Hi All.
After many years of admiring birds I found myself in a situation recently where I had to confront some youths who were treating some plovers lets say a bit rough with their cars. Anyway after i dealt with them i called the police and reported them and they got done for it. Video on mobiles and hoon drivers dont mix. Sadly One for the remaining plover I say.
After this recent event i decided to learn more about Australias birdlife and maybe do some things around my home to help keep the local species from eradication and also help whilst on my travels around Oz.
So to get me started I suppose an identification book would be on my priority list. Ive had a look and see tbere are quite a few Birds of Australia editions and releases. Also recently downloaded an app but yet to pay for the full app.
If anyone could help me decide on their experience id greatly appreciate it.
I also last week had to spray for giant willow aphid in my cascades and lily pilly. Now the bees and wasps are trying to take up the lease. Currently controlling this all without chemicals so only yesterday i noticed a finch on my fountain. After search the web for pics i found it to be a red browed finch. I have lived here for 15 years and never seen one and since researching found them to be in decline, so I want it to come back.
Wbats even stranger is we have always had indian miners ( sorry if not spelt right. Why i need the book) and starlings around the home. Both are noisy and leave a mess. Mainly the miners. Well they have dissapeared this year. Do they migrate and i havent noticed or am i in luck. I think without them around the smaller birds might appreciate our garden. For our area we have more than average tree growth in our area. How can i keep them away.
Thanks for reading and please feel free to add any experience to help me bring some of the smaller birds to my home.
Many thanks and looking forward to reading and learning here with you all.
Regards
Dave
Hi Dave, and welcome to the forum
From what I've just read, you are doing a great job helping birds. Well done to defend those Plovers.
There are a few things you can do to encourage birds to come to your garden. During the warmer season, a birdbath is a great idea.
If you have lots of trees, it would be great to plant denser shubs underneath to encourage smaller birds and nectareaters. Grevilleas and Callistemon and also some grasses. By planting more native shrubs you will discourage the non native pest birds from hanging around .
Do you have a camera? There will be many friendly people on here, all happy to help with identification.
Good luck with your garden.
M-L
Thanks M-L
Yes I have a camera and birdbath, well fountain anyway, I appreciate your advice, its understandably important to consider alternatives so i need to research my options for native shrubs.
How do grasses play a role?. Insects,bugs,worms maybe, interesting
Looking foward to searching the forum and meeting people too.
Regards Dave
This the only photo I could find at the moment, it should show you what I mean though. All the little seed eaters love grasses. It also provides little birds like Wrens with some dense undergrowth to build their nests in.
M-L
Plover lovers will be loving it, Dave. I guess we still have a way to go to convince hoons that it would be helpful if they took out their anger & frustration in more creative ways. Hopefully, the court has pointed them in this direction.
Araminta's advice on the planting of shrubs is worth following. I would add that if you plant species which are or were once indigenous to your area then you'll be replicating to a significant extent the conditions which favour your local birds. Do you have any remnant bushland nearby with an attached friends or bush carers group who would give you a guide as to what plant species exist there?
A lot depends on the size of your garden but if you have sufficient space then leaving some open areas will also favour small birds such as Superb Fairy-wrens & yellow-rumped thornbills.
Native grasses are important for not only seed eating birds but also for some species of butterflies & their larvae. And guess what: cuckoos love butterfly larvae. There are also several spider species which can be found among native grasses & these probably make good tucker for some birds.
The larger the area of natural habitat which can be created then the greater the diversity of wildlife you'll attract so if you can encourage your neighbours to do likewise then you & they will increase the diversity of birdlife.
Yes, reproducing as far as possible what once grew in your area will be a contribution to the demise of Indian Mynas & Starlings in your neighbourhood.
I'd encourage you not to artificially feed birds as they can get all the food they need from your natural garden once it's developed. This will contribute to the natural processes in your garden & allow you to observe birds in their natural states. And your garden will become a model for others to copy.
All photos of your developing garden & the bird life it attracts are welcome!