Thanks russianbear that is a great photo and you also have confirmed the ID of a bird I had my camera trained on but the trees were too dense to capture it.
I have them in my front yard Woko and I thought they might be a NZ Christmas Bush, but the birds do seem to like them. I am sure a positive ID will be forthwith.
I know this as a Mexican pompom bush. A quick web search reveals it is also known as Mexican flame bush and is a member of the Calliandra genus, though I'm not sure which one.
I'm not a huge fan of these - they do have attractive flowers but they grow so wide and scruffy and are not native to Australia. I pulled one of these out from the nature strip the other day, partly because of it being not native, and partly cause it was a pain to mow around.
I believe you are right timmo I remember now what the NZ christmas bush looks like and this isn't it. So is this pompom bush the one you see sometimes with white flowers.
It could well be Mexican Flame Bush Calliandra tweedii, a native, would you believe, of Brazil. Where else? It's also known as Red Powder Puff Flower. (Information from Encyclopaedia Botanica compiled & illustrated by Frances Bodkin).
It certainly is, russianbear, & needs to be treated with great caution at the very least lest it becomes an invasive plant & wrecks the natural bushland like so many other introduced species have done. I like timmo's idea of replacing it with Australian species, preferably species local to the area.
I spent 6 weeks at Cardwell and I looked for plants which sunbirds prefer. I found at least 5 different species that produced enough nectar for honeyeater. But I also saw that they eat insects. So, there is no problem for them
Hi russian bear. Those sunbird photos are spectacular. And even a wire fence can provide a small piece of habitat!
I think it's the case that some birds, if not the sunbird, require both nectar & insects. I'm reminded of the story told by a high-level biologist of the red wattlebirds in Melbourne which died of thiamin deficiency because there were insufficient insects to provide the wattlebirds with an adequate diet. After their natural plants had finished flowering the wattlebirds had stayed behind in Melbourne (rather than migrating to where the insects were) to take advantage of the flowering non-local native plants people had grown but this was the time of year when insect numbers had dropped.
I suppose the moral of the story is we need to be very careful about altering the habitats of our birds.
Thanks russianbear that is a great photo and you also have confirmed the ID of a bird I had my camera trained on but the trees were too dense to capture it.
Regards
Shane
That's a lovely shot. Are you from QLD?
Thanx. I'm living in SA. But I like QLD.
Regards
Alex
russianbear, do you know the species of plant the sunbird is feeding from? Like the sunbird, it's flower is rather spectacular.
I have them in my front yard Woko and I thought they might be a NZ Christmas Bush, but the birds do seem to like them. I am sure a positive ID will be forthwith.
Regards
Shane
I don't think that's an NZ Christmas bush, Shane. Perhaps other Qld posters may know.
I know this as a Mexican pompom bush. A quick web search reveals it is also known as Mexican flame bush and is a member of the Calliandra genus, though I'm not sure which one.
I'm not a huge fan of these - they do have attractive flowers but they grow so wide and scruffy and are not native to Australia. I pulled one of these out from the nature strip the other day, partly because of it being not native, and partly cause it was a pain to mow around.
I replaced it with a Callistemon and a Melaleuca.
Cheers
Tim
Brisbane
I believe you are right timmo I remember now what the NZ christmas bush looks like and this isn't it. So is this pompom bush the one you see sometimes with white flowers.
Regards
Shane
Yes, I think so.
Cheers
Tim
Brisbane
It could well be Mexican Flame Bush Calliandra tweedii, a native, would you believe, of Brazil. Where else? It's also known as Red Powder Puff Flower. (Information from Encyclopaedia Botanica compiled & illustrated by Frances Bodkin).
Do you think that's introduced plant in the rural QLD?
Regards
Alex
It certainly is, russianbear, & needs to be treated with great caution at the very least lest it becomes an invasive plant & wrecks the natural bushland like so many other introduced species have done. I like timmo's idea of replacing it with Australian species, preferably species local to the area.
I spent 6 weeks at Cardwell and I looked for plants which sunbirds prefer. I found at least 5 different species that produced enough nectar for honeyeater. But I also saw that they eat insects. So, there is no problem for them
Regards
Alex
Hi russian bear. Those sunbird photos are spectacular. And even a wire fence can provide a small piece of habitat!
I think it's the case that some birds, if not the sunbird, require both nectar & insects. I'm reminded of the story told by a high-level biologist of the red wattlebirds in Melbourne which died of thiamin deficiency because there were insufficient insects to provide the wattlebirds with an adequate diet. After their natural plants had finished flowering the wattlebirds had stayed behind in Melbourne (rather than migrating to where the insects were) to take advantage of the flowering non-local native plants people had grown but this was the time of year when insect numbers had dropped.
I suppose the moral of the story is we need to be very careful about altering the habitats of our birds.
Lovely shots of one of the prettiest birds Russian bear. I have yet to see one in the wild .
Sunshine Coast Queensland
Nice shot mate......I think you find your bird is a young male "Colouring up" hence the blue starting to appear on his chest/
You are right. Actually female sunbird is on the last photo.
Regards
Alex
Thats right mate.....your all over it.