These magnificent, large birds were very common in our area (Logan, Qld.) until recently. They had common areas where you would be sure to see them daily. No more. All gone. An odd solitary bird flies over sometimes, but the large, screeching flocks are all gone. I used to think they were safe, common, but now I know better. Urban development has destroyed the trees they need to breed and their food supplies.
This bird used to come in to my friends house and was part of a larger flock at Mt. Cotton. This day he'd scored a crust of bread from somewhere. Other times I saw him with fruit, and one morning I caught him taking passionfruit off a vine on the fence. We had often wondered what was eating the passionfruit as we'd find the skins lying around on the ground.
He wasn't really approachable but didn't seem to mind posing for this pic.
Nice capture Karen. Such a shame that you dont get to see the large flocks anymore. The question is how do you stop urban development or anything that destroys the natural habitat of wildlife? Lets hope he can find the right food sources to eat soon as im sure whoever is leaving out the bread thinks they are doing the right thing.
I agree, such a shame. And how I wish people would understand what feeding bread does to birds!?
M-L
Cath and Shane, I have a feeling this fellow stole the crust from a kids school lunch, or maybe the child tossed it into the bushes. At the time there was a temporary school nearby. To be honest, I think most people in that neighbourhood think the birds and animals are only there to destroy their gardens. No thought for the land and food they took from them to start with. They just don't see it, just a nuisance to be pushed out, destroyed.
The local council there (Redlands council) is run by developers. Approaching them has never worked. I've said it before, they will put in a nice little park that only supports ibis and crows, thinking it makes them look good, and behind the scenes they destroy huge acreages of ancient bushland, leaving the animals with nowhere to go, either dying on the roads or of starvation.
I've seen picnickers feed the ducks and magpies in parks, but I don't know how many feed birds in backyards. To be honest, in some areas, I think the birds need a helping hand, so long as its the right food. Lets face it, many birds in cages live very long and healthy lives if their diet and social needs are met. People are not going to grow grasses or gum trees on tiny plots of land they've paid a quarter of a million dollars or more for. Growing natives may work best where there is more land to devote to nature. It doesn't work where I live even though I have let a gum or two growing. Sooner or later someone will deem these trees a danger, and order them removed. I'm not being pessimistic, I'm just telling it like it is.
Karen
Brisbane southside.
What a sad picture of our society, the place we are heading for is a very bleak place, the world our children are going to call home is a very sad home to live in. But I tell you a secret, there still is such a thing as "people power", if more people would get together and demand change, it can happen. I have even protested on my own, and brought about change. Those in power depend on our support, they need our votes to get their pensions. With enough pressure, they will act, trust me.
Just this morning I have found yet another poluted lake in Pakenham, I will go back tomorrow and take more pictures and ask Melbourne Water to come down to meet me. At the same time I will tell them I will bring the local Press with me to write an article. Tell you what, it'll work. I will give you a running report on the progress, wish me luck!
Here is a photo I took this morning, you can see a table in the lake. But there was a lot more rubbish in the water.
M-L
M-L, I have no problem with you, or anyone, using any of my threads to pass on the message. Your pic is great to show how waterways are being abused. I do wish you the best with the water people. I hope action is taken to clean things up. And I am sure many of us will be interested to hear the results.
I don't live in the Redlands shire, but I know people did attend a meeting with developers about what was going to be done at Mt. Cotton. They showed plans for connecting areas (corridors) for wildlife, and the people fell for it. The corridors can barely support a few animals, let alone the population of wild life that was there. Then there is the road kill as a result as well. It is heart breaking, this trend. I personally think that old bushland with a lot of wildlife should be fully protected, along with the full length of any natural waterways, be they creeks or rivers, and any development on the banks of such should be banned altogether.
Karen
Brisbane southside.
One of the lines I've been pushing in my locality is that birds & other wildlife are an integral part of a garden. A garden is the poorer for not having wildlife. Therefore, it behoves us to plant the habitat to encourage the wildlife. Whether or not this approach is working I don't know. But I do know that, for whatever reason, there are lots of people in my area who are planting not only native but indigenous vegetation. Too bad that we'll neve be able to perfectly replicate what was once here but at least we're achieving quite a bit.
Karen, does the school from which the bread crust came have an environment programme? If so, perhaps a discussion with the teacher about the sulphur-crested cockatoo & the bread crust (the follow up to The Prince and the Showgirl) might lead to students being more aware of the dangers of artificial feeding, intentional or accidental, of wildlife.
Another lake to be rehabilitated!! Wonderful news, Araminta! Soon it will be trendy to do what you're doing & you'll be able to start your business Araminta's Rehabilitation Services for the Environment.
Aslo on the good news front, Ms Woko & I took a stroll in Cox' Scrub Conservation Park south of Adelaide yesterday. Not much bird life around apart from the many New Holland honeyeaters but what was pleasing was that there was even less rubbish around. Only 4 bits of paper where we walked. Perhaps we'll soon have a paperless society after all.
Woko, the school was just temporary while the main school was being set up. I'm not sure of the story as I don't live in that area (just visited it a lot). The temporary class rooms are all gone now and the kids are back in their real school again.
Some of our parks are being looked after rather well. People, being what they are, are leaving plastic bags, fishing line, and other dangerous rubbish lying around, and the park rangers are doing a fairly good job of keeping it clean. I think it is a move in the right direction plus a job for some people. Should be much more of it. Riverdale is one such park, and is home to a lot of birds. No animals though that I know of apart from some dangerous snakes.
This little fellow is another one in danger, if its not already too late. I sat out in the cold one night for nearly an hour, waiting for him to emerge. Had to be quick to get this shot. Off topic in its way, but part of the overall theme, I think.
Karen
Brisbane southside.
I have a resident one in my garden, he comes and drinks out of the dog's water bowl in summer. They must have a long life, this one has been coming for many years.
M-L
Oh M-L he is gorgeous. I love the little things. I am very sad to say though that Barry found one dead yesterday. Another senseless road kill. Also a couple of wallabies dead and some very small, unrecognizable creatures as well. Just in one day. It is so wrong.
Karen
Brisbane southside.
The western grey kangaroo roadkill near our place has declined somewhat. I'd like to think it was at least in part due to my approach to the council which then erected kangaroo warning signs on the road. Unfortunately, it's also because someone had a big night out shooting.
On the echidna front, I've seen two in 25 years within 11 kilometres of our place. I stopped to "rescue" one which was slightly injured & seemed to be in danger of being another roadkill statistic. I relocted it to our place thinking that the habitat there would suit it. A couple of weeks after the relocation I read that echidnas should be left to their own devices when they're seen travelling crosscountry as they're seeking new territory. My interference was almost certainly unhelpful.
It's nice to hear that there are people who are cleaning up the rubbish left in parks by others, Karen, but it'll be a great day when there won't be any rubbish to pick up. Our throw away society has a lot to anwer for but I think inroads are being made in this regard. In SA we have container deposit legislation on some items. It should be on most, if not all, packaging & fishing line in my opinion. I collect around $20 each time I visit the recycling depot.
Karen, I overlooked commenting on your posting about developers pulling the wool over eyes in Redlands shire. I've noticed that it's a tactic of developers, when confronted with resistance to their destructive plans, to come up with compromises which people think are reasonable, partly because compromise is part of our democratic society & many people think it's reasonable that compromises should be made. However, I strongly query whether compromise is appropriate in relation to the environment because once the environment is gone it's gone forever. This is especially so when so much of Australia's natural environment has disappeared under the development juggernaut. Ecological restoration is important but cannot replace the myriad of intricate relationships between soil, air, plants & animal life. Beware of tokenistic compromises!
Woko, your final words, Beware of tokenistic compromises! This is the bottom line in what I am trying to say. I've seen how easily people are fooled by glib talking spokespeople for developers. They portray an image of total care for the environment which is so totally false, it makes me sick. I think in any given area, people who are willing to fight for the environment are too few, and too well known to councils who have learned how to make things look good to the public and override the protests. In my next life, maybe I should be a reporter, and make life difficult for those in power, simply by telling the truth.
Karen
Brisbane southside.
It pays for us to be both alert and alarmed, Karen. Is it too late for you to enrol in a journalism course?
I'm afraid so, Woko. Much too late. Never mind. Next life will do, and I'll start when I'm young. I do fear though there will be much less left to fight for by then.
Karen
Brisbane southside.
Have you thought of writing a regular article for your local paper on your observations of the environment? Local newspapers seem to welcome material that is a bit different. I write an article for the local community newsletter on what's going on the environment front. So far they haven't banned me.
That is an option, Woko. It is strange that I live in one shire, but want to fight for another. But to me that other is so worth fighting for. Well, they all are, of course. I am recovering at the moment from health issues and waiting to see where things are headed now. So my focus is somewhat inwards just now. But I can't help feeling strongly about the environment and all its life, and hopefully will be able to get involved some time soon. Sometimes I think my health and the environment are very closely related.
Karen
Brisbane southside.
The world needs more Karens, Karen.
Young and strong versions, Woko :) Thank you.
Karen
Brisbane southside.