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A flame robin flew through a swirling mist and settled on a lichen-inscribed rock. The male robin’s fiery breast pierced the gloom as it hopped from rock to rock but there were other pockets of radiant colour bringing a surreal glow to the summit of kunanyi/Mt Wellington. A party of City of Hobart Bushcare volunteers in fluorescent vests had gathered on the plateaux for their annual rubbish-removal exercise on April 2nd. The hi-vis volunteers looked at the robin and the … [Read more...] about ‘Hot coals’ burn through the mist

Tasmanian birdwatchers are being alerted to a serious threat to one of the state’s best-loved ducks. The Pacific black duck is losing the unique character that defines it by inter-breeding with a duck from Eurasia, the mallard. The black duck of Australasia (Anas superciliosa) is the common species that frequents all types of water, from city parks, to isolated forest pools and tidal mudflats. It is not black but chocolate-brown, with shades of pastel-yellow around the … [Read more...] about Ducking for cover over black mark

It might have been a hot and sunny day, but I knew immediately that winter was on the way when the harsh, metallic call of a crescent honeyeater rang out across my garden. In the same way that the welcome swallow bookmarks spring and summer between the months of September and February, the crescent honeyeater marks the beginning and end of the period when nature goes into its own form of lockdown. Although both species are migratory, plotting their course by the stars and … [Read more...] about Chilling reminder of change

The descending, joyous twitter of the silvereyes takes on a more sombre note as we go deeper into autumn. The song becomes more melancholy as these little birds switch to winter mode. The male melody of spring and summer is designed to lure females and declare territory. In autumn and then winter both the male and female silvereyes utter a different call as they strive to keep in contact with each other on the great migration they undertake from Tasmania to southern … [Read more...] about Long-haul travel with silver lining

The swift parrot has always provided a backdrop to the Bruny Island Bird Festival in the decade the event has been in existence. This is not just because the parrots have put on aerial displays over the Adventure Bay Community Hall where the festival is centred. The rapid tweets of the “swifties” has also formed a soundscape to accompany music, poetry reading and speeches in the hall itself. This year, however, the parrots will not be seen or heard. A rescheduling of the … [Read more...] about Absent ‘swifties’ may be a portent of things to come