is a Pheasant Coucal in the bushes beside our house. If it hangs about I will try to get a photo. The books all show pics in breeding plumage and this one certainly isn’t in breeding mood.

yeah, but their tail feathers and all over clumsy design in unmistakeable. These are great birds and they are plenty in North Qld and PNG. Wonderful birds!

pain master said:

pomolo said:

pain master said:

a lovely family has graciously let us house sit here in Alice Springs and it has a lovely feel to the garden. Pity it is so cold, but we will put the fire on later. The garden has a Bowerbird I have not seen before and some very cute honeyeaters I have not seen before plus some Port Lincoln Parrots perhaps? I do not have my birdbook with me… D’oh!

On my travels I have seen Spinifex Pigeons for the first time, a Crested bird that I have not seen before and heaps and heaps and stacks of Zebra Finches.

D and I have been watching what we think is a Pheasant Coucal in the bushes beside our house. If it hangs about I will try to get a photo. The books all show pics in breeding plumage and this one certainly isn’t in breeding mood.

yeah, but their tail feathers and all over clumsy design in unmistakeable. These are great birds and they are plenty in North Qld and PNG. Wonderful birds!

I’ve seen them in flight and they aren’t very good at it that’s for sure. This one is a beautiful jersey cow beige from it’s head to breast and underside. The wings, back are the usual black flecks on brown. The tail is long and a bit of a nuisance it seems.

pain master said:

a lovely family has graciously let us house sit here in Alice Springs and it has a lovely feel to the garden. Pity it is so cold, but we will put the fire on later. The garden has a Bowerbird I have not seen before and some very cute honeyeaters I have not seen before plus some Port Lincoln Parrots perhaps? I do not have my birdbook with me… D’oh!

On my travels I have seen Spinifex Pigeons for the first time, a Crested bird that I have not seen before and heaps and heaps and stacks of Zebra Finches.

i find out about your trip on the BB topic?
i’m glad you’re relaxed and enjoying the wildlife PM.

pain master said:

pomolo said:

pain master said:

a lovely family has graciously let us house sit here in Alice Springs and it has a lovely feel to the garden. Pity it is so cold, but we will put the fire on later. The garden has a Bowerbird I have not seen before and some very cute honeyeaters I have not seen before plus some Port Lincoln Parrots perhaps? I do not have my birdbook with me… D’oh!

On my travels I have seen Spinifex Pigeons for the first time, a Crested bird that I have not seen before and heaps and heaps and stacks of Zebra Finches.

D and I have been watching what we think is a Pheasant Coucal in the bushes beside our house. If it hangs about I will try to get a photo. The books all show pics in breeding plumage and this one certainly isn’t in breeding mood.

yeah, but their tail feathers and all over clumsy design in unmistakeable. These are great birds and they are plenty in North Qld and PNG. Wonderful birds!

Very easy to tame as well.

pomolo said:

pain master said:

pomolo said:

D and I have been watching what we think is a Pheasant Coucal in the bushes beside our house. If it hangs about I will try to get a photo. The books all show pics in breeding plumage and this one certainly isn’t in breeding mood.

yeah, but their tail feathers and all over clumsy design in unmistakeable. These are great birds and they are plenty in North Qld and PNG. Wonderful birds!

I’ve seen them in flight and they aren’t very good at it that’s for sure. This one is a beautiful jersey cow beige from it’s head to breast and underside. The wings, back are the usual black flecks on brown. The tail is long and a bit of a nuisance it seems.

sounds like it can only be a Pheasant Coucal.

bubba louie said:

pain master said:

pomolo said:

D and I have been watching what we think is a Pheasant Coucal in the bushes beside our house. If it hangs about I will try to get a photo. The books all show pics in breeding plumage and this one certainly isn’t in breeding mood.

yeah, but their tail feathers and all over clumsy design in unmistakeable. These are great birds and they are plenty in North Qld and PNG. Wonderful birds!

Very easy to tame as well.

That’s interesting Bubba. I immediately wanted to cuddle one when I read that. How female is that? Read that their nest building is an ardous task for them too. I also read that they are the only Australian cuckoo that builds it’s own nest.

pomolo said:

bubba louie said:

pain master said:

yeah, but their tail feathers and all over clumsy design in unmistakeable. These are great birds and they are plenty in North Qld and PNG. Wonderful birds!

Very easy to tame as well.

That’s interesting Bubba. I immediately wanted to cuddle one when I read that. How female is that? Read that their nest building is an ardous task for them too. I also read that they are the only Australian cuckoo that builds it’s own nest.

One turned up at the boys primary school. It would wander around under the desks during class and beg for scraps at lunch. I went up one weekend to check on it and it actually flew to me when I called. We think it must have been hand raised or something. It disappeared over a holiday break. :(

people are a bit careless thinking that rodent baits only kill rodents.. :(

roughbarked said:

people are a bit careless thinking that rodent baits only kill rodents.. :(

How do you know it was poisoned? I do agree about the baits though. :(

bubba louie said:

roughbarked said:

people are a bit careless thinking that rodent baits only kill rodents.. :(

How do you know it was poisoned? I do agree about the baits though. :(

Did you click the photo to go to the comments page?

Yes the neighbour and I decided that what Mrs rb said the day before.. “that bird looks sick” matched up with all the other birds we’d seen deead recently.. plus there’s this evidence..

there are heaps of dead mice about. Magpies are one bird that would flip the dead mouse or rat over and pick the maggots etc.. also.. another candidate is snail bait.

roughbarked said:

people are a bit careless thinking that rodent baits only kill rodents.. :(

Awww…yes I hate rodent bait too for this reason…

roughbarked said:

people are a bit careless thinking that rodent baits only kill rodents.. :(

That’s sad.

the photo is not superb, but the wren is :)

bluegreen said:

the photo is not superb, but the wren is :)

awwww cute little guy! Speaking of tiny birds, saw a Mistletoe Bird in the garden yesterday.

bluegreen said:

the photo is not superb, but the wren is :)

they are hard to capture. i have been trying to get a shot of the whole family for months now. as soon as i get my camera they seem to fly off.

i heard the grey shrike thrush again last week but they are just as difficult to snap.

justin said:

bluegreen said:

the photo is not superb, but the wren is :)

they are hard to capture. i have been trying to get a shot of the whole family for months now. as soon as i get my camera they seem to fly off.

i heard the grey shrike thrush again last week but they are just as difficult to snap.

it took a few goes to capture him on the camera :)

I reckon I’ve got a picture of our grey shrikethrush on the nest from a couple of years ago. But not on this work computer, or in my photobucket, I don’t think. I’ll try to remember to find it tonight.

Here she is….she hasn’t been back to this nest, but perhaps she remembers just how hot it gets up that close to the iron!

view through my lounge room window: Blue Faced Honeyeaters helping themselves to nectar from my Rat’s Tail Cactus Disocactus flagelliformis flowers.

bluegreen said:

view through my lounge room window: Blue Faced Honeyeaters helping themselves to nectar from my Rat’s Tail Cactus Disocactus flagelliformis flowers.

that’s cool.

roughbarked said:

bluegreen said:

view through my lounge room window: Blue Faced Honeyeaters helping themselves to nectar from my Rat’s Tail Cactus Disocactus flagelliformis flowers.

that’s cool.

I thought so too :)

I went for a walk this morning and the magpies were feeding young under the walnut tree. There were major mitchells sitting in the tree and lots of other stuff going on as well like butcherbirds and blue faced honey eaters.

bluegreen said:

view through my lounge room window: Blue Faced Honeyeaters helping themselves to nectar from my Rat’s Tail Cactus Disocactus flagelliformis flowers.

like the look of that rat tail there bg, i’m getting more interested in the cacti, especially when they flower, although the often sculptural look of them is also intriguing :)

BF Honeyeaters are a cool bird indeed, and love the Major Mitchell!

Here’s my Blue Faced trying to chase a snake… but he was a young one but more Green Faced then Blue.

Look up, it’s a ..bird?

Brissy cousin took it yesterday. Is that a peacock?

bluegreen said:

view through my lounge room window: Blue Faced Honeyeaters helping themselves to nectar from my Rat’s Tail Cactus Disocactus flagelliformis flowers.

Cool!

Happy Potter said:

Look up, it’s a ..bird?

Brissy cousin took it yesterday. Is that a peacock?

I reckon so :)

Happy Potter said:

Look up, it’s a ..bird?

Brissy cousin took it yesterday. Is that a peacock?

It sure is. They are gorgeous in flight.

painmaster said:

Happy Potter said:

Look up, it’s a ..bird?

Brissy cousin took it yesterday. Is that a peacock?

It sure is. They are gorgeous in flight.

Ok ta :)

>>They are gorgeous in flight.<<

And very annoyingly noisy at night, even when they are on the other side of town, a mile or so away……..

painmaster said:

Happy Potter said:

Look up, it’s a ..bird?

Brissy cousin took it yesterday. Is that a peacock?

It sure is. They are gorgeous in flight.

bluddy noisy things but.

buffy said:

>>They are gorgeous in flight.<<

And very annoyingly noisy at night, even when they are on the other side of town, a mile or so away……..

not here, we only hear them during the day.

painmaster said:

BF Honeyeaters are a cool bird indeed, and love the Major Mitchell!

Here’s my Blue Faced trying to chase a snake… but he was a young one but more Green Faced then Blue.

a snake story yeah..!!
nice frozen pose there.

justin said:

painmaster said:

BF Honeyeaters are a cool bird indeed, and love the Major Mitchell!

Here’s my Blue Faced trying to chase a snake… but he was a young one but more Green Faced then Blue.

a snake story yeah..!!
nice frozen pose there.

Wow.. wish my camera worked that well.

roughbarked said:

justin said:

painmaster said:

BF Honeyeaters are a cool bird indeed, and love the Major Mitchell!

Here’s my Blue Faced trying to chase a snake… but he was a young one but more Green Faced then Blue.

a snake story yeah..!!
nice frozen pose there.

Wow.. wish my camera worked that well.

ditto ;)

roughbarked said:

justin said:

painmaster said:

BF Honeyeaters are a cool bird indeed, and love the Major Mitchell!

Here’s my Blue Faced trying to chase a snake… but he was a young one but more Green Faced then Blue.

a snake story yeah..!!
nice frozen pose there.

Wow.. wish my camera worked that well.

there are other influences, I had the perfect afternoon sun behind me highlighting the bird, and he was so interested in the snake that I was able to get up close and personal. The rest was all camera.

this one?

bluegreen said:

this one?

Yes, thanks BlueGreen…

:)

Saved to my favourites now…

There was a line of about 4 blue-something honey-eaters on the railing of my back deck this afternoon…not sure if this was a staged protest because I have put out a watermelon quarter instead of the usual commercial nectar feed…

Dinetta said:

There was a line of about 4 blue-something honey-eaters on the railing of my back deck this afternoon…not sure if this was a staged protest because I have put out a watermelon quarter instead of the usual commercial nectar feed…

You mean this one?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue-faced_Honeyeater

pomolo said:

Dinetta said:

There was a line of about 4 blue-something honey-eaters on the railing of my back deck this afternoon…not sure if this was a staged protest because I have put out a watermelon quarter instead of the usual commercial nectar feed…

You mean this one?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue-faced_Honeyeater

I do indeed, and it’s interesting to read that they take over old babbler nests…we’ve got them visiting lately, too…

Dinetta said:

pomolo said:

Dinetta said:

There was a line of about 4 blue-something honey-eaters on the railing of my back deck this afternoon…not sure if this was a staged protest because I have put out a watermelon quarter instead of the usual commercial nectar feed…

You mean this one?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue-faced_Honeyeater

I do indeed, and it’s interesting to read that they take over old babbler nests…we’ve got them visiting lately, too…

We have them here too. That’s when the miner birds allow them in. They have a very shriekey type of call that can get a bit nerve wracking after a while. It’s the largest honey eater of all.

pomolo said:

We have them here too. That’s when the miner birds allow them in. They have a very shriekey type of call that can get a bit nerve wracking after a while. It’s the largest honey eater of all.

I can’t hear them…something to be thankful for?

pomolo said:

Dinetta said:

pomolo said:

You mean this one?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue-faced_Honeyeater

I do indeed, and it’s interesting to read that they take over old babbler nests…we’ve got them visiting lately, too…

We have them here too. That’s when the miner birds allow them in. They have a very shriekey type of call that can get a bit nerve wracking after a while. It’s the largest honey eater of all.

I’ve got about 8 of them that seem to be in my yard most of the year.

Dinetta said:

pomolo said:

We have them here too. That’s when the miner birds allow them in. They have a very shriekey type of call that can get a bit nerve wracking after a while. It’s the largest honey eater of all.

I can’t hear them…something to be thankful for?

Of course. I forgot about that. I can’t hear them much either unless I have my aids in.

roughbarked said:

I’ve got about 8 of them that seem to be in my yard most of the year.

Mine seemed to turn up at Christmas, and stayed…the babblers only presented themselves about 3 weeks ago, and I finally found out what bird it was that I rescued out of a bucket of water about 8 years ago…will put the name up when I find it in the bird book I borrowed from the library…

The willy wagtail was taunting Nefertiti on the front steps before…and I must ring the vet and find out how the silver-eye got on…

Weeds: insert chooks = no weeds.
Borrow short term if necessary.

And here’s me encouraging weeds.

Happy Potter said:

Weeds: insert chooks = no weeds.
Borrow short term if necessary.

And here’s me encouraging weeds.

chooks being an introduced species, require weeds.

Happy Potter said:

Weeds: insert chooks = no weeds.
Borrow short term if necessary.

And here’s me encouraging weeds.

D and I would love some chooks and ducks but we go away too much. Can’t expect somebody to look after them on a regular basis.

pomolo said:

Happy Potter said:

Weeds: insert chooks = no weeds.
Borrow short term if necessary.

And here’s me encouraging weeds.

D and I would love some chooks and ducks but we go away too much. Can’t expect somebody to look after them on a regular basis.

Guinea fowl for you…

Dinetta said:

pomolo said:

Happy Potter said:

Weeds: insert chooks = no weeds.
Borrow short term if necessary.

And here’s me encouraging weeds.

D and I would love some chooks and ducks but we go away too much. Can’t expect somebody to look after them on a regular basis.

Guinea fowl for you…

Must admit I have been tempted in that direction by one of your previous suggestions. Might do a bit of research.

pomolo said:

Dinetta said:

Guinea fowl for you…

Must admit I have been tempted in that direction by one of your previous suggestions. Might do a bit of research.

They’re also reputed to keep the snakes away…we never had a problem when we had guinea fowl…

Quite the gathering of the blue-faced honey-eaters lately. I have looked up the bird book from the library and half of them are full-sized juveniles…haven’t seen so many together since I moved here so obviously the good seasons have agreed with the chick-rearing…

Hang on, I found it…

OK there was a birdie in my back yard, along with the dozens of other suspects, and it looked like an ibis.

However I can’t find it on the internet.

It had dark wings with a definite green sheen.

Thought it might be a spoonbill, but it didn’t have the “spoon” you usually find at the end of a spoonbill’s beak…there is a Spoonbill Creek and a Spoonbill Road just across from me…

Any guesses?

Dinetta said:

Hang on, I found it…

OK there was a birdie in my back yard, along with the dozens of other suspects, and it looked like an ibis.

However I can’t find it on the internet.

It had dark wings with a definite green sheen.

Thought it might be a spoonbill, but it didn’t have the “spoon” you usually find at the end of a spoonbill’s beak…there is a Spoonbill Creek and a Spoonbill Road just across from me…

Any guesses?

Glossy Ibis and Straw Necked Ibis both have a metallic sheen.

bluegreen said:

Dinetta said:

Hang on, I found it…

OK there was a birdie in my back yard, along with the dozens of other suspects, and it looked like an ibis.

However I can’t find it on the internet.

It had dark wings with a definite green sheen.

Thought it might be a spoonbill, but it didn’t have the “spoon” you usually find at the end of a spoonbill’s beak…there is a Spoonbill Creek and a Spoonbill Road just across from me…

Any guesses?

Glossy Ibis and Straw Necked Ibis both have a metallic sheen.

Glossy Ibis

Straw Necked ibis

Thanks BlueGreen but the second one would not come up: straw-necked ibis it…have never seen one out here…it was picking through the soil in the back yard…

Dinetta said:

Thanks BlueGreen but the second one would not come up: straw-necked ibis it…have never seen one out here…it was picking through the soil in the back yard…

The glossy inis is rather rare. The straw necked is becoming common in cities.

roughbarked said:

Dinetta said:

Thanks BlueGreen but the second one would not come up: straw-necked ibis it…have never seen one out here…it was picking through the soil in the back yard…

The glossy inis is rather rare. The straw necked is becoming common in cities.

I have only ever seen one Glossy in the wild and that was at a watering hole on the Cape York. Very wary it was too. The Straw Necked Ibis were reasonably common in Townsville, not as much as the Australian White but still common.

Oh and the Glossy is noticebly smaller.

painmaster said:

roughbarked said:

Dinetta said:

Thanks BlueGreen but the second one would not come up: straw-necked ibis it…have never seen one out here…it was picking through the soil in the back yard…

The glossy inis is rather rare. The straw necked is becoming common in cities.

I have only ever seen one Glossy in the wild and that was at a watering hole on the Cape York. Very wary it was too. The Straw Necked Ibis were reasonably common in Townsville, not as much as the Australian White but still common.

Oh and the Glossy is noticebly smaller.

Repeats to self.. Ibis.. not inis.

Yes I live where we get almost all the waterbirds that ever come inland. The glossy Ibis I have been privileged to have observed but very few times at all, when the white and the straw-necked are so prolific they can block out the sun.

painmaster said:

I have only ever seen one Glossy in the wild and that was at a watering hole on the Cape York. Very wary it was too. The Straw Necked Ibis were reasonably common in Townsville, not as much as the Australian White but still common.

Oh and the Glossy is noticebly smaller.

This was a large bird, larger than usual I would say….maybe just well fed…

roughbarked said:

Yes I live where we get almost all the waterbirds that ever come inland. The glossy Ibis I have been privileged to have observed but very few times at all, when the white and the straw-necked are so prolific they can block out the sun.

Well thankfully this was not a white … they’re the ones that have stunk out the Rockhampton Botanic Gardens…

Dinetta said:

roughbarked said:

Yes I live where we get almost all the waterbirds that ever come inland. The glossy Ibis I have been privileged to have observed but very few times at all, when the white and the straw-necked are so prolific they can block out the sun.

Well thankfully this was not a white … they’re the ones that have stunk out the Rockhampton Botanic Gardens…

If only we’d leave the wetlands for them and stop polluting the waters, stop spraying for locusts, stop laser leveling land for agriculture, then the birds wouldn’t be a pest in towns.

Dinetta said:

painmaster said:

I have only ever seen one Glossy in the wild and that was at a watering hole on the Cape York. Very wary it was too. The Straw Necked Ibis were reasonably common in Townsville, not as much as the Australian White but still common.

Oh and the Glossy is noticebly smaller.

This was a large bird, larger than usual I would say….maybe just well fed…

a heron?

bluegreen said:

Dinetta said:

painmaster said:

I have only ever seen one Glossy in the wild and that was at a watering hole on the Cape York. Very wary it was too. The Straw Necked Ibis were reasonably common in Townsville, not as much as the Australian White but still common.

Oh and the Glossy is noticebly smaller.

This was a large bird, larger than usual I would say….maybe just well fed…

a heron?

Straight or curved beak?

bluegreen said:

a heron?

I’ll look them up later, got a pork roast to throw on…

roughbarked said:

bluegreen said:

a heron?

Straight or curved beak?

Curved

Dinetta said:

roughbarked said:

bluegreen said:

a heron?

Straight or curved beak?

Curved

Ibis

bluegreen said:

Dinetta said:

roughbarked said:

Straight or curved beak?

Curved

Ibis

still sounds like a Straw Necked Ibis.

painmaster said:

bluegreen said:

Dinetta said:

Curved

Ibis

still sounds like a Straw Necked Ibis.

Yair, to be fair there is little competition.

I just had a visit from a Great Cormorant. Big and black. It was after young poults. You should have heard the commotion. Max went ballistic at it, but I threw a little pebble at it to get it to fly off. It flew off in time and wasn’t harmed.
Young poults still won’t come out of hiding.

Happy Potter said:

I just had a visit from a Great Cormorant. Big and black. It was after young poults. You should have heard the commotion. Max went ballistic at it, but I threw a little pebble at it to get it to fly off. It flew off in time and wasn’t harmed.
Young poults still won’t come out of hiding.

BlackCormorant, in Aus apparently. It was huge.

Happy Potter said:

Happy Potter said:

I just had a visit from a Great Cormorant. Big and black. It was after young poults. You should have heard the commotion. Max went ballistic at it, but I threw a little pebble at it to get it to fly off. It flew off in time and wasn’t harmed.
Young poults still won’t come out of hiding.

BlackCormorant, in Aus apparently. It was huge.

Now there’s a quirk. I was of the opinion that cormorants hunted fish.

roughbarked said:

Happy Potter said:

Happy Potter said:

I just had a visit from a Great Cormorant. Big and black. It was after young poults. You should have heard the commotion. Max went ballistic at it, but I threw a little pebble at it to get it to fly off. It flew off in time and wasn’t harmed.
Young poults still won’t come out of hiding.

BlackCormorant, in Aus apparently. It was huge.

Now there’s a quirk. I was of the opinion that cormorants hunted fish.

Maybe it’s got Happy Potter’s aquaponics in it’s sights?

roughbarked said:

Happy Potter said:

Happy Potter said:

I just had a visit from a Great Cormorant. Big and black. It was after young poults. You should have heard the commotion. Max went ballistic at it, but I threw a little pebble at it to get it to fly off. It flew off in time and wasn’t harmed.
Young poults still won’t come out of hiding.

BlackCormorant, in Aus apparently. It was huge.

Umm yeah, it was here for the fish. But it was eyeing off and terrifying the chicks, lol

Now there’s a quirk. I was of the opinion that cormorants hunted fish.

Dinetta said:

roughbarked said:

Happy Potter said:

BlackCormorant, in Aus apparently. It was huge.

Now there’s a quirk. I was of the opinion that cormorants hunted fish.

Maybe it’s got Happy Potter’s aquaponics in it’s sights?

I doubt that it would have been able to get any fish, given the deep tank they’re in. But I don’t know about these birds either, if they dive for fish.

Happy Potter said:

Dinetta said:

roughbarked said:

Now there’s a quirk. I was of the opinion that cormorants hunted fish.

Maybe it’s got Happy Potter’s aquaponics in it’s sights?

I doubt that it would have been able to get any fish, given the deep tank they’re in. But I don’t know about these birds either, if they dive for fish.

diving for fish is their forté.

Happy Potter said:

Happy Potter said:

I just had a visit from a Great Cormorant. Big and black. It was after young poults. You should have heard the commotion. Max went ballistic at it, but I threw a little pebble at it to get it to fly off. It flew off in time and wasn’t harmed.
Young poults still won’t come out of hiding.

BlackCormorant, in Aus apparently. It was huge.

Phalacrocorax carbo then?

painmaster said:

Happy Potter said:

Happy Potter said:

I just had a visit from a Great Cormorant. Big and black. It was after young poults. You should have heard the commotion. Max went ballistic at it, but I threw a little pebble at it to get it to fly off. It flew off in time and wasn’t harmed.
Young poults still won’t come out of hiding.

BlackCormorant, in Aus apparently. It was huge.

Phalacrocorax carbo then?

Yes that’s the one. Wingspan of a Pterodactyl..

Not exactly backyard birds but saw a pair of black swans with 5 cygnets swimming on one of the local dams this morning. Very cute. Have also had my eye on 3 pelicans that are hanging out on one of the really big dams in the area. Never seen that before. We’re not that far from the coast but seeing one pelican is rare. Three is unheard of afaik.

pomolo said:

Not exactly backyard birds but saw a pair of black swans with 5 cygnets swimming on one of the local dams this morning. Very cute. Have also had my eye on 3 pelicans that are hanging out on one of the really big dams in the area. Never seen that before. We’re not that far from the coast but seeing one pelican is rare. Three is unheard of afaik.

I see heaps of that and I live in the place that John Oxley called the most inhospitable place on earth.

there is a pair of cockatoos in the back yard and one of them is pruning my wormwood for me. It is biting the stems off at head height (for a cockatoo) and tossing them aside. Good job that wormwood like a good hard prune. I will put the “prunings” in the chook pen where they sleep at night.

bluegreen said:

there is a pair of cockatoos in the back yard and one of them is pruning my wormwood for me. It is biting the stems off at head height (for a cockatoo) and tossing them aside. Good job that wormwood like a good hard prune. I will put the “prunings” in the chook pen where they sleep at night.

How helpful of them!

The kookaburras came today, as they do sometimes, and I was feeding with tidy cubes of ‘roo meat when the cattle train came up the hill…the railroad is just in front of me, about 100 metres away…anyway some twit must have been racing across the line (in spite of a QR guy who stands at the crossing and advises drivers to stop) so the train horn blasted for fully 20 seconds instead of the usual perfunctory 5…blow me down, the kookas started to laugh! I could see them going through the motions (can’t hear, isn’t that a pain?) and they just laughed and laughed!! Must be something in the horn note that sets them off…

Dinetta said:

The kookaburras came today, as they do sometimes, and I was feeding with tidy cubes of ‘roo meat when the cattle train came up the hill…the railroad is just in front of me, about 100 metres away…anyway some twit must have been racing across the line (in spite of a QR guy who stands at the crossing and advises drivers to stop) so the train horn blasted for fully 20 seconds instead of the usual perfunctory 5…blow me down, the kookas started to laugh! I could see them going through the motions (can’t hear, isn’t that a pain?) and they just laughed and laughed!! Must be something in the horn note that sets them off…

I sometimes hear them here, but rarely see them, but the last few days I have had one sitting on the fence to my yard. I’m thinking that there are worms in the mud there. At least the chooks and ducks seem to like spending lots of time there too.

Dinetta said:

The kookaburras came today, as they do sometimes, and I was feeding with tidy cubes of ‘roo meat when the cattle train came up the hill…the railroad is just in front of me, about 100 metres away…anyway some twit must have been racing across the line (in spite of a QR guy who stands at the crossing and advises drivers to stop) so the train horn blasted for fully 20 seconds instead of the usual perfunctory 5…blow me down, the kookas started to laugh! I could see them going through the motions (can’t hear, isn’t that a pain?) and they just laughed and laughed!! Must be something in the horn note that sets them off…

That’s a good story Dinetta. the kookas here are building their nest in the same old termite mound on the tree on the fence line. It’s 2 years since they last used that nest.. Actually they aren’t building a nest, they are shaping a nest by digging out the centre of the ant nest. Great stuff to watch. Wish I had a cam corder.

pomolo said:

That’s a good story Dinetta. the kookas here are building their nest in the same old termite mound on the tree on the fence line. It’s 2 years since they last used that nest.. Actually they aren’t building a nest, they are shaping a nest by digging out the centre of the ant nest. Great stuff to watch. Wish I had a cam corder.

I wish you had a cam corder too…do they catch fish from your dam?

Dinetta said:

pomolo said:

That’s a good story Dinetta. the kookas here are building their nest in the same old termite mound on the tree on the fence line. It’s 2 years since they last used that nest.. Actually they aren’t building a nest, they are shaping a nest by digging out the centre of the ant nest. Great stuff to watch. Wish I had a cam corder.

I wish you had a cam corder too…do they catch fish from your dam?

Never seen them do that but they dig up our gardens for the worms while D stands on the verandah swearing at them.

pomolo said:

Dinetta said:

pomolo said:

That’s a good story Dinetta. the kookas here are building their nest in the same old termite mound on the tree on the fence line. It’s 2 years since they last used that nest.. Actually they aren’t building a nest, they are shaping a nest by digging out the centre of the ant nest. Great stuff to watch. Wish I had a cam corder.

I wish you had a cam corder too…do they catch fish from your dam?

Never seen them do that but they dig up our gardens for the worms while D stands on the verandah swearing at them.

LOL!!

Pretty sure a crow was extracting a curl grub the other day…only useful thing I’ve seen them do…

Dinetta said:

Pretty sure a crow was extracting a curl grub the other day…only useful thing I’ve seen them do…

need to look harder

roughbarked said:

Dinetta said:

Pretty sure a crow was extracting a curl grub the other day…only useful thing I’ve seen them do…

need to look harder

At what? Them drowning baby birds, ready to eat?

Dinetta said:

roughbarked said:

Dinetta said:

Pretty sure a crow was extracting a curl grub the other day…only useful thing I’ve seen them do…

need to look harder

At what? Them drowning baby birds, ready to eat?

Pick on one thing.. and realise that many birds do the same thing.

ie: everyone loves the call of the butcherbird and magpies are the backyard favourites.

roughbarked said:

Pick on one thing.. and realise that many birds do the same thing.

ie: everyone loves the call of the butcherbird and magpies are the backyard favourites.

Yes that’s true…but butcher birds and magpies don’t hang around day in day out, 24/7/365…they’re generally seasonal…or around here they are…

Dinetta said:

roughbarked said:

Pick on one thing.. and realise that many birds do the same thing.

ie: everyone loves the call of the butcherbird and magpies are the backyard favourites.

Yes that’s true…but butcher birds and magpies don’t hang around day in day out, 24/7/365…they’re generally seasonal…or around here they are…

In my yard I rarely see crows. I’m more likely to have butcherbirds and magpies daily and white winged choughs more commonly than crows.

roughbarked said:

In my yard I rarely see crows. I’m more likely to have butcherbirds and magpies daily and white winged choughs more commonly than crows.

I should imagine, from what you’ve told us over the years, you’ve got so much birdlife at your place that they drive the crows away…

Dinetta said:

roughbarked said:

In my yard I rarely see crows. I’m more likely to have butcherbirds and magpies daily and white winged choughs more commonly than crows.

I should imagine, from what you’ve told us over the years, you’ve got so much birdlife at your place that they drive the crows away…

I don’t have anything that crows want. There are plenty little ravens around but they just don’t visit though they do fly over.. I do get the occasional Australian raven but no crows at all.

roughbarked said:

.. I do get the occasional Australian raven but no crows at all.

Are you getting tek-nee-kal? lol!

Dinetta said:

roughbarked said:

.. I do get the occasional Australian raven but no crows at all.

Are you getting tek-nee-kal? lol!

just telling it like it is. One may see one or a pair of Australian ravens but never a flock(ie: murder).

Well I’ve got about 10 or more black birds with blue eyes and I’m pretty sure they say “ark”…

Dinetta said:

Well I’ve got about 10 or more black birds with blue eyes and I’m pretty sure they say “ark”…

sure it isn’t nark?

roughbarked said:

Dinetta said:

Well I’ve got about 10 or more black birds with blue eyes and I’m pretty sure they say “ark”…

sure it isn’t nark?

Well I can’t hear them at all which is why I think they say “ark”…

>>One may see one or a pair of Australian ravens but never a flock(ie: murder).<<

You’d better tell that the the 20-30 who congregate in the Norfolk pine 5 doors down from our place, make a racket, and then fly over to the park to continue when I call to them…..“Hello, Ravens of mine!”

We get a Variable Dwarf Kingfisher visit our back yard from time to time. The Willy Wags hassle it especially when it has a gecko or grasshopper.

I’ve got a little dove in an archive box with a towel over it…this bird was outside my back door and my cat is not the culprit (story too long but trust me…) It is missing some significant long feathers from it’s starboard wing, otherwise seems quite happy and healthy. Should I just keep it in the Cluck Med and see what happens, or should I just knock it off tonight if I can’t find a carer?

Dinetta said:

I’ve got a little dove in an archive box with a towel over it…this bird was outside my back door and my cat is not the culprit (story too long but trust me…) It is missing some significant long feathers from it’s starboard wing, otherwise seems quite happy and healthy. Should I just keep it in the Cluck Med and see what happens, or should I just knock it off tonight if I can’t find a carer?

Doves are relatively easy to feed. It may well be that missing flight feathers are the reason it cannot fly away. Giving it a safe warm place and food and water may well be all it needs until it re-grows feathers. Don’t keep it in the dark all day though.

roughbarked said:

Dinetta said:

I’ve got a little dove in an archive box with a towel over it…this bird was outside my back door and my cat is not the culprit (story too long but trust me…) It is missing some significant long feathers from it’s starboard wing, otherwise seems quite happy and healthy. Should I just keep it in the Cluck Med and see what happens, or should I just knock it off tonight if I can’t find a carer?

Doves are relatively easy to feed. It may well be that missing flight feathers are the reason it cannot fly away. Giving it a safe warm place and food and water may well be all it needs until it re-grows feathers. Don’t keep it in the dark all day though.

It’s getting agitated and trying to get out of the chicken coop. Not making any effort to fly. I don’t think it likes the chooks in the vicinity.

A bird lady came to collect it. She thanked me!! She is currently caring for some little lorrikeets which require feeding every two hours…she’ll be glad when they can sleep a bit longer!

Dinetta said:

A bird lady came to collect it. She thanked me!! She is currently caring for some little lorrikeets which require feeding every two hours…she’ll be glad when they can sleep a bit longer!

:D

The crows must have a nest somewhere, one of the grown-ups is coming and dipping food in the chookens water…I see it fly in and out…sadly (for the crow) the food sometimes dissolves and falls into the water, so poor crow has to fly off and find more…

(xferred over from Buffy’s Birdbaths thread, thanks RoughBarked)

Nesting pair of Crested Pigeons, wondered why my TV reception was playing up. Between them and the Yellow throated miners who use the TV antennas as a staging post for raiding the weeping mulberry to and from.

The smaller birds are feeling cocky at present. I’ve been stopping the feral cats and this year for the first time in a decade or more, there are no resident nesting sparrowhawks. I wonder why?

Sometime back a crested pigeon flew through the kitchen window glass and crashed into the opposite wall cupboard. Obviously going fast from a low take-off, being chased by something also fast. ie: sparrowhawk.

Photo somewhere but no time to search flickr now.

roughbarked said:

The smaller birds are feeling cocky at present. I’ve been stopping the feral cats and this year for the first time in a decade or more, there are no resident nesting sparrowhawks. I wonder why?

Sometime back a crested pigeon flew through the kitchen window glass and crashed into the opposite wall cupboard. Obviously going fast from a low take-off, being chased by something also fast. ie: sparrowhawk.

Photo somewhere but no time to search flickr now.

Here we go..

pigeon_holed

roughbarked said:

pigeon_holed

and if you look really carefully, on the bench on the wall opposite.. there is the dead body of the pigeon.

roughbarked said:

roughbarked said:

pigeon_holed

and if you look really carefully, on the bench on the wall opposite.. there is the dead body of the pigeon.

I was about to say, I doubted the pigeon survived. At least it would have been instant.

roughbarked said:

roughbarked said:

pigeon_holed

and if you look really carefully, on the bench on the wall opposite.. there is the dead body of the pigeon.

or if you go to the actual link.. http://www.flickr.com/photos/99559986@N00/7982665801/

Then you may also see a close up of the still warm body. Maybe if you can see the note on the farmer with hat silhouette.. “He’s dead Jim”., a quote I borrowed from Boris.

roughbarked said:

Nesting pair of Crested Pigeons, wondered why my TV reception was playing up. Between them and the Yellow throated miners who use the TV antennas as a staging post for raiding the weeping mulberry to and from.

Are they nesting in the antenna?

roughbarked said:

The smaller birds are feeling cocky at present. I’ve been stopping the feral cats and this year for the first time in a decade or more, there are no resident nesting sparrowhawks. I wonder why?

Sometime back a crested pigeon flew through the kitchen window glass and crashed into the opposite wall cupboard. Obviously going fast from a low take-off, being chased by something also fast. ie: sparrowhawk.

Photo somewhere but no time to search flickr now.

Can I deduce that the small birds are keeping the sparrowhawks at bay?

roughbarked said:

roughbarked said:

Sometime back a crested pigeon flew through the kitchen window glass and crashed into the opposite wall cupboard. Obviously going fast from a low take-off, being chased by something also fast. ie: sparrowhawk.

Here we go..

pigeon_holed

Love the pun!! That’s quite a hole by one small bird… I take it death was not defied?

roughbarked said:

roughbarked said:

pigeon_holed

and if you look really carefully, on the bench on the wall opposite.. there is the dead body of the pigeon.

Ah! Wasn’t expecting to see that…

Dinetta said:

roughbarked said:

The smaller birds are feeling cocky at present. I’ve been stopping the feral cats and this year for the first time in a decade or more, there are no resident nesting sparrowhawks. I wonder why?

Sometime back a crested pigeon flew through the kitchen window glass and crashed into the opposite wall cupboard. Obviously going fast from a low take-off, being chased by something also fast. ie: sparrowhawk.

Photo somewhere but no time to search flickr now.

Can I deduce that the small birds are keeping the sparrowhawks at bay?

At a guess something split up the pair. The nest is abandoned.

Dinetta said:

roughbarked said:

Nesting pair of Crested Pigeons, wondered why my TV reception was playing up. Between them and the Yellow throated miners who use the TV antennas as a staging post for raiding the weeping mulberry to and from.

Are they nesting in the antenna?

In the tree nearby. They rest on the antennae.

roughbarked said:

Dinetta said:

roughbarked said:

Nesting pair of Crested Pigeons, wondered why my TV reception was playing up. Between them and the Yellow throated miners who use the TV antennas as a staging post for raiding the weeping mulberry to and from.

Are they nesting in the antenna?

In the tree nearby. They rest on the antennae.

I was going to say, very exposed….but then those European storks nest on chimney tops…

Dinetta said:

roughbarked said:

Dinetta said:

Are they nesting in the antenna?

In the tree nearby. They rest on the antennae.

I was going to say, very exposed….but then those European storks nest on chimney tops…

Mind you, half a dozen sticks and she could build a nest on the antenna on the right. But there exists the problem of no cover.. yep.