I finally got to see the front on view of these Mannikins. There was a lot of grass stems around so not the clearest photos.
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Love the last photo, nice work.
Thanks , that is as close as they let me come before they flew off.
Regards
Shane
Great to see these in their natural habitat. The grass they're feeding on is, I think, Umbrella Grass Chloris truncata. Another good reason for planting native grasses!
Hi Clif2
I used to trap these spice finches as a kid, they would use only long pieces of green grass to build their nest and were easy to follow.Thanks for bringing back the memory.
Hi Woko
Didn't know you were into grass, ah times have changes since 1960/70s.
Poaceae/choris is an important pasture grass all over the world.
C.truncata or Windmill grass as I know it, thats the trouble with common names. But the spice finch is not in its native habitat, maybe it's from the spice islands.
Nightowl
See it! Hear it!
Mid-North Coast NSW
I don't know about other types of grass, Nightowl, but I'm passionate about native grassses as part of ecological restoration in Australia. We have so many areas of native grasses regenerating on our place & I'm excited about the coming spring & summer to see what butterfly species have used the new grassland to breed & feed.
Yes that right Woko ,because much of their entire life is spent as a egg or caterpillar . Skippers and darts needs various grasses as their host plant. Their winged life is short lived to start the cycle once more. Good luck hope you see many.
Nightowl.
See it! Hear it!
Mid-North Coast NSW
Thanks Woko and Nightowl for the info about the grasses etc. I think the grasses are an underated plant in domestic use and I like them a lot. Woko there are a lot of butterflies in this area and that is the reason and I hope your plantings attract heaps of them as I really appreciate the butterflies as well.
Regards
Shane
The butterfly eggs & larvae make good tucker for birds, too. It all fits together so beautifully. I never cease to be amazed at life & evolution.
So true Woko, nothing beats Natures Marvel.
Regards
Shane
Lovely pics and so great to see them doing what come naturally.
Karen
Brisbane southside.
Nice little finches mate. If you have CS5 or 6, you could try retouching the grass across the face in the last shot with the content-aware fill tool. Shift+F5 is the shortcut key. I should really do some quick tutes on how to use it. Well done mate.
Thanks Akos, I remember you mentioned this fill tool in a previous post and before this I had not heard of it , so I will investigate as I have CS5 and will see how you use it.
Regards
Shane
my Morcombe guide says - 'Feral species, also known as Spice Finch; native to S Asia from India to S China and SE into the Philippines and Indonesia. ............. aviary escapees.
Peter
The thing that concerns me about this species is what effect it will have on the other Mannikins if they interbreed as I have seen them feeding amongst The Chestnut- breasted variety.
Regards
Shane
Hi Peter. In the 1600 /1800 hundreds ! ship trader's call this area the spice islands.
Good point Shane. Could end up with the Same problem as the pacific black duck.
Nightowl
See it! Hear it!
Mid-North Coast NSW