Birdseed beats other Common dumpings

Bit big for Budgie seed but food is food so Australian Ravens picked and pecked the other day at someone's accidental or otherwise scattering on roadside in Townsville Town Common. At least birdseed beats garden waste, old tyres and other grubby dumpings from grubs 'using' the conservation park. Pity then that the automatic front gate is yet again out of action and thus failing to bar entry between 6.30pm and 6.30am.

At high risk from night-time hoons are the park's snakes, since many species are nocturnal hunters. Small Brown Tree Snake photographed in fig tree yesterday is just one such.

Also endangered, animals such as Agile Wallaby pair in the park this morning. Speeding vehicles bring dangers enough. The same vehicles not infrequently carry dogs unlawfully into the park. Yet another threat to its values.

On a cheerier note, it's starting to feel like springtime. And pair of Rainbow Bee-eaters busily get down to springy gymnastics on the airport fence this morning. No sign so far of any nesting tunnels being dug. Their enthusiasm may come to nothing.

Meanwhile, Zebra Finches juvenile and adult continue to add colour to trees, grasses and weeds near the park entry gate (that's the gate that's almost always out-of-order).

Let's pray for natural order to always outweigh disorder, the disorderly, and the out-of-order.

Brown Tree Snake flexes muscles in fig tree

Small fig tree just inside entry gate to the Townsville Town Common Conservation Park draws little attention from visitors yet outdoes all other trees in park for the living treasures it attracts. A major factor is the nightlight shining upon it and it alone.

So, curled up this morning after a night presumably targeting dwarf tree frogs, a small but typically feisty nocturnal-hunting Brown Tree Snake. (Close by, one of the frogs that got away.)

Then, show of muscular strength and flexibility as it faced big glass eye pressing towards it. After a tentative strike snake contented itself with flickering tongue and patient watchfulness. The glass eye withdrew and all went off pleased with upshot(s) of encounter.