These days they also call them Helmeted Honeyeaters. Something I don't understand, because it makes it sound as if the "Helmeted Honeyeater" in Victoria is not a "threatened species", I think it is misleading.
I do not want to elaborate on my bird though.
So, here it is. And good luck to Healesville and their breeding program.And thanks to all the volunteers that work so hard every day to help these beautiful birds to be around my area in the future.
Wow, absolutely stunning! How did you get so close?
Ryu
Canberra
Aiming for DSLR-quality shots with a bridge camera
Breathtaking Araminta Isn't nature wonderful?
It's good to see you back M-L, really nice photos
Tegan - Melbourne Vic.
Awesome photos ... wonderful looking bird
Beautiful pics :)
Re the names: I think the Yellow-tufted Honeyeater population is fine but the Helmeted subspecies is really not fine - I believe a "critically endangered" type of not fine.. (I'm sure you know that bit). I guess they call them Helmeted Honeyeaters to make it clear they're not talking about the whole Y-THE species... ie avoiding people confusing the two and saying "they're not endangered, we get heaps of these in our yard" and undermining education / conservation efforts??
I live very close to the area where the endangered "Helmeted Honeyeaters " are released into a large enclosed area, completely surrounded by cat proof fencing, and looked after by the "Friends of the Helmeted Honeyeater. (Woori Yallock) !7 years ago, I still had some in my garden. Healesville runs a breeding program. Some years ago they released some breeding pairs right behind me , into the Bunyip State Park. There was not much success. That's why it was decided to help them to recover in numbers, by being protected from cats .Far too many uncontrolled cats in my neighbourhood.
Healesvill also keeps the breeding pairs of the Helmeted seperate, so they are not exposed to the public. I have seen stupid people do strange things to the birds. Although the signs will tell you how endangered those birds are, people chase them from time to time. A few days ago, I saw a father hit one with a news paper, because the bird tried to sit on the kid's head. You would not subject an endangered species of birds to that kind of treatment.
M-L