That does look like Rhagodia candolleana, zosterops.
Ruby Saltbush Encyhlaena tomentosa, a native plant, is in fruit here on the s.e. slopes of the Mt Lofty Ranges & the sparrows are having a fine time dining out. In fact, I suspect they're excluding the Silvereyes which are usually here in greater numbers to take advantage of the Ruby Saltbush fruit.
When members of the finch family feed they usually crush the seed destroying the embryo whilst deriving nutrients from it. unless the sparrows pictured are feeding on the fruit and dropping the seed immediately. if either case is accurate then they are not serving as an effective dispersal agent for the plant, unlike Silvereyes which swallow the fruits whole and carry the viable seed inside in their digestive tracks and disperse them far and wide on their migratory routes. Even if the sparrows are retaining viable seeds within their bodies and depositing them they are usually sedentary birds and shall return to their town of origin (which is incidentally probably not the most conducive conditions for Rhagodia germination).
How far do they normally travel? Johanna Beach is surrounded by farms, but isn't close to any significant town. Lavers Hill is 10km away, but is really a small village. The nearest town is probably Apollo Bay, which is a 30km flight from Johanna Beach.
That's most interesting information, zosterops. Thanks. I guess with a name like zosterops you would be familiar with Silvereye behaviour!
I'm very confident the sparrows at my place are rather sedentary. Their numbers are fairly constant although some of them migrate to & from from my place to feed on the neighbours' horse feed about 250 metres away. The nearest town is 13 km away.
yep male and female versions.
affirmative
feeding on what appears to be rhagodia candolleana.
Thanks!! I always thought of them as an urban bird, but I guess it should have been obvious.
Indeed they usually are an urban bird, but they will stray further afield into the wilds to take advantage of food resources.
In this case an interesting adaptation to native vegetation for a usually exotic grain-feeding species.
That does look like Rhagodia candolleana, zosterops.
Ruby Saltbush Encyhlaena tomentosa, a native plant, is in fruit here on the s.e. slopes of the Mt Lofty Ranges & the sparrows are having a fine time dining out. In fact, I suspect they're excluding the Silvereyes which are usually here in greater numbers to take advantage of the Ruby Saltbush fruit.
When members of the finch family feed they usually crush the seed destroying the embryo whilst deriving nutrients from it. unless the sparrows pictured are feeding on the fruit and dropping the seed immediately. if either case is accurate then they are not serving as an effective dispersal agent for the plant, unlike Silvereyes which swallow the fruits whole and carry the viable seed inside in their digestive tracks and disperse them far and wide on their migratory routes. Even if the sparrows are retaining viable seeds within their bodies and depositing them they are usually sedentary birds and shall return to their town of origin (which is incidentally probably not the most conducive conditions for Rhagodia germination).
How far do they normally travel? Johanna Beach is surrounded by farms, but isn't close to any significant town. Lavers Hill is 10km away, but is really a small village. The nearest town is probably Apollo Bay, which is a 30km flight from Johanna Beach.
That's most interesting information, zosterops. Thanks. I guess with a name like zosterops you would be familiar with Silvereye behaviour!
I'm very confident the sparrows at my place are rather sedentary. Their numbers are fairly constant although some of them migrate to & from from my place to feed on the neighbours' horse feed about 250 metres away. The nearest town is 13 km away.