This is the 6th day that the temperature in
Adelaide has been over 40 o Centigrade (104 oF). We are told we can hope for a milder cool front next Saturday when it will drop to 30 degrees. But still no rain is expected. The top of 45.7 C(114 oF) last Tuesday was some sort of record for Adelaide. People are talking about 100 year records and that would be since records began here.
It is the main topic of conversation between locals: how to cool down, how to care for your garden, pets, wild birds and animals. At over 46 degrees C birds start to perish.
Round our home on the hills overlooking Adelaide the birds have used our garden as a refuge. They hide in the shade of the larger trees, creep under our outside tables and drink copious amounts of water from the many containers that we have put out.
The shy Common Bronzewings come in close to the house and I can see their throats fluttering. Wikipedia states that: "Birds also avoid overheating by gular fluttering which is similar to panting in mammals since their thin skin has no sweat glands".
Meanwhile, I worry about going outside and disturbing them in case flying off will cause them stress. At the end of the day we put on a water sprinkler for the little birds. They come in droves: striated paradoles, honeyeaters, superb wrens, willie wagtails and thornbills.
We are the lucky ones as most people cannot water except according to the tight restriction rules of Level 3 - which means you can use a hose or dripper system for only 3 hours a week during determined hours according to your address. Our fortune is to be in a one of the few suburbs where all homes depend on bore water systems that don't yet have restrictions.
Climate change seems very real in South Australia at the moment!
