We enjoy our bird visitors but lately the word has spread around the bird kingdom that Mr T is handing out free sunflower seeds. At times it’s like being stuck in Hitchcock’s 1963 film, The Birds. The King Parrots are always welcome: some are more interested in a chat than a feed. One cute fellow likes to sit on the ledge of our side door, waiting to say hello each morning in bird language. Other Kings watch through the kitchen windows as we wash the dishes. They are inquisitive, gregarious and always surprising. The kings also like to greet us in the garden or car park by flying past our head within a centimetre. No sound, just the rush of wing air, a gentle bird kiss and nothing like a magpie swoop. This precision flying and affection always impresses me.
Lately, a tribe of small Rainbow Lorikeets has moved in. Their colours are loud and startling, their beaks more pronounced. They don’t hang around for a chat: they come for a feed then do a bit of showing off in our Melia Azederach trees, looking a lot like Christmas baubles. They are the psychedelic hippies of the bush. ( see header photo)
We also have plenty of Sulphur Crested Cockatoos. Big, loud and bossy, they are not so welcome. Lately, their gentler cousins, the Corellas, have moved in. The pink and grey Galahs sometimes pop in, when they’re not getting high on grass seeds. I love the word Galah- it’s an old fashioned Australian label referring to idiotic behaviour that is not too offensive. I’d like to see this quaint word make a comeback . My new year’s resolution is to use it more often, especially around children.
If a majestic Wedge Tailed Eagle appears above, all the birds flee at once. They can sense danger and go into hiding. Other bird visitors to the garden include various small honeyeaters, Meliphagidae, and the Grey Shrike Thrush, the songbird of the bush. Out in the wild bush paddocks we see Yellow Tailed Black Cockatoos while a lone White Faced Heron often lands on the dam.
I never thought I would enjoy chatting to birds so much, and wonder if this is a sign of imminent madness. The following bird song is a fitting conclusion to 2018. The inane lyrics can be sung when thinking of your least favorite political leader. Buon Anno dear friends and readers. May the New Year bring you more birds and good cheer.
ALMOST ITALIAN 
The bird is the word ; )
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It is. And you would know, Princess Rachael.
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Oh, absolutely love this on New Year’s Eve! Tho’ quickly passed over Tippi Hedren: not such fab memories of that film . . . ! Huge numbers of galahs in my neck of the woods and enough sulphur crested and lorikeets . . . not so many King ones in the last few years but man has moved in and ruined some habitats and I have not always kept up my feeding schedules . . . remember having had groups of kookaburras waiting on my window ledges for me to get out of bed, and, sleepy-headed, hand out the required breakfast . . . oh what a fun post on New Year’s . . . . it’s so hot here I hope I last to the fireworks . . . .bestest, more than words can transport, for the year to come Eha
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I just adore Kookas, but ours are still shy, and tend to stand like little Elvis Presleys on top of the posts in the veggie garden, keeping an eye out for a tasty worm. We live in the Green Wedge conservation zoned area so the wild birds are abundant. You sound like you have your fair share of lovely visitors to Eha. And all the bestest to you too, I know I won’t be up for the fireworks.x
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Well, the lady here before me was much more attuned to nature: I have a low brick ledge next to my bedroom window: those kookas, 4-6 in number, were used to be fed and loudly insisted by 5.30am until they kind’of ‘wrote me off” 🙂 ! Oh: this used to be the Estonian national gated community – the request was for black bread and rye and definitely pork over beef . . . not joking either 🙂 !
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Oh, what a treat to have all those birds, literally, on your doorstep. We have our share and I do feed them a little, enough to keep them coming around, but not so much that they depend solely on what I feed them. I can sit and watch them for hours. A lovely post on this New Year’s Eve. Am ever hopeful of the coming new year and wish you all the best Francesca. xx
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Glad you enjoy your feathered visitors also, Ardys. And Buon Anno , all the best, for the New Year too. xx
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It is so amazing to me that you have these birds, literally, in your own backyard. They are in our zoos or exotic pet stores….and cost a pretty penny.
That song–I remember it and I have always gotten such a kick out of it, but I don’t remeber ever seeing it performed! Happy New Year to you, Francesca. Cannot wait to see what you cook up in 2019!
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Happy New year Loisajay. No I never saw that video clip of the Trashmen doing ‘Bird is the Word’ until I wrote this post. It is even funnier watching it.
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Such fabulously beautiful and colorful birds! How lucky you are. We love the birds as well but they are much less exotic. Happy New Year.
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Absolutely the hippie world of birds you’ve got in your garden. We are plagued with chattering magpies who frighten away all the hoopoes who are quite beautiful in a more restrained way. Happy New Year!
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I love Maggies. Their song is so special.
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More like mad witches cackling!
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My mind started singing the” Surfin bird” song when I read your title and I’m so glad you included the song. It does still play well today.
What a fabulous thing to have such wonderfully beautiful birds visit. I love feeding and watching our birds. Ok, the “Surfin Bird” song is still playing in my head and I’m visualizing be trapped in a telephone booth in Bodega Bay, California while being attacked by the thousands of blackbirds.
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Not a pretty though Ron. and there’s nothing like an earworm o start the year. Uma mao mao….Happy New Year Ron.
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Early morning here, pre coffee even but soon- I can hear the soundtrack of our own neighbour birds as I enjoy yours. Rainbow lorrikeet shrieks, bower bird trills, dove coos, magpie song and more distant less identifiable blend into a feathered choir of sorts… no wonder I have been awake since bare daylight. We enjoy our birds, they are possibly what we love most about living bere, so I was enchanted to spend time with yours, and you have reminded me that I haven’t seen the king parrots around but the fruit of their favourite tree in our backyard isn’t ready yet. How wonderful that they are so comfortable with you… unsurprising though they are accustomed to the lovely garden and its humans. Happy New Year.
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The Kings do the rounds here. Although we like to think they are ours, they go from neighbour to neighbor looking for a free handout of sunflower seeds. We don’t feed the other birds but some come in to party with us.
I love your turn of phrase Dale- the feathered choir- yes, perfect description of morning in the bush. I am still hoping to get up your way this year to see you, your wonderful garden and hear your birds. Happy New Year Dale. xx
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What a glorious riot of color you have in your gardens. Love seeing them all. The two most exotic birds to visit us last year was a pair of Egyptian Geese and a flock of Roseate Spoonbills. Wishing you a healthy and happy new year.
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Must look up those exotic sounding birds. Happy New Year Karen.
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Great photos Francesca … no not imminent madness! We have wood pigeons here, I’m always telling them how beautiful they are as they whoosh by! Happy New Year!
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Ah, another mad bird lover. Happy New Year Julie.
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WoW! Those rainbow lorakeets are so pretty -and they know it too! I agree, galah is a great word. Ciao e buon anno, Cristina
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