I was given a terracotta birdbath about 3 months ago and it is now becoming a popular play thing for the local visitors. Even though they are only Noisy Miners they are still so cute at bath time!
The Lewins pair have claimed the area too along with the Catbirds although i have never seen the later use the bird bath.
Some of these were taken through the window so the quality is not good.
This one was so cute ..... all fluffed out and thoroughly enjoying the bath
The Lewins love the bath too but they were more interested in the watermelon in the tree at this point
I love your new birdbath. Those Miners are so cute, they look dumbfounded, as if someone has taken something from them. But the last one takes the cake, it looks as if it's wearing a coat, that is just that little bit too big.
What a great idea to hang fruit on a tree for the Lewin's, I will try that, thanks for those great photos. I'm glad you are posting again, can't wait to see more, M-L
M-L
Thanks M-L .... I just wish I had more interesting stuff to post but I am still unable to go far afield, maybe in a few weeks /months :')
The idea of the fruit in the tree was for the Catbirds initially and I would leave it every now and then with grapes and cherry tomatoes etc. I like to make shishkebabs on twigs so that it is a more natural feeding experience for them. I go for weeks without doing it at times so they don't become dependent on it. Also they have been nesting so they go very quiet at that time but now they are coming out in pairs several times a day so I would think they have a baby to feed.
The Lewins decided that they liked the fruit too... and the catbird and the Lewins co exist very well. It is interesting that the Noisy Miners don't have a territorial grip on that part of the garden like they do out the front. Maybe that is because the Catbirds proclaim their territory very loudly every day and the Lewins do likewise.... I never knew they were so noisy!!!!!!
Sunshine Coast Queensland
Hi birdie,
.
I noticed there is a plaque on the birdbath.
Does it have some special significance? Or is there an interesting story behind it?
I hope I'm not prying - feel free to let me know if so...
.
Cheers
Tim
Cheers
Tim
Brisbane
Hi Timmo ... good to see you again
Very observant and yes it has special significance. Last year was a very tough one for me and my family and I had to undergo 6 months of chemotherapy. I was fortunate enough to be on the receiving end of some wonderful community generosity. This birdbath came along with a garden makeover and a heap of other lovely gifts from Sunshine Coast Grammar in a program they run called Grammar Helping Hands. 50 odd terrific high school kids and mentors and teachers descended on my garden for a day ... it was amazing :)
Sunshine Coast Queensland
I hear they only do it for special people, birdie.
Thanks Woko, they do this 4 times a year and they got my name from another wonderful local foundation here call Cindy Mackenzie Breast Cancer Foundation.
The teachers at Grammar tell me that they have pupils lining up and on a wait list to be a part of this program each time and it is fantastic to see positive role models in our youth.
Here are a few shots ... it blew the whole neighbourhood away.
It is interesting that since they cleared out a lot of the undergrowth I have had more small birds around ...or maybe I just see them better now LOL
Sunshine Coast Queensland
Hi Birdie, we have only just seen this and it sounds like you had a rough year. We hope you are well, it would have been a very special experience to have all those people come and do that for you, sounds like you have a great community. Our thoughts are with you and may the road ahead be a smooth one.
Thanks Cathshane .... yeah.... I didn't say anything about it on here till someonen asked and by then it was over anyway. I am feeling a lot better now and have even taken some bird shots lately :) The bird bath is proving to be a huge attraction and it is hilarious to sit in my room and take candid shots through the window. If I go out there they all fly off though.
I still don't get on here much and now that everything is new I must confess I am finding it very different from the old scene
Cheers
Birdie
(Adrienne)
Sunshine Coast Queensland
Yeah we haven't been on much lately, Cath puts a lot of shots on facebook
Shane and Cath that is what happens with me too..... sadly they are not really appreciated by most of my friends though LOL
Lately I have been leaving the big camera at home adn just using my iphone ..... it seems the blogging experience has becaome more important lately than the photography.... but that may change now that I am able to get out more.. Especially when days like today I went down by the beach and saw a beautiful Osprey fishing and yesterday I was at the creek and had two great sightings of a pair of Buff Banded Rail ..... both of which ended up as a tiny dot in the middle of the screen ha ha
Sunshine Coast Queensland
Hi birdie, I appreciate each an everyone of your photos, I love all your Catbird photos !!
I just hope this new forum is going to be like the old one again, at the moment I'm missing a few friends on here. I miss the fiendly discussions we all had, (and the somewhat more heated ones)
I didn't have much luck taking good photos lately either, but as Owen told me yesterday, then you hear a bird you haven't heard before, and you get all excited. I would be so happy, if I would see an Osprey like you did many times. I can't wait to see more of your photos. Tassie once said to me, "I don't care if you saw the birds in Timbaktoo 10 years ago, just post them" Go ahead birdie, I'm waiting. Your friend M-L
M-L
Hey Birdie, most of my friends love my photos (this is Cath) i also post loads of sunset and nature photos as well... sometimes they get bombarded but thats the joy of Facebook. ML we were discussing Facebook and how some friends of there might not appreciate them, not the people on here. Some days you just have luck like we did yesterday god we were so lucky getting shots of birds that we have never seen. Just keep snap snap snapping.Birdie I hope you get out more often and soon get to post more shots. If you want to add me on Facebook email is cathann67@hotmail.com
Thanks Cath ...... my friends do like my shots but most don't really appreciate them as they are not bird watchers. They are nature lovers though :) I am not limited to birds either... nature generally appeals to me in photography.
I will email you
Cheers
Sunshine Coast Queensland
Very cool Adrienne!!!! Now buy a cheap tent and set it 5m from the bath. Erect a few small perches near the bath and place grass cuttings on the edges, so that deters the birds from sitting on the edge. Of course, I am thinking from a photographer's perspective. :-)
Sure Akos.... I'll get right on it !!!
I am collecting those twiggy bits of palm berry twigs you can see at the side there with the idea of giving the smaller birds somewhere to perch and hide if the cats appear so I can work on that too
Sunshine Coast Queensland