When planning a bird garden, and taking into consideration the food requirements of birds, we must divide the plants into three categories to match the bird groups I discussed last week in my “home for birds” column. As I mentioned, these are the nectarivores, frugivores and seed-eaters. Birds eat practically every type of living thing. Beaks are a good way of identifying what type of food they eat. Birds will forage in shrubs and trees, on the lawn and among ground … [Read more...] about Gardens must not stand in isolation
On The Wing
A column for all seasons
Everyone has a story about birds. They are all about us and are our contact point with nature. The birds I see are usually in an urban environment and so I concentrate on these in my writing. I don’t pretend to be an expert but birds of the city and suburb are also the ones that most people identify with, the species you do not need a compass and binoculars to seek out. A scarlet robin singing in a garden is just as exciting as a swift parrot in an ancient forest and is worth just as many words in my On the Wing writings.
A window opens on wildlife
Birds are our window on the great world of nature. Birds are constantly about us, their songs brighten our day. Although birds are always in sight, always obvious, it is possible to bring their wonder and mystery even closer by creating a bird garden. With a little planning, and a little study into the right type of trees, shrubs and flowers to plant, we can not only cater for the birds that we commonly see and hear, but bring other species into our lives. We just have to … [Read more...] about A window opens on wildlife
Trees shape the seasons in Hobart
When it comes to “green” cities – those graced with leafy parks and tree-lined streets – the rest of Australia could take a leaf out of Hobart’s book. A mix of deciduous trees originally introduced from Europe and our own native eucalypts and wattles not only provide shelter from rain and sunshine, but give shape to the seasons. There is no greater sight than Tasmanian blue gums in white flower in Sandy Bay in spring, or the maidenhair tree, ginkgo biloba from China, in … [Read more...] about Trees shape the seasons in Hobart
The canary in the coalmine
Negotiating the catacombs of the Museum of Old and New Art I emerged into a narrow corridor bathed in light. Ahead of me a group of Mona visitors blocked my way, They were gazing through what looked like a window, framed in steel. An art piece, an installation? I waited for the tourists to take their pictures and, moving into position, I was surprised to discover what they had been viewing. They had indeed been looking out of a window and the “art” object was a pair of … [Read more...] about The canary in the coalmine
Eagles eye pampered pooches
A flight of wedge-tailed eagles has been causing a fair amount of disquiet down the Channel south of Hobart. A dog-owning coupe report that the eagles have been casting hungry eyes on their beloved toy poodle pair. The Birches Bay residents contacted Craig Webb at the Raptor Refuge at Kettering for advice on how to keep their pooches safe, and he in turn referred the pressing matter to wildlife biologist Nick Mooney, an eagle expert with some wise words about both eagles and … [Read more...] about Eagles eye pampered pooches