Helmeted Friarbird tips foes through the tulips

Helmeted Friarbird takes break from chasing other birds from African Tulip Tree beside Mundy (or Mundi) Creek, Townsville, yesterday.

Other birds included jumpy juvenile White-eared Monarch.

And Little Friarbird, with liberal coating of pollen from the attractive flowers.

Pity that the tree is yet another of Australia's pest species. Far too prolific in the Wet Tropics for native trees struggling to compete with its vast seed production and superior growth rates.