Photo: Aviceda By Nola Thorpe
One day last week I received a call from a friend who lives in North Wonthaggi. She had a bird in her garden that she didn't recognise. Did I have time to come over and have a look? So armed with my trusty bird books and my iPod, I went over immediately. Usually when someone makes that request, the bird is well and truly gone by the time I arrive but this time I was lucky.
One day last week I received a call from a friend who lives in North Wonthaggi. She had a bird in her garden that she didn't recognise. Did I have time to come over and have a look? So armed with my trusty bird books and my iPod, I went over immediately. Usually when someone makes that request, the bird is well and truly gone by the time I arrive but this time I was lucky.
The garden is small but it backs onto farmland so the bird life is quite varied. It’s enclosed with lots of shrubbery, a fishpond, birdbath and mirror in the background. Dancing in front of this mirror was a very small bird about 10 centimetres long. It had a deep golden chest, a chestnut red rump, and the black head and was covered in tiny white spots.
I recognised it as a spotted pardalote but I had never seen one so close. Usually they are high in the foliage of tall eucalypts where they forage for insects among the leaves and flowers. They also have a call which is repeated continuously and sounds a little like "sleep-may-bee".
I think this little fellow was attracted by the shrubbery, access to water and thought he had found a friend in the mirror.
So you don't have to leave home to become a birdwatcher. Just be aware of what's outside your window. It does help to have plenty of shrubby cover and water available.
I recognised it as a spotted pardalote but I had never seen one so close. Usually they are high in the foliage of tall eucalypts where they forage for insects among the leaves and flowers. They also have a call which is repeated continuously and sounds a little like "sleep-may-bee".
I think this little fellow was attracted by the shrubbery, access to water and thought he had found a friend in the mirror.
So you don't have to leave home to become a birdwatcher. Just be aware of what's outside your window. It does help to have plenty of shrubby cover and water available.