An air conditioned Thornbill
Yellow-rumped Thornbill, Canberra
We are in the midst of a heatwave this week. On Monday it reached 40C (104F), yesterday 45C (113F) and it looks like another 40+ day today.
Our poor garden birds – along with birds everywhere, suffer greatly during such extreme temperatures. I try to keep the supply of water in the bird baths up during these times, something they much appreciate if the constant stream of birds is anything to go by.
During the worst of the heat yesterday I was working in my office. I was being kept cool by the gentle flow of cool air from our evaporative air conditioner. This type of cooler needs an open window to create a flow of cool air into a room. The window alongside of me was ajar a few centimetres.
I was suddenly aware of a Yellow-rumped Thornbill cooling itself in the flow of air escaping from my office. He twittered in appreciation for about five minutes, wings held out to catch the refreshing air, before flying off to catch afternoon tea.
It was a lovely interruption to my afternoon of writing.
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Nice one Trevor.
You have to feel really sorry for our wildlife during this extreme heat. In the herald sun last week they had a story of a lady that founf a koala at her back door. She gave it water out of a cup for about five minutes until it had enough and then went on its way.
I’ve been trying hard to keep up with the water in the bird baths around the garden. Poor little things are really suffering. Up to yesterday (Sunday) we’d had seven consecutive days of 40C or above temperatures, 3 of them 48C. There is a constant stream of birds coming for a much needed drink. It is a little better today (Monday 2nd Feb)
Thanks for the comments.
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