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
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.
Absent ‘swifties’ may be a portent of things to come
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
Tide turns for Sandy Bay Rivulet
With an anguished squawk, a white-faced heron let it be known it was not happy. It took flight on lanky wings as its feeding ground on the lower Sandy Bay Rivulet was invaded by a noisy, eager bunch of university students. The elegant bird was not to know it but the students in gumboots were taking part in an environmental initiative, to not only clear the rivulet of rubbish but to plant reeds so that fish species would have somewhere to deposit their eggs. The … [Read more...] about Tide turns for Sandy Bay Rivulet
The swallows’ flight tilts at the winter
My touchstone of the seasons is the arrival and departure of the swallows. I welcome the swallows in spring and salute their departure in autumn. It’s an act rooted in ancient folk-lore and ritual, with the Roman natural philosopher Pliny the Elder writing in the First Century AD that farmers took their cue from the swallows on when to sow and when to reap In my case, it is the first sight of the appropriately named welcome swallows in September and their departure in late … [Read more...] about The swallows’ flight tilts at the winter
The kangaroo grass sways to Missy’s rhythm
The voice of Missy Higgins rang out through the dry woodland of the Queens Domain, carried on a light breeze which tossed the ears of the kangaroo grass. I recognised the song, The special two, immediately and then realised what I was hearing was not someone with the knobs of a ghetto-blaster turned to high volume but the actual voice of the multi-hit singer. My mission had not been about music. It was to view the native grassland in all its golden glory, after a letter … [Read more...] about The kangaroo grass sways to Missy’s rhythm