A pair of visiting birdwatchers I met at the Waterworks Reserve in early spring said they had two reasons to visit Tasmania – one was to see the biggest member of the honeyeater family, the yellow wattlebird, and the other to tour the Museum of Old and New Art. The next day they managed to kill two birds with one stone at Berriedale. By chance I saw them again at MONA where I had gone to see the British art house musical London Street, in the museum complex’s cinema. The … [Read more...] about Wattlebirds in the Mona frame
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.
Sit tight and tune in
The blackbird might top the list as the most frequently seen bird in suburban gardens but I’ve discovered it is also very much on the radar of some of the not-so-friendly birds that also make our gardens their home. If a garden species is to fall victim to the talons of a bird of prey, or the claws of a butcherbird, more than likely it will be this elegant songster that originally hailed from Britain. The Mercury last month carried a report highlighting the importance of … [Read more...] about Sit tight and tune in
Ballet between the tides
Dodging traffic on the Midway Point Causeway, I witnessed one of the great sights of nature in early spring, a ballet between the tides. The causeway along the Tasman Highway might seem an odd place to be bird-watching but below its raised parapets is some of the best habitat a travelling birder can hope to find. Glistening ocean, sandy shore and mudflat. I had gone out in search of migratory shorebirds. Bar-tailed godwits had just arrived from their breeding grounds … [Read more...] about Ballet between the tides
Beware the hair-stealers
IT’S that time of the year when Tasmanians traversing yellow-throated honeyeater territory are advised to wear a hat. It can come as a shock when the honeyeaters land on unprotected heads and proceed to tug at tufts of hair. Startled outdoor types can be forgiven for asking: what the hell is going on? Yellowthroats, as they are popularly known among birdwatchers, have a simple answer: they mean no harm, but merely want human hair to line their nests at the start of the … [Read more...] about Beware the hair-stealers
Song of the mountains
The call of the black currawong is the sound of the mountains in Tasmania, the trumpet song ringing out from the highest peaks. It is the bird visiting bird-watchers most want to see and every time I receive requests from tourists, and their local hosts, to tell them where to find the species I wonder why it should be number one on the birders’ list. To me, another bird associated with the high country, the green rosella, is far more exciting, but perhaps that’s because I … [Read more...] about Song of the mountains