bird behaviour

bird behaviour

How To Listen To and Observe Birds

  Communicating successfully with someone from a different species, who is not only not dependent on you, but also flies off in a flash if they don't like the sound of your voice, brings its own suite of challenges. In this series, we look at each of the five major aspects of communicating with wild birds.  These involve making them familiar with our speech patterns, listening to learn, understanding our bird's response, building trust, and allowing the friendship to develop.  In the previous issue we covered the importance of making the wild birds feel comfortable in your presence, showing them that you care about their welfare and wish to make friends.  
 
In this article we look at the art of listening to the birds.  Listening is much more than just enjoying their songs.  True listening requires us to understand the information they are trying to convey in their language to their family, community, intruders and also their friends which now hopefully includes you. 

Click here for the rest of the article.

 

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Rescuing Baby Birds

So you've found a lone baby bird... Now what?

Quite simply, a wild animal's chance of survival is greatly increased when left in its natural environment.    Having said that, what about the 25% of babies that are orphans?

When you find a baby bird, before making any decision to intervene, the first thing you have to do is decide which of the following situations we're dealing with:

Read more in the Special Edition of Wild Bird Talking - Out  Now.

Just enter your details in the box in  left hand column and receive your copy at no charge. 

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Waiter! There's a Goanna in My Water Bowl!

What's that loud rustling of leaves under the frangipani tree?  The miners are screeching and the butcherbirds sound like they are gargling!  The sound of a plastic bowl tipping over reaches us as we run to the front door just in time to catch a glimpse of the majestic creature searching for water.  Yes, it's a goanna.  He catches sight of us from the corner of his eye

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Cloudy Skies Make Greener Grass

The birds and wildlife have had a wonderful summer this year, inf act the best in over a decade.  New wildgrasses have sprung up covering the hillsides due to the extended rains and are providing plenty of food and shelter this season in contrast to years of dry, burnt summers.   Check out the pics below to see what they have been doing.

(click on the 'next' button to forward through the slides).

Previous Slide 1/36 NextWillie and Nellie learning to sing against the cloudy skiesWillie and Nellie learning to sing against the cloudy skiesLush green grasses fill the paddocksLush green grasses fill the paddocksThe eagles are a hunting up aboveThe eagles are a hunting up abovewhile Rainbow lorikeets are sortingwhile Rainbow lorikeets are sortingout territorial boundaries belowout territorial boundaries belowThe babblers have moved inThe babblers have moved inhaving negotiated their rightshaving negotiated their rightsThe wallabies are enjoying the rich pickingsThe wallabies are enjoying the rich pickingsalong with Bertie Vicky Mindy and Kennyalong with Bertie Vicky Mindy and KennyBilly's family is happy tooBilly's family is happy tooLarry and Harrie are singing to gloryLarry and Harrie are singing to gloryThe Crested pigeons are thrilled to bootsThe Crested pigeons are thrilled to bootsMaggie's son Monty has found new friendsMaggie's son Monty has found new friendsKenny wants to get up close and personalKenny wants to get up close and personalGabriel Tuks joined the bat creche and returned to the colonyGabriel Tuks joined the bat creche and returned to the colonyCharlie Girl is fully recovered and adores PeteCharlie Girl is fully recovered and adores PeteJack is much happier now he can fly furtherJack is much happier now he can fly furtherWallabies relax in the shade at the Long Grass Wildlife RefugeWallabies relax in the shade at the Long Grass Wildlife RefugeJack adores GabiJack adores GabiWild grasses spring up along the roadsideWild grasses spring up along the roadsidethe whole valley is green - for a few weeks at leastthe whole valley is green - for a few weeks at leastOne eyed Curly the currawongOne eyed Curly the currawongis looking healthy and wellis looking healthy and wellGumnuts are a plentifulGumnuts are a plentifulButterflies delightButterflies delightBilly's brood is growing upBilly's brood is growing upFrieda is all black and white but still as friendly as everFrieda is all black and white but still as friendly as everNoisy miner is planning another clutchNoisy miner is planning another clutch2 eggs in here2 eggs in herewhile the nest is being fortifiedwhile the nest is being fortifiedwild grasses aboundwild grasses aboundfilling the bushy landscapefilling the bushy landscapeto the joy of the birds and animalsto the joy of the birds and animalsThe galahs are keen to show their nestThe galahs are keen to show their nestand pose for the cameraand pose for the cameraThe peewee too wants to be seenThe peewee too wants to be seen

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My New White-backed Magpie Friends

by Shirley Oelman

I have magpies that visit every now and then and would like to talk about them. 


They first came calling regularly in late July 2009.

 warbling magpies

  17Oct 09, 10:01am  Warbling so beautiful      

  

 

At first I ignored them, then, as they seemed so insistent I went out outside to check out the noise.

There were 5 to start with and the numbers dwindled to 2 from November. I threw out onto the ground minced steak, multi grain bread and some varieties of fruit & veg, plus crushed up biscuits. There is always 2 lots of water for them. One of the magpies loved grapes. The other one would not touch them. If I ignored their call one would come up to my front door and call, then stand and wait looking at the door. When I stepped out it (the darker, taller one) ran away a short distance until I called it and dropped food and then it came within 4 foot of me and ate. The light grey one always kept back and never came too close.

 


Species: 
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