Every day the bird spectacle changes. I find that I say to myself, 'If only bird watchers in the UK could see what I am seeing. They would be amazed!'.
The sub-text is that people in Africa have the pleasure of a vibrant bird population and I don't need to feel sorry for them. But if you were a birdwatcher and lived in the UK, Europe and most of the USA, what we have on our bird table would amaze you!
Yesterday was a 'Seven-cockatoo-day'. I walked past the kitchen and saw 7 Sulphur Crested Cockatoos queueing up on the tree trunks wanting food. We are a bit naughty as we put out seed for the parrots and bronzewings. Cockatoos are magnificent creatures. They strut up and down, throw their heads back and the startling yellow crest rises up. They squabble, hang upside down and suddenly all take off. No other birds dare venture close. They demand pride of place.
After them came the Galahs, the Common Bronzewings (we have up to 8 at a time foraging on the ground below the bird table) and the cheeky Rainbow Lorrikeets. There are tiny birds too, the Red-browed Firetails come in a little swarm. Add to these the Red-wattle birds and the Striated Paralotes and you have the common bird list for our front lawn. Without even raising a pair of binoculars.
We have heard the Tawny Frog-mouth with his spring call but cannot see the pair. Previously they have nested in our biggest tree but think that they have chosen a safer site this year as the leaf cover has been eaten by our hungry koalas. But that is another story!
We are always on the lookout for feral cats. I am afraid that they are everywhere nowadays. I am not a cat lover for Australia. Bit of a despot, I am. I would neuter all cats that currently exist and install cat licences fees at least at the level of dog licence fees. And have a night curfew - no prowling allowed! Furthermore, all feral cats should be caught and done away with. This should not be a country for cats! We have caught about 4 on our property (after finding bird feathers on the lawn on many occasions). We take them to the RSPCA and they deal with them. They are scavengers of lizards, birds anything that moves. .....
