Lament for southern Black-throated Finches

Hollow logs for at risk birdies?

Nature's nest boxes if you please

Oh, such a clever wheeze

So gather in twos and threes?

Hundreds you would seize?

But BTFs grass nest in trees

In River Grass communities.

Thousands lost by degrees.

Cattle become chomping disease

Kill the River Grass, bye bye birdies.

Would-be saviours on their knees.

Lots of worthy work but no one sees

River Grass really holds the keys.

BTFs: Black-throated Finches southern subspecies (Peophila cincta cincta)

River Grass: (Chionachne cyathapoda)

BFTs do sometimes nest in hollows. Uni researcher issued call for wood hollows for finch study.

 

Monitor with right-of-way not spotted right away

Who gives way on footbridge, Yellow-spotted Monitor or unspotted bird watcher? Naturally, dinkum locals have right-of-way. I step aside, Spotty ambles forward, glances to the left and tumbles clumsily to ground about 30cm below. Dawdles off without a backward look. All in a morning's stroll through Cape Pallarenda Conservation Park in Townsville. 

Peek-a-boo, yoo-hoo, toodle-oo, tally-hoo

Four days of nonstop rain in tropical North Queensland and cabin fever setting in. Calls for something light and bright to break the monsoon misery. So, harking to a sunnier, funnier day: Galah peek-a-boo

Magpie Goose goes yoo-hoo

Osprey passes, toodle-oo

Silver Gull says tally-hoo

 

  

Look sharp when menaced by spurred bird

Masked Lapwings (Vanellus miles) not so long ago were called Spur-winged Plovers. For good reason, as evidenced by the sharp yellow spurs menacing me in a Townsville park recently. Names change, mostly, probably, for good reason. But something is often lost as taxonomic correction demands the old give way to the new. Whatever, those entering their ground-nesting territory must be aware of the threat they pose. My advice: look sharp and watch your back!  

Chilly relations between Brush Turkey and Raven

Chilly relations between Brush Turkey and Australian Raven witnessed in Townsville's Cape Pallarenda Conservation Park today (15/01/25) quickly sourced to discarded tub of . . . 😂 sweet chilli sauce.

Turkey first to the tub. Raven barged in. Turkey pushed back. Raven took to grabbing Turkey leg from behind. Turkey turned to jab at Raven's head. Raven grabbed Turkey's tail. Between times the birds slurped up much of the sauce.

Overall, a fair draw and the birds went off to look for less fiery fare. (Yes, I know, they probably felt nothing hot, lacking our sensitive taste buds.)