Karen's Big Year 2022

Thanks :-). Yeah I think I got lucky in the end. Right place, right time.

I also had some luck while out volunteering for the day with Science for Wildlife on Friday. We spent the day checking camera traps and doing vegetation surveys in Mountain Lagoon and we bumped into this beautiful boy. He watched us intently from way up high in the treetops. My camera battery died while taking pics of him, so am glad I at least got this one in.

Thanks everyone, funnily enough I took the pic of the Satin Bowerbird from inside my house, through a dirty window. And it turned out one of my better shots lol

Thanks all :-) 

Hey Michael it's a natural bush block with limited cleared area and is essentially part of the Wollemi National Park. We have also planted hundreds of flowering natives since moving here, mostly ones with the smaller flowers to attract smaller birds. We get most of the plants from the local community nursery so that they are indigenous to the area. There aren't any introduced plant species here, but would be removed if we found any. We had a guy from Land for Wildlife come out and wandered around the property collecting cuttings. He took them away and then sent me back a list of all the plants we have here. There is a lawn area which was here when we moved in (but we'd like to remove and replace with rock gardens and natives) and I think he found one other weed but said it was not posing a problem.

I also put lots of water out for the animals, 7 bird baths and 4 shallow dishes on the ground. Water is not a problem this year but during the drought we had an even bigger variety of birds and other animals visiting to get a drink. 

We've been here 4 years and I only saw my first two introduced bird species in the last few months. There are neighbours nearby cutting down trees and the local council just approved a new land clearing law, allowing property owners to clear more of their property without council permission. Many of the natural wildlife corridors will be destroyed due to this, the local koala population is probably not going to survive. And I think I'll start seeing more Common Mynas. We will keep planting trees though.

Not sure how much difference we can make but I read a great quote recently 'Do what you can, where you are, with what you have'. So that's what we will do.

Thanks Dale, yes will definitely do that. I have some native grass seeds I bought in an attempt to feed the King Parrots. But they turned up their noses at it lol. We have some native grass on the other side of our house, which definitely doesn't need mowing as often. We have some wild orchids that come up in that, along native carnivorous plants. Sometimes it gets quite long before my husband will mow as he wants the plants to go to seed first. But with snakes around, we do need to keep it low close to the house.

Thanks guys, yes I love it here, my sanctuary, I rarely leave lol. And yes Alex it is extremely frustrating. The biggest problem as I see it is that the majority of people don't place enough importance on the environment and wildlife. The governments of the day at all levels will just do what the people want, otherwise they won't be in government. I hope next generations will think differently.

But to end on a positive note, a bunch of these lovely birds stopped by this morning. I heard their creaky call during my morning 'lap' with the dog. One of my all time favourites.

24. Gang-gang Cockatoo

I have been a bit MIA lately, just very busy with work and uni and Leo etc, and I'm also learning the piano which keeps me inside a lot, as does all the rain we've had recently.

But this afternoon I heard a distinct call from my kitchen and while I couldn't immediately recognise it, I knew it was one I'd only heard here once or twice before. I grabbed the camera and followed the sound.... and then I spotted him as he flew over the house. This is the 3rd sighting I've had of them here, and not for over a year. Made my day :-)

25. Glossy Black Cockatoo

Terrible blurry photo I know, but it's better than the other pic I have, with some black bits in amongst a gum tree. Hopefully identifable enough?

Oh I hope you see one soon, keep trying :-).  I have missed them. I hope they come back and I can get a better photo. But I think they have inspired me to get out a bit more, and get a few more runs on the board here! 

Thanks Dale. Yes I hear and see the yellow-tailed black cockatoos daily. Have a family who visit with their very loud baby! I have a pic of the family of 6 but my memory card is being difficult. Hope to resurrect it soon but they visit often so should be able to get another photo. 

Thanks Michael, yes Merlin recognised the Glossy Black too. I definitely know it was one but I also know my photo is not a great capture, so I'm glad you are able to recognise it! And yes we had a weekend with quite a bit of blue sky, so that was nice.

Thanks Abby, there was a pair of Lorikeets in this grevillea right next to my kitchen and they didn't seem fussed with me being close by :-).

One more for today, which is also from a little while ago. I think they are breeding nearby as they have been here with their young on quite a few occasions. I managed a pic of the family of 6 in a tree in my yard, but my memory card suddenly tells me it can't be accessed. So I will just go with this blurdy pic for now. They visit often so hopefully I can get a better pic later.

41. Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo

Thanks Tom, I saw the Glossy again today! It flew over roughly the same time (an hour early really, given daylight savings ended) while I was doing my afternoon 'lap' of the property. Again just the one. And flew over the house and off in the same direction. I hope he (I think a he, didn't see any yellow patches) has a partner somewhere nearby.

Still a blurry shot.... but seeing it twice in a week, how cool!