Birds of a feather

[rogerkambah]

They're a very friendly bunch at Merimbula
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So close to the water, too.

 

[VPS]

Alice Springs desert park

 

[Spongbob]

I could spend days at the Desert Park (they have a grey-headed babbler)

 

[Major]

I could spend days at the Desert Park (they have a grey-headed babbler)

We have those in our yard in Brisbane

 

[Cossie]

Pity you can't give more than just one "like".

 

[Cossie]

Singing for their supper.

 

[rogerkambah]

Singing for their supper.

View attachment 217793

Quite a family you have there. Looks like mum and dad, older kid plus 2 of the latest gen?

 

[Cossie]

The two lighter coloured ones have been around since last year, but don't seem to get any darker, the 5 of them do have hissy fits with each other at various times, maybe mum and dad want the youngsters to move out!
We feed them a mixture, mince and cut offs, cheese and seeds. The currawongs get the left overs.

 

[DC3]

Even though there are detractors of the honey bee, I found this recent article interesting, regarding potential for venom in treatment of breast cancer, although there’s still some way to go yet:

Honeybee venom rapidly kills aggressive breast cancer cells, Australian research finds

Venom from honeybees is found to rapidly kill aggressive and hard-to-treat breast cancer cells, according to potentially groundbreaking new Australian research, with hopes the discovery will lead to the development of a treatment for triple-negative breast cancer.

www.abc.net.au

Edit: The honey bee dies of course, so perhaps a win-win for some

 

[tgh]

It is that time of the year , she has four eggs but has to live with a 75% failure rate

 

[tgh]

3 hatched ( sorry for the quality, it was near dark and the parents were a bit frantic… )



Sadly tonight only one visible survivor from the three hatched , egg # 4 has been abandoned
Swmbo asked me tonight about picking up the chic ; the parents have lived here for at least ten years and I have said g'day to many chicks over the years...

 

[HokitikaGold]

It is that time of the year , she has four eggs but has to live with a 75% failure rate

View attachment 226650

As an avid birdwatcher, "plovers" hold a special thing for me. I have lived with them in four continents so far - they seem adept at surviving anywhere. There is a pair nesting on a tiny traffic island near my house - I hope they do ok

 

[HokitikaGold]

I used to have my bird-watcher's bible - the Readers Digest Complete Book of Australian Birds. Each time (over the last 40 years+) I used it whereever I lived when in Australia, noting on pages the species that I saw at that specific place. I find it a perfect book - the photos so much better than the "illustrations" found in most other works. But my copy eventually fell foul (pardon the pun) of my over-use, and literally (another pun) disintegrated.

It is my wife's birthday in a few weeks. We live with a rainforest at the back fence - an amazing array of birds give joy to us every day, and my wife loves that. I decided to find a new copy of that book for her, which was not easy - none of the usual booksellers seems to carry it. But I persevered, and now have, hidden under my wine collection under the study desk, a pristine copy of this. I am sure that she will like it

 

[drron]

Plovers are the only species of bird that appear to dislike me so they hold a not very special place with me.
The birds here seem to know that I will be leaving home soon as i have been visited by all my regulars today.The dusky flycatcher and the willie wag tail that haven't been around for a while.A cormorant and heron.The magpie this afternoon walked right up to be as I was getting rid of the final few specimens of nut grass out of the garden and had a good ole warble.

 

[tgh]

Not sure about habituating magpies..
One old horse has a regular magpie waiting on some droppings and I started handing down a few titbits.
The magpie had a family and it was instructive to see Mum take stuff back to a nearby nest.
FF : the old horse has crossed the rainbow bridge (@35yrs!!) but lo and behold the mag is now waiting for her dinner at the stable when I feed the others

 

[TheRealTMA]

I used to have my bird-watcher's bible - the Readers Digest Complete Book of Australian Birds. Each time (over the last 40 years+) I used it whereever I lived when in Australia, noting on pages the species that I saw at that specific place. I find it a perfect book - the photos so much better than the "illustrations" found in most other works. But my copy eventually fell foul (pardon the pun) of my over-use, and literally (another pun) disintegrated.

It is my wife's birthday in a few weeks. We live with a rainforest at the back fence - an amazing array of birds give joy to us every day, and my wife loves that. I decided to find a new copy of that book for her, which was not easy - none of the usual booksellers seems to carry it. But I persevered, and now have, hidden under my wine collection under the study desk, a pristine copy of this. I am sure that she will like it

For reference, i find this quite good.

‎Morcombe & Stewart Guide

‎The foremost field guide to Australian birds is now available on the iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad with a comprehensive collection of bird calls. ** If you would like to experience the app check out The Michael Morcombe eGuide to the Birds of Australia LITE which is FREE and includes 59 species...

apps.apple.com

Also has bird calls etc.

 

[drron]

I think it is more the magpie is habituating me.Sensible birds including the butcher birds,dusky flycatcher and the Willie wag tail.They all know that when I'm working in the gardens I am disturbing insects and small creatures which make for good food.I don't feed them anything just what I disturb.Plus they know I am harmless.

 

[HokitikaGold]

Plovers are the only species of bird that appear to dislike me ....

This confirms what I have suspected for ages - due to their success - they are excellent judges of character!

 

[TheRealTMA]

For reference, i find this quite good.

‎Morcombe & Stewart Guide

‎The foremost field guide to Australian birds is now available on the iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad with a comprehensive collection of bird calls. ** If you would like to experience the app check out The Michael Morcombe eGuide to the Birds of Australia LITE which is FREE and includes 59 species...

apps.apple.com

Also has bird calls etc.

There’s a other one as well that we have used.

‎Bird Song Id Australia - Automatic Recognition

‎*** SALE *** - only for a short period of time 75% off! *** SALE *** Identify birds of Australia by their Songs and Calls with this stunning guide! Record a bird singing and use Automatic Recognition to help identify it. Includes high quality images and audio. No internet connection is needed...

apps.apple.com

 

[tgh]

I dunno.. plovers hoe a tough row….
Our two have survived here for many many years, some years they lay one one, sometimes two , lots of eggs
They choose the most challenging places..sheesh..., I have had traffic cones on the footpath so the council mowing contractor doesn't plow straight through.
Sometimes the eggs just vanish overnight , I assume a carpet snake.
Sometimes they manage to hatch them and they vanish in the first few days (don't know how)
Mostly they manage to raise them almost to fledging.. and then they vanish ( I assume the local prey birds wait until they are "just right" to pounce)
Last year they nested across the road in the front yard of a new house and managed to get four up and away..first time ever !!
..a tough row ….