Show threadPeter RileyDec 11

Wildlife friendly gardens https://www.wires.org.au/what-we-do/wildlife-information/general-information/wildlife-friendly-gardens

Bird attracting plants and trees
https://aussiebirdcount.org.au/gardening/

Bird Friendly Gardens
https://birdlife.org.au/discover-birds/birds-in-your-backyard/bird-friendly-garden/

MerriCreek History
https://www.friendsofmerricreek.org.au/merri-creek-history

#AussieBirdCount #gardening #MerriCreek #revegetation #rewilding #WildLife

Wildlife Friendly Gardens

Create a wildlife-friendly garden that supports urban wildlife by using native plants, providing water sources, and avoiding chemicals to foster a thriving ecosystem.

Show threadthermonuclear small claimsNov 1

Update: I've been doing some research on kingfisher behaviour and beak anatomy, and I've got a theory about what happened.

Kookaburras occasionally fight over food or territory like this, beak wrestling for dominance.

But they have a bunch of serrated, saw-like ridges (tomia) along their bill. I think with the way they were grabbing each other, these got locked together. They also have a hook on the end of their beak for catching prey, and it seems like Left Kooka got their hook caught in Right Kooka somehow - possibly in the nostril!

Then it became like a Chinese finger trap - the only way to get free was for them to push towards each other and unlock their tomia, but they kept trying to pull apart instead, making the hold tighter.

TLDR: These birds were caught in what I'm calling the Kingfisher Bill Trap

#kookaburra #AustralianBirds #BirdsofMastodon #science #aussiebirdcount

thermonuclear small claimsOct 31

I was woken this morning by two kookaburras making a racket down the side passage. Turns out their beaks were stuck together (!)

While they scrambled and fought, trying to pull apart, a currawong sat on the fence commentating the life-or-death struggle.

After my sleepy brain had made sense of what the bloody hell was going on, I fetched some gloves and gently prised them apart. They both flew off in high dudgeon.

What a surreal start to the day.

#kookaburra #KookaburrasOfMastodon #AustralianAnimals #justAustralianthings #birding #birds #wildoz #AussieBirdCount

JohnOct 24
Looks like I'll go 7 for 7 this year. #aussiebirdcount
Joanna HolmanOct 24

If you’re in Australia and looking for something to do this weekend, it’s not too late to help scientists studying our feathered friends by getting involved in the Aussie Bird Count. All you have to do is go outside wherever you want for 20 minutes, count the number of each type of bird you see and fill in a simple form. Beginner bird watchers are very welcome, the app and website have great tools to help you identify what you’re looking at

https://aussiebirdcount.org.au/

#AussieBirdCount

Aussie Bird Count

Celebrate National Bird Week by taking part in the biggest citizen science project to hit Aussie shores. Join thousands of people from across the country, heading out into their backyards, local parks or favourite open spaces to take part in the Aussie Bird Count.

Aussie Bird Count
Joanna HolmanOct 23

Have had some mediocre counts for Aussie Bird Count so took a trip down to the local Bin Chicken Island to juice my stats

#birds #birding #AussieBirdCount

Joanna HolmanOct 22

No way to know but I wonder which bird will be most counted in Aussie Bird Count? I don’t mean which species, I mean somewhere out there there’s an individual bird who has come to the attention of a bunch of nerds with checklists. Perhaps a swan on a university campus?

#AussieBirdCount

Show threadDavid CoombeOct 21
@cheryanne #AussieBirdCount Can confirm my rogue observation sessions are now not in my stats. So definitely harmless enjoyment (or good to practise) by starting early.
Joanna HolmanOct 21

Aussie Bird Count observing on Elizabeth St because any bird silly enough to hang out within line of sight of a nest of Peregrine Falcons who like pigeon fillet and seagull wings for brunch deserves counting

#melbourne #AussieBirdCount #collinsstfalcons

rustyOct 20

Another filthy wet day here in the #AdelaideHills and I can't get out bird counting for #AussieBirdCount

I see however, that people around me are apparently out in the pouring rain and noting up to 20 different bird species in 20 minutes, which I seriously doubt unless they are twitchers out in full wet weather gear hiding under bushes or put out 5 different kinds of bird food to attract them and set up video cameras. And their local birds are all waterbirds!

All the birds in my backyard are sensibly hiding in trees and I can't hear any calls for the constant downpour. 😕