The Diamond Firetail is a bird species which is on the brink of extinction in the Mt Lofty Ranges in SA. Ms Woko & I have had sporadic visits from up to two, yes, two, Diamond Firetails over the years we've been living on the eastern side of the Ranges, the last visit being about 4 years ago.
This morning we were delighted to see two Diamond Firetails at our bird bath. Yes, this species is still hanging on here although its days must surely be numbered due to the seemingly inexorable charge across the Ranges of human development & its accompanying habitat destruction.
That number is now up to three. Perhaps the tide of human feral plantings & other nefarious activities is on the wane!
Adding to the joy is the appearance over the last three days of a Peaceful Dove, a species we've only seen here a couple of times previously.
Your work seems to be paying off, Woko with so many wonderful sightings in your area. Perhaps people are learning and planting rather than clearing.
Sadly, that is not the case round me in Sydney as nearby development has seen at least 3 large angophera cut down and the near neighbour was forced to remove a gigantic Silky Oak growing way too close to her back door. Unfortunately, this all coincided with my trimming of our large Bottlebrush which is recovering but slowly. When it comes back there should be masses of flowers but I miss the birds that used to visit it.
We've had some quite rare & irregular visitors so far this year. The rarest to our place was a White-browed Babbler, a first time sighting. Among the very irregular visitors have been a Spotted Quail-thrush, Diamond Firetails & a Peaceful Dove the latter two are still about the place & using our bird baths. It's a wonderfully rich feeling to see these species & to understand that there's such a strong connection between their visits & our habitat restoration.
Exciting times, Woko. I love the Diamond Frietails ... so chubby and a brilliant white.
While gathering firewood this morning I heard the call of a Diamond Firetail. It's always a thrill to hear the calls of birds on the brink of extinction, hanging on by the skin of their teeth (if they had any), in the Mt Lofty Ranges.
Good news! I sighted a pair of Diamond Firetails last week. The species still exists in the Mt Lofty Ranges!
How exciting, Woko. I wonder how many are actually around? Fingers crossed.
I've only ever seen two at our place, sue, but I recall seeing a flock of about thirty at a water trough about twelve kilometers east of us in about 1989. I strongly doubt numbers of that magnitude would now exist in this part of the world.
A single Diamond Firetail is still about the place, more often heard rather than seen.