I am interested to see what birds we all have in common and which are local to our own areas. I will try and put a complete list of my feathered community and look forward to reading about others.
Don't forget to tell us about all their little habits and personalities. After all, without our feathered friends, we would not have so many interesting gardens.
Inhabitants of my garden village ---
The Mayor --a very bossy wattle bird. He thinks he's in charge and chases the other birds around the garden .
The Gum Tree Family - these are our children, the Magpies . Not just any magpies . This is a family headed by the matriarch, Mrs Bird. I have never seen a husband around, just children. She raised a child last year and as soon as he was able to fly, she bought him down to feed and said okay. feed him and we did. All year. I named him ( or her) Garbage He is so tame now that he will follow us around , eat from our hand and demand to be fed whenever he feels like it. Of course, Hubby will jump to his bidding every time. There are 3 other orphans that live here with Mrs Bird & son. Fido was left here and his mother ran away. She did not want to spend time feeding a child. Fido was named as he acts like a puppy, and follows you around for food. Hoppy just turned up and has a hoppy leg. He is a bit more timid because the others bullied him but he will hold his ground when a bone is involved.
Bone , you say, Yes we put out a bone for them. They love to pick at a leftover leg of lamb bone Usually we buy a large dog meat sausage for them but they do like the dry cat food.
There is another Magpie tribe that visit for food but they are only tolerated by ours and have to stay outside the gate.
The Ferals.- the Sparrows. There were only a few once but they breed like rabbits and dart around everywhere. They clean up after all the other birds. They like the nest boxes around the garden and fill them so full of nest material, it's a wonder they can even fit in.
The Sweet Lovers -- New Holland Honeyeaters . We have them every year. They are fantastic to watch as they seach for the sweet reward from all the flowers. They are so acrobatic and I sit and watch them as they hang around on the red hot pokers. They do like the abutilons too. We have one at the lounge window and can watch from inside as they go about their business. / They do like their bath and the little swimming pools (birdbaths )have to be filled each day
The Wren family. - Little wrens darting everywhere in the bushes is a common sight. I love to see the blue gradually appear on the proud little males. . I just wish they would go and play away from the car. I have to put little covers on the side mirrors to stop them looking at themselves and pooping all over the car.They are cute though.
There are other visitors here for a lot of the year. I try to make sure their is some sort of plant for them to feed from, whether they look for nectar or insects.
There are - Greeneyes,little fat imps that seem to be able to smell a ripe grape 2 states away and fit through the bird net.
Yellow tail Black Cockatoos., these come to feed on the pine cones and will sit quietly above while we go about our business.
Galahs - not a lot thank goodness as they can make a mess of a garden. Usually just the infants , left in the tree to wait for food while the parents are out.
White cockatoos - thankfully again, only the babies left to wait for mum and dad. The adults can do a lot of damage to hubbys radio antennas so are discouraged by banging on the tin fence. The noise sounds like a gun and scares them off. They do get around down in the town and are so noisy and messy.
The odd Hawk and Kestral, even a few Letterwing Kites and a White Falcon use the tall antenna tower to watch for food.
Gang Gang Cockatoos - usually call in on their way to some where else.
Crimson Rosellas.- Love to hang around and chew on the gum tree flowers and sometimes on my new pink rose shoots. Not too much of that these days as there is plenty of other food for them. They too, like their bath.
The odd Mudlark and a very few starlings , thank goodness
The Grey Shrike Thrush - very tame and a beautiful whistler. Sadly our one lost its mate to a feral cat. I hope it finds a new mate next year.
The Bandits - The Crows, these are such cunning birds as they sit up in their vantage points watching for us to put out the magpies food. There are often border skirmishes between them.
There are the happy little Willy Wagtails and a similar Flycatcher, but not as jumpy, There are others but I have already written a book so had better stop. I do get carried away, but then aren't all our feathered friends worth it ?
I look forward to reading lots of pages about all your birds. Pic of Mrs Bird having her tea last night.
Happy gardening.
