I have a very small back yard in a newly developed part of Melbourne and have spent the past 5 years slowly allowing it to develop and shamble along. My grown-up son loves our garden as much as I do and we both make little noises when we see the occasional blue wren or finch-y thing make use of our vegetation. The rosellas feed on the suburban-sized flowering gum and the magpies keep me spellbound with their warbles. Not a lot of native bird life, but enough to keep me happy.
Glad to be here!
New here myself and having a great time. Welcome!!
Thanks Rick. I've already learnt a thing or two.
Hi fladdle & welcome. What do you have that attracts the birds?
Well, the main attraction is a small, glorious flowering gum of iridescent orange which brings in the lorikeets over the summer. But the fairy wrens like it too, maybe because it's not very high? I also have a few clumps of tall indigenous grasses which I believe are nice little hidey holes for the little birds.
I can't quite tell what the finch-like birds are. Maybe it's a silvereye...
I think the other thing that may be very attractive to birds is the number of spiders. Surely they're a food source for some birds.
What's in your garden, Woko?
I am curious to learn what the finch-y bird in your garden is, could it possibly be a Red-browed Firetail?
I think it's actually a silvereye, NathanY. It's hard to catch a decent glimpse of and is a bit larger than a finch.
Warm welcome from me too
Do you take photos? I'd be interested in finding out what kind of birds live in Epping.
M-L
I don't have a camera, Araminta, other than my iPad (which isn't good enough for sharp, fast bird shots). However, I'm thinking about buying one for an upcoming OS trip so maybe I can begin taking some shots then.
Where do you live? Who visits your back yard?
Hi fladdle, I live on the other side of Melbourne in Gembrook, near State Parks, so I get a vast variety of birds . Also a few different kinds of Owls and many native animals. Should you ever come over this way, send me a PM and just drop in.
M-L
Thank you for the offer to visit. Actually, I get roos around here, in our conservation area. And lots of galahs, cockies, corellas, ibis (2 different kinds) and plenty of something-I-need-to-look-up: noisy, assertive, about the size of a starling but more colourful. Must put my memory eyes on so I can describe it.
And I do love a tawny frogmouth.
Sounds like a Noisy Miner.
Shorty......Canon gear
Canberra
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rawshorty/
Yes! Reckon you're right, Shorty. I like their fearless fiestiness - they don't put up with any nonense, do they?
They will take on anything from a wren to a raptor
Shorty......Canon gear
Canberra
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rawshorty/
Hi fladdle. Ms Woko & I are fortunate enough to have 17.5 hectares which we've mostly revegetated with indigenous species. Tree species include Drooping Sheoak Allocasuarina verticillata, Black Peppermint Box Eucalyptus odorata & Southern Cypress Pine Callitris preissii. The middle storey has lots of Acacias such as Golden Wattle Acacia pycnantha & Kangaroo Thorn Acacia paradoxa but also shrubs such as Christmas Bush Bursaria spinosa. In recent years I've been encouraging the return of understorey such as native grasses, iron grasses, bulbs, herbs, mosses & lichens using minimum disturbance bush care techiques.
Around the house there are still some of the species planted by the previous owners although they're gradually dying out. Ms Woko & I have planted water savers such as Eremophilas & lots of fire retardent local species have regenerated, again helped by minimum disturbance bush care. These include Lagoon Saltbush Atriplex suberecta & Ruby Saltbush Enchylaena tomentosa.
Here are some photos of efforts made by Nature & ourselves:
Lovely! "...by Nature and ourselves" - so true.
It looks beautiful and I'm sure the wildlife are grateful for the haven. Thank you for sharing your pics and details.
Welcome! I hope that you have a lovely time here. And one-day we might get to see some photos from your garden
Elsie
A belated hello Fladdle. I haven't been here so frequently lately. Are you an experienced birder or just noticed what's landing in your garden?
The great thing about birds is that you'll find some good diversity - and possibly some new finds - if you look in the right corners. Mill Park Lakes, Yan Yean Resevoir and Plenty Gorge are all worth investigating off the top of my head.
Anyway, welcome to the site and keep us posted on your findings from your yard.
- Graham
Graham Harkom
Organiser
Melbourne Bird Photographers
melbournebirdphotographers@gmail.com
Not so experienced, Graham. Just interested and curious. I enjoyed a walk in the Morang Wetlands - who knew I'd discover Morang? - and am keen to visit Plenty Gorge one day and start taking a few photos.
Would love to find a way to discourage local cats (possibly a couple that don't belong to anyone, although I'm reluctant to label them "feral") from wandering through my small back yard. I tried putting some ti-tree oil in the places where they apparently rest but I really can't say if that worked or not. Any ideas?