The winter solstice may be the shortest day of the year but it was long in birdwatching excitement. A bird I rarely see on my home patch turned up on the Lower Pipeline Trail that runs above my home in the Waterworks Valley. The scrubtit is one of those species birders call LBJs - “little brown jobs” which are small, unspectacular and difficult to identify. Often the lazy birder just moves on to more dramatic fare. I felt the same on June 21, in a hurry to complete my … [Read more...] about Winter solstice springs a surprise
On The Wing
Passport to birdland
Birdland is a magical place where it’s possible to escape all the pressures and stresses of the environment of the city created and inhabited by one species – humans – and immerse yourself in a less one-dimensional world. Birdland is nowhere in particular, and does not have to be special or noteworthy. It could be in the wildest of wild forest, or in suburbia. It could be a pristine beach, a few hectares of eucalypt woodland, or a neatly manicured city park. It could be a backyard. That’s the magic of birds; they bring beauty and wonder to every corner of the planet, wild or untamed, and my On the Wing writing is their celebration.
Parrot search on a wing and a prayer
Out of the orange-bellied parrot breeding season in Tasmania, conservationists are working against time to discover where the critically endangered birds actually spend the winter months. Volunteers are scouring coastal wetlands in Victoria and South Australia to identify areas used by the parrots so that, if necessary, these can be protected from development or degradation. The program is being undertaken by Birdlife Australia, working with landholders and local councils … [Read more...] about Parrot search on a wing and a prayer
Grebe expectations on open waters
A great-crested grebe rode the choppy waters of Montrose Bay. It was a pleasant surprise to spot the elegant grebe because I did not have grebes in mind when I set out birding on a chilly winter’s day. I was looking for kelp and silver gulls as part of Birdlife Tasmania’s annual gull count. A little earlier, strong winds drove me off my intended destination, the gull-dense Glenorchy tip. When I reached the kiosk at the entrance a council office had blocked my way. “Too … [Read more...] about Grebe expectations on open waters
Cheeky currawongs outsmart ravens
Although ravens are reputed to be among the world’s smartest birds, I’ve discovered the black currawongs that visit my garden in winter can show them a thing or two. The “mountain jays” – as they are known in country districts – easily outsmart the forest ravens in the contest to be first to the cheese that I put out for the birds each morning. The currawongs have learned over time not to wait for the cheese to land on the lawn when I toss small chunks of it from the … [Read more...] about Cheeky currawongs outsmart ravens
Welcome new life flows for New Town gulls
No longer a blot on the landscape. The tide has turned for the once degraded New Town Rivulet with a dramatic transformation of the watercourse where it meets the Derwent. I had always approached the rivulet outlet in New Town Bay with a sense of dread while taking part in the annual gull count for Birdlife Tasmania. The rivulet at this point was channelled through concrete culverts, the stones and boulders of the stream-bed caked in plastic, littered with rusting bikes and, … [Read more...] about Welcome new life flows for New Town gulls