Friday the 13th might be an ominous signal of bad luck but for one of my readers it was a day of pure joy. A pair of grey fantails nesting in her garden – in fact metres from her backdoor – produced two chicks, which went on to grace her property in Sandy Bay with elegant, shuttlecock flight. This happened 12 months ago and the reader, Jo Bornemissza, is happy to report the nesting fantails returned this season, with the same result, although the chicks emerged not on Friday … [Read more...] about Fab fantails defy Friday the 13th
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.
Turbo-chooks indulge in midnight madness
The Tasmanian native-hens in my garden had been displaying the amorous side to their nature all night. Their mating ritual had started at midnight and the strangely rhythmic grunts and squawks finished at around 7am, just as the sun flooded the Waterworks Valley with light. The antics of the native-hens are not new in my garden and each year at this time I brace myself for my sleep to be disturbed. Not that I mind. Having lived in cities for most of my life it could be … [Read more...] about Turbo-chooks indulge in midnight madness
What the duck! A crazy 2025 for birds
Highway patrol officers in a town in Switzerland reeled in shock when they studied radar images of speedsters – among the pictures of the local hot-rod hoons was a duck. The mallard was caught travelling 52 km/h in a 30 km/h zone and what’s worse – the bird was believed to be a repeat offender. It turned out that a similar-looking duck was captured flying in the same spot at exactly the same speed, on exactly the same date seven years previously. At year’s end I always … [Read more...] about What the duck! A crazy 2025 for birds
Roll up for the bird lover’s ball
You got to get them young, a wildlife educator told me one day when I assisted a presentation at Campbell St School in North Hobart. The point was once children were introduced to the wonder and magic of birds the interest would stay with them for the rest of their lives. Our presentation consisted of displaying stuffed and mounted birds but now I have discovered a new item for the birdlife promoters’ toolkit. It is a superb children’s book, The Bird Lover’s Ball. A … [Read more...] about Roll up for the bird lover’s ball
House sparrow dialect falls on deaf ears
My family was on track to kiss the legendary Blarney Stone during a recent holiday in Ireland. I had a different agenda – tracking down some equally legendary Irish sparrows. Our holidays tend to go that way, whether to view tourist attractions like the ancient and symbolic Blarney Stone or the sublime beauty of birds. There was no conflict however when it came to Blarney Castle – the home of the stone – just outside the historic city of Cork. My son’s girlfriend was … [Read more...] about House sparrow dialect falls on deaf ears