Birdwatchers in Tasmania are hoping that the naming of the swift parrot as Bird of the Year in a national poll will boost the chances of its survival. The “swifty” emerged winner in the contest earlier this month after seeing off competition from the tawny frogmouth. The publicity afforded to the critically endangered species could not have come at a better time. It has been revealed in recent years that numbers of swift parrots are in freefall and there are concerns it … [Read more...] about Swift parrot flies into the spotlight
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.
Bird count continues to fly high
Australia Post has put its stamp of approval on the annual Aussie Bird Count by issuing a set of stamps featuring three of the birds most commonly seen in our backyards and neighbourhoods. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the count, which since its inception has become Australia’s biggest citizen science project. Last year more than 77,000 people took part, counting nearly 4 million birds of 620 species. The record is expected to be broken this year. The birds … [Read more...] about Bird count continues to fly high
Summerbird springs a surprise
A warm north-westerly wind brought an early surprise at the very start of string – a flight of summerbirds. Usually I see summerbirds – more formally known as black-faced cuckoo shrikes – a little later in the season and their arrival made my day I had been focused on the domestic migration, watching eastern spinebills and crescent honeyeaters moving through the Queens Domain on their way from the coast to breeding areas on kunanyi/Mt Wellington. The summerbirds make a … [Read more...] about Summerbird springs a surprise
Birds sing the story of Australia
A group of Aboriginal schoolchildren gathered under the spreading canopy of a Moreton Bay fig tree in a Melbourne park, their schoolteacher explaining the significance of the location. It was here, he said, that over the years Aboriginal activists had gathered to demand a better future for their people. The chatter of the excited children was matched by the musical call of a red wattlebird, flying into the lower branches of the tree and perhaps hoping that the gathering … [Read more...] about Birds sing the story of Australia
A patch of paradise
The frequent sightings of platypus in the Hobart Rivulet Park is drawing attention to the semi-wild places that nature-lovers call “patches”. The folk of South Hobart are responding as never before to initiatives to clean up the once neglected and polluted waterway to make it a safe environment for both wildlife and people. The focus on the rivulet follows a recent ABC documentary on the “platypus whisperer”, local resident Peter Walsh and his efforts to publicise the … [Read more...] about A patch of paradise