bird behaviour

  Communicating successfully with someone from a different species, who is not only not dependent on you, but also flies off in a flash if they don't like the sound of your voice, brings its own suite of challenges. In this series, we look at each of the five major aspects of communicating with wild birds.  These involve making them familiar with our speech patterns, listening to learn, understanding our bird's response, building trust, and allowing the friendship to develop.  In the previous issue we covered the importance of making the wild birds feel comfortable in your presence, showing them that you care about their welfare and wish to make friends.  
 
In this article we look at the art of listening to the birds.  Listening is much more than just enjoying their songs.  True listening requires us to understand the information they are trying to convey in their language to their family, community, intruders and also their friends which now hopefully includes you. 

Click here for the rest of the article.

So you've found a lone baby bird... Now what?

Quite simply, a wild animal's chance of survival is greatly increased when left in its natural environment.    Having said that, what about the 25% of babies that are orphans?

When you find a baby bird, before making any decision to intervene, the first thing you have to do is decide which of the following situations we're dealing with:

Read more in the Special Edition of Wild Bird Talking - Out  Now.

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The birds and wildlife have had a wonderful summer this year, inf act the best in over a decade.  New wildgrasses have sprung up covering the hillsides due to the extended rains and are providing plenty of food and shelter this season in contrast to years of dry, burnt summers.   Check out the pics below to see what they have been doing.

(click on the 'next' button to forward through the slides).

Previous Slide 1/36 NextWillie and Nellie learning to sing against the cloudy skiesLush green grasses fill the paddocksThe eagles are a hunting up abovewhile Rainbow lorikeets are sortingout territorial boundaries belowThe babblers have moved inhaving negotiated their rightsThe wallabies are enjoying the rich pickingsalong with Bertie Vicky Mindy and KennyBilly's family is happy tooLarry and Harrie are singing to gloryThe Crested pigeons are thrilled to bootsMaggie's son Monty has found new friendsKenny wants to get up close and personalGabriel Tuks joined the bat creche and returned to the colonyCharlie Girl is fully recovered and adores PeteJack is much happier now he can fly furtherWallabies relax in the shade at the Long Grass Wildlife RefugeJack adores GabiWild grasses spring up along the roadsidethe whole valley is green - for a few weeks at leastOne eyed Curly the currawongis looking healthy and wellGumnuts are a plentifulButterflies delightBilly's brood is growing upFrieda is all black and white but still as friendly as everNoisy miner is planning another clutch2 eggs in herewhile the nest is being fortifiedwild grasses aboundfilling the bushy landscapeto the joy of the birds and animalsThe galahs are keen to show their nestand pose for the cameraThe peewee too wants to be seen

by Shirley Oelman

I have magpies that visit every now and then and would like to talk about them.