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Some of my friends live in our yard, others visit it, still others live elsewhere and I visit them. Come and read about all my feathered friends...

Bird Story - October 2008

Those bros…

October 31st 2008 16:08
Baby1 and Bebe2 are a pair of twin brothers I have mentioned on many occasions. The latest, being their chasing across the roof at sundown, disturbing my sleep. Now, they are even more competitive. The windowsill is 'claimable territory'.

Bebe2 sat close to my face, observing me, as I looked out for fifteen minutes before bed yesterday. Baby1 landed right next to him and chased him all the way along the sill to the very end, where he had to fly off. This practice has been going on for a few days, now. For some reason, Bebe2 really wants to stare at me, and baby1 likewise wants to own my windowsill.


Romance wise, I am really unsure what is going on - Baby1 seems to have pinched Bebe2's gal - Lil Miss Scruff. Bebe2 seems to have vanished daytimes, though he remains present for morning feed, most of the evening and overnight. Maybe they traded girls? He definitely goes off somewhere in the daytimes, but as his girl friend visits us, it is not with her!
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Stormy weather

October 29th 2008 23:49
Most of last week was filled with growling dark gray clouds rushing across the skies upon gale force winds. This was intertwined with heavy rain showers, and ominous thunder growls. Not many photographs were obtainable therefore.

I had planned to hike up Mount Keira again, to collect some new shots of Lyre birds if successful to plan, but extra work rolled in and storms limited my computer-time. Even taking snaps of the backyard birds was difficult, as my photos do not come out very clearly in inclement weather. Rain distortion and darkness therefore led to my not bothering to even try.


However, the life in the yard continued. Baby1 and Bebe2 chased one another along my bedroom windowsill and across the roof at night. Much coo-wooing and necking occurred, both on the dunny roof and in the entryway. The raven came down for a cawwwwwwww, until fed a few scraps of cheese, and various doves have eyed me through their black beads when obtaining stray seed or grass seed nearby, on sighting me.

Finally, the sun shone again last Thursday - whilst I was stuck in my typing chair, alas. However, should it remain shining down without accompaniment by wind, I should have photographs of some description to share in my next post!
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New flock-stock

October 28th 2008 03:42
We have a new young pigeon in our city flock that regularly visits. It originates from the 'Black Scruff' tribe, and certainly suits its tribal name at this stage. Feathers partially grown sprouting out all over the place, it is resemblant of a punk!

It has large orange-surround black eyes that stare at me from the roof top - but is just as free of manners as his elders, flying right on down to stuff as soon as the seeds are put outside. No fear, just curiosity.

I have yet to take the newbie's photograph, though I did take a few of the pigeons feeding last week and hope to have some up to date pictures to share later in the week - whenever I have the time spare to get them along the camera-to-computer highway!
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Noisy pigeons!

October 24th 2008 16:16
I am not talking about the excess coo-wooing going on in our yard, due to it being breeding season, but the clattering and clanking on my roof at night.

I maintain irregular hours, generally retiring around 6pm local time, due to my writing work being mostly from the US/Canada, along with having a US dwelling partner, yet living in Australia. The sun currently sets a little after this hour, so I beat it to bed. Over the past week, since Bebe2 has stayed overnight as well as Baby1, these two noisy birds have woken me up at sunset


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The latest news on our pigeon romances

October 22nd 2008 21:42
Bebe2 seems to have stayed most nights at our place this past week. Little Miss Scruff, his girlfriend flies off with the city flock, leaving him behind. He has gone with them a few times, but generally misses his breakfast seed-feed if doing so. Yesterday, their romance continued on the top of our open door. They were coo-wooing and necking without shame, whilst I attempted to get some fresh air and study.

Baby1 has his heart set on romance also. I caught him coo-wooing at Little Miss Speckley-Ribster on the lawn yesterday afternoon. That is the first I have seen of this romance, but it being breeding season for pigeons, I am sure they will get together soon


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Environmental and ornithological reasons for a vegetable patch

October 21st 2008 00:48
We had another bout of rain last week, along with the necessity to recharge my camera batteries this offers no new pictures. However, lack of camera and decent weather does not stop life being lived in the yard - the birds lived on!

I have been busy hacking up lawn to create an extensive vegetable plot in the back of the yard. Both the delight of tasting fresh and 'real' organic vegetables and having a naturally relaxing pastime appeal to me, but also the concerns of the future lead me to progress


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Red-Whiskered Bulbul

October 17th 2008 15:42
Unfortunately, my promised pictures did not come out very clearly. You may just be able to see the distinguishing black crest, however. Hopefully, when I get to know these pretty birds a little better, they will let me try again to take their photo.
rw bulbul1

I shall have to be careful not to snip back too much shrubbery for a few months, now that it is nesting season again. I do not want to make the mistake I made a few years ago, of pruning the Cotoneaster and accidentally discovering a bulbul nest with young - leaving it open to the bigger birds as a feast


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ODDS & ENDS

October 14th 2008 01:22
A few updates from around the yard. Newby literally 'dropped dead' the morning after we had severe gales. I heard a clunk and clatter soon after I began to type, and later on saw her peacefully rested in the aisle by the house, when I went out to tidy up after the storms. Poor Baby1! That is his third partner to pass away!

Scruff was limping one day last week - but seems to be OK again now. Bebe2 sometimes sleeps with her, and sometimes stays overnight with us here. It being coo-wooing season, leading to nesting and prEGGnancy season, I am sure he will soon be moving away as Smokey and Spotty did. I have seen neither for over a week, and can only assume that they have young needing their constant and localized attentions


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WET WEATHER

October 10th 2008 20:00
Last week it was either raining, thundery, or extremely cloudy and unsettled. Consequently I spent much time off the computer. It is not insured, and as I rely upon it to earn some of my income I need to ensure that the storms do not damage either the computer or the internet connection.

Despite standing at my windowsill and looking out, there were not very many birds worth taking photographs of. They were mostly the regular gang and definitely not showing their best image. Most were soggy with dirty tails and wet feathers. My compassion flowed, but my camera did very little work


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Recently...

October 8th 2008 23:53
As always, nature moves, changes, develops, and alters. Birds come and birds go, within our back yard. I thought I would offer a brief update on who is and who is not hanging around.

The magpies have recently been visiting a lot, and from the breaking up rather than instant consumption of cheese, I assume have young nearby. Whilst offering a few songful warblings, mostly call-for-food shrieks have greeted my ears. They like to make sure that I hear them


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Magpie treasure-troving

October 6th 2008 17:06
I had been feeding the magpies a little cheese earlier, and two were in the yard when I went out to sit and read outdoors for a while, enjoying the warm sunshine after a freezing cold winter. I sat on the lawn, the pigeons observing my companionship with pleasure. I began to read...

Squawk, squawk, swooooooopppppppppppp! WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOSH


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A Dreamy Update

October 3rd 2008 15:39
Dreamy is still spending her time daydreaming upon our lawn. She did stretch out into a display recently though -
pigeon display

I really think our little friend must meditate. Surely there cannot be that much to daydream about in the bird-world? This leads me to wonder - perhaps she was a Buddhist monk in a former life


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Attacking Dreamy

October 2nd 2008 02:08
Baby1 learned that romancing Dreamy just wasn't going to happen. However, Dreamy has not been allowed to daydream in peace at all. She was standing there, minding her own business on the lawn, when down flew our friendly magpie. The pie wanted a little cheese, but was used to pigeons giving way - indeed FLYING away, if he snapped at them with his beak.

Observing Dreamy standing 'too close', he approached and snapped at her, expecting her to fly away in fright. Dreamy just stood there, though


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