Don Knowler

I know my superb fairy-wrens and they know me. Their antics, fossicking and ferreting on my lawn, bring me great joy, whether it be on a grey autumnal day threatening winter, or a bright sunny one in spring full of the promise of summer. To say I have a spiritual connection with not just the fairy-wrens, but to all bird species, would be an understatement. From the dawn of my consciousness, my cognitive being, they have been with me, always there, always around. My … [Read more...] about A spiritual connection

Looking splendid in magenta and charcoal plumage, the pink robin flashed through the grevilleas, chasing an eastern spinebill. It looked as though the male robin had moved off kunanyi/Mt Wellington to establish a winter territory, along with the spinebill which was clearly invading its space. Nothing unusual about this in autumn, although this was not the usual place I see the sparring and jostling for territories off the mountain, usually in the Waterworks Reserve. No, … [Read more...] about My pink robin moment

As swift parrots are arriving in their wintering grounds in Victoria and southern New South Wales, conservationists who have been studying them in their nesting areas across Tasmania during the past summer have issued a bleak assessment of the little bird’s chances of survival. Things, it appears, are only going from bad to worst for our lovely parrots and if urgent action is not taken to save them they could become extinct before we know it. Former environment minister … [Read more...] about Swift parrot future looks bleak

A flock of silvereyes passed through the Waterworks Valley on dainty, jerky flight, heading north. Even without seeing them, I could hear their muted melody, a soft twitter which enables small flocks to keep in contact with each other while they are on the move. The song at this time of the year carries a melancholy air, but perhaps that was just me, lamenting the passing of summer and the passing of the silvereyes through my garden on the first stage of a migratory journey … [Read more...] about Silvereyes bid farewell

The songbirds of the southern suburbs of Hobart had to be on their guard this summer – the brown goshawks and collared sparrowhawks had returned in force. I’ve never seen such numbers of this winged army intent on causing mayhem and panic in the bottlebrushes and grevilleas. I know the dark secrets of birds which prey solely on the fairy-wrens, robins and silvereyes so beloved of our gardens can appear cruel but the raptors are only going about the business they were … [Read more...] about Goshawks out in force