Little Corellas
Little Corellas are a common parrot in many parts of South Australia – and in other parts of Australia too. Flocks numbering in the hundreds and sometimes in the thousands are relatively common. The noise of a flock of five hundred to a thousand can be deafening as they fly overhead.
Pests
Both Little and Long Billed Corellas can become a pest species when they gather in such large numbers. Not only do they destroy grain crops they can cause a great problem in other ways, such as stripping leaves and bark from native trees and even damaging buildings and power lines. When they get to pest proportions like this people not only get upset with their raucous noises, they start counting the cost of the damage to property.
Calls for Culling
From time to time there are reports in newspapers and on television programmes for these beautiful birds to be culled. One such report was on our news last night. One local football club has had extensive damage caused by corellas to their light towers which are used on training nights.
I don’t believe culling will achieve much as it is a short term “solution.” It’s a perplexing and perennial problem – and I don’t have the answer. It just saddens me that people get to such a state that culling seems to be the only course of action.
Common Blackbirds
288 Comments »13th April, 2006; Category: Birds, Blackbirds, Camera, Garden birds, Murray Bridge, Nests, Photos
Common Blackbird (male)
Common Blackbirds are an introduced species in Australia. Their range here is south of a line from Sydney in NSW to Port Lincoln in South Australia and they are found throughout South Eastern Australia, including large parts of Victoria and Tasmania. They are particularly found in parks and gardens where they enjoy scratching around in the leaf litter and mulch for their food. Many gardeners despise the Common Blackbird for their untidy habit of flicking bark, leaves, mulch and sticks on to their nice, neat garden paths.
Beautiful Songbird
The Blackbird may be an introduced species, it may have untidy eating habits but this is more than made up for by its beautiful song. There are few birds in Australia that can match the song of a Blackbird singing in the late winter or spring evenings. It fills the air with a rich melodic harmony.
Breeding
We didn’t have any resident Blackbirds in our garden here on the outskirts of Murray Bridge South Australia until a few years ago. The occasional visitor, yes, but not resident. Now they have moved in and have started breeding. Several times they have used an unusual nesting spot. They fly into a shed in my wife’s nursery through a small gap above the door. They then proceed to make a bowl shaped nest in one of the many empty plant pots we store in the shed. How lovely and cosy – out of the cold, the wind and the rain.
Common Blackbird (female)
Photos
Despite them now being resident I find that “our” blackbirds are quite timid and are rather camera shy. It was with great delight that today I have been able to take some close up shots of both the male and the female (she is a dull brown colour) fossicking for beetles and worms just outside our sunroom window. This makes a perfect bird hide for photography.
UPDATE:
- This article has created quite a deal of interest. Read the comments section below for the experiences of other people with Blackbirds.
- Related articles: Do Blackbirds Swoop? An article about aggressive bird behaviour with many interesting comments and observations from readers of this blog.
- For more articles about Blackbirds nesting read
- “Anyone for a Swim? Forget it Baby Blackbird”
- “Hear the Blackbird singing in the morning”
Update #2: A further update on this post was made in July 2015.
Mallee Ringneck Parrots
Over recent days I’ve been aware of several Mallee Ringneck parrots getting around in our garden. The Mallee Ringneck is one of the sub-species of the Australian Ringneck. I’ve heard them calling quite a deal over recent times and have seen them on a few occasions as the glide their way through the mallee trees in our garden.
Mallee Ringneck Parrot
Breeding
On several occasions we have observed a pair being pursued by two or three juveniles, so they must have bred somewhere nearby. Earlier this week I saw two of them investigate a hollow in one of the old mallee trees near our garage. I have seen them inspecting this potential nesting hollow on other occasions with no result, so I won’t be holding my breath this time either.
Birdbath
Today two Mallee Ringnecks came down to the birdbath while we were having lunch. Even though they have visited the birdbath before – assuming it is the same individuals – they were still very cautious. They both carefully sidled along a nearby branch before settling on the rim of the water container and having a drink. No bathing today and they only stayed long enough for a drink. This meant I was only able to take several photos before they flew off.
UPDATE:
The correct name for our ringnecks is the Australian Ringneck, but there are several distinct sub-species. The one in Western Australia is variously called the Port Lincoln Parrot, Western Ringneck or the Twenty-Eight Parrot (its call sounds like it is saying 28, 28). It has a much darker head than the eastern variations. The main sub-species in S.A., Victoria and N.S.W. is the Mallee Ringneck and there is another variation in Queensland known locally as the Cloncurry Ringneck.
These days they are regarded as one species; the fact that they are able to interbreed naturally with fertile offspring is the determining factor.
It is great to have such a beautiful bird in the garden.
For another article about this species click on this link
http://www.trevorsbirding.com/so-thats-whos-been-eating-my-flowers/
This article updated on 7th October 2015.
Spotted Pardalotes
13 Comments »11th April, 2006; Category: Birds, Garden birds, Honeyeaters, Murray Bridge, Pardalotes
While working in the garden yesterday I was aware of several Spotted Pardalotes (Pardalotus punctatus) in the mallee trees near me. It is always a delight to hear their “pip pip” calls all around us. They are a resident, breeding species in our garden here in Murray Bridge, South Australia. Sometimes their calls are like the squeaking of a rusty gate, so my wife refers to them as the “Squeaky Gate Pardalote.” A subspecies (xanthopygus) is the Yellow Rumped Pardalote. Their rump is a really bright yellow! This subspecies is also present in this area.
Spotted Pardalote with nesting material in beak
Distribution and Breeding
The Spotted Pardalote is found in suitable habitat throughout southern and eastern Australia. These habitats include woodlands, gardens, parks, scrubs, forests and mallee. I have recorded it breeding in our garden, both in a burrow in the sand and in the hollow of a tree. They have also been known to nest in the gaps of brickwork.
Close encounter
One individual I saw yesterday was in the branches just above where I was doing some weeding. He came down closer and closer to me as I made soft kissing noises trying to attract his attention. Eventually he was within a metre of my head – of course I didn’t have my camera with me! Both of us received a sudden jolt when a honeyeater – presumably a New Holland Honeyeater – came rocketing past, snapping its beak at the pardalote who retreated rapidly into the foliage of a nearby tree.
Striated Pardalote
The other species of Pardalote resident in our garden is the Striated Pardalote (Pardalotus striatus).
Brown Headed Honeyeaters
While we were having lunch today a flock of about 7 Brown Headed Honeyeaters came to our bird bath for a drink. They stayed long enough for a drink but didn’t attempt to bathe. I was quick enough to get the camera out and get a few photos. This is the first time I have been successful photographing this species.
Brown-headed Honeyeater