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Resident & visiting wildlife (Read 8459 times)
bogarde73
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Resident & visiting wildlife
Mar 27th, 2017 at 2:57pm
 
There's an old open shed on my place, must be 100 years old, support poles cut from timber on the place. I use it to store mowers, vehicles, oils new & used, feed for pony, junk.

Yesterday I was in it doing this & that and I look up on the top shelf of an old rack and there's this fat possum looking at me. I just kept going about my business and talking to it as I came and went.
I won't tell you about our conversation, it would destroy my credibility as a hard man here.
Any way he just looked at me (he?) and blinked and snuggled up behind a box and went back to sleep.
It didn't seem to bother him when I jump started a mower or made other noises. He was just curled up with his paw over his face and his great bushy tail hanging out.

Now I worried about that possum on & off all day because I have rat baits nailed about at several points and I thought I hope it hasn't chewed on one. I know they can be a pest but they're cute.

But this morning it had moved on so I guess all is well.

The other thing going on just now is a pair of fat hares who get quite indignant when I mow down their favourite patch of long grass in what I fancifully refer to as "the park".
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mantra
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Re: Resident & visiting wildlife
Reply #1 - Mar 28th, 2017 at 12:24pm
 
If I have to use rat baits - I put them where only tiny animals can reach them just to be on the safe side.

I've had a beautiful bird visit my garden twice in the last few weeks. It has the body shape of a native minor, but is a fraction larger. It has beautiful olive green and black feathers with bright red rings around its eyes.

I found a bell minor and an exotic minor on the net with similar features, but not with the red eyeliner.

This bird hangs out with the native minors. It is fairly rare for a hybrid offspring to occur and is possibly a throwback.

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Re: Resident & visiting wildlife
Reply #2 - Mar 28th, 2017 at 12:46pm
 
I left my small kitchen mat out in the rain.. its still out there....I stood it up again a low wall I have to sorta drip dry...when I moved it a redback was scooting off....
yes I killed it   more reaction than anything else....

I can only guess where theres one.. there is more...

Cry Cry Cry

my son rescues possums from peoples roofs boges....he makes little possum boxes to put in trees....so they dont have to leave the neighbourhood....I think they like their own territory...
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Re: Resident & visiting wildlife
Reply #3 - Mar 28th, 2017 at 4:53pm
 
mantra wrote on Mar 28th, 2017 at 12:24pm:
If I have to use rat baits - I put them where only tiny animals can reach them just to be on the safe side.

I've had a beautiful bird visit my garden twice in the last few weeks. It has the body shape of a native minor, but is a fraction larger. It has beautiful olive green and black feathers with bright red rings around its eyes.

I found a bell minor and an exotic minor on the net with similar features, but not with the red eyeliner.

This bird hangs out with the native minors. It is fairly rare for a hybrid offspring to occur and is possibly a throwback.


Try and get a photo of it, Mantra.
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Re: Resident & visiting wildlife
Reply #4 - Mar 29th, 2017 at 10:35am
 
Neferti wrote on Mar 28th, 2017 at 4:53pm:
Try and get a photo of it, Mantra.


I've tried. Some of these rare birds are very elusive and blend into the foliage quickly if they're disturbed. It's enough sometimes to just quietly watch them. If you don't move - they don't feel threatened and occasionally come back again.
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Re: Resident & visiting wildlife
Reply #5 - Mar 29th, 2017 at 10:41am
 
bogarde73 wrote on Mar 27th, 2017 at 2:57pm:
There's an old open shed on my place, must be 100 years old, support poles cut from timber on the place. I use it to store mowers, vehicles, oils new & used, feed for pony, junk.

Yesterday I was in it doing this & that and I look up on the top shelf of an old rack and there's this fat possum looking at me. I just kept going about my business and talking to it as I came and went.
I won't tell you about our conversation, it would destroy my credibility as a hard man here.
Any way he just looked at me (he?) and blinked and snuggled up behind a box and went back to sleep.
It didn't seem to bother him when I jump started a mower or made other noises. He was just curled up with his paw over his face and his great bushy tail hanging out.

Now I worried about that possum on & off all day because I have rat baits nailed about at several points and I thought I hope it hasn't chewed on one. I know they can be a pest but they're cute.

But this morning it had moved on so I guess all is well.

The other thing going on just now is a pair of fat hares who get quite indignant when I mow down their favourite patch of long grass in what I fancifully refer to as "the park".
Possums wont take rat poison.
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mantra
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Re: Resident & visiting wildlife
Reply #6 - Mar 29th, 2017 at 10:47am
 
Possums will eat rat bait.

Quote:
Rodenticides. Possums (particularly Brushtail possums) will eat rat baits or poisons laid out for rats and mice. Any consumption by rodent baits requires the animal to have veterinary attention immediately.

http://www.woaw.org.au/teachers/possums-and-gliders/
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Re: Resident & visiting wildlife
Reply #7 - May 12th, 2017 at 4:14pm
 
A murder of crows has camped on my place now. They're well known in the neighbourhood and move from place to place.
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Re: Resident & visiting wildlife
Reply #8 - May 12th, 2017 at 4:23pm
 
Surprising amount of wildlife.  My neighbour said she saw a powerful owl. We get loads of possums and of course the sea life in the park 50m away, seals and penguins.
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Re: Resident & visiting wildlife
Reply #9 - May 14th, 2017 at 2:05am
 
mantra wrote on Mar 28th, 2017 at 12:24pm:
If I have to use rat baits - I put them where only tiny animals can reach them just to be on the safe side.

I've had a beautiful bird visit my garden twice in the last few weeks. It has the body shape of a native minor, but is a fraction larger. It has beautiful olive green and black feathers with bright red rings around its eyes.

I found a bell minor and an exotic minor on the net with similar features, but not with the red eyeliner.

This bird hangs out with the native minors. It is fairly rare for a hybrid offspring to occur and is possibly a throwback.


wow you might have found a new breed Mantra..that is a pretty exciting.
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Re: Resident & visiting wildlife
Reply #10 - May 14th, 2017 at 6:54am
 
bogarde73 wrote on May 12th, 2017 at 4:14pm:
A murder of crows has camped on my place now. They're well known in the neighbourhood and move from place to place.


I've had individual Tawny Frogmouth 'owls'
(They're not really owls)
sitting on my television antenna at night, but I've never had a parliament of real owls settle in the trees here on my property.

Tongue
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bogarde73
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Re: Resident & visiting wildlife
Reply #11 - May 14th, 2017 at 1:50pm
 
I just hope the crows are not a harbinger of death.
So it has been believed.
I'm doing a Tony Hancock and drawing a chalk circle round my bed.
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Re: Resident & visiting wildlife
Reply #12 - May 14th, 2017 at 2:39pm
 
bogarde73 wrote on May 14th, 2017 at 1:50pm:
I just hope the crows are not a harbinger of death.
So it has been believed.
I'm doing a Tony Hancock and drawing a chalk circle round my bed.


caw blimey.
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Re: Resident & visiting wildlife
Reply #13 - May 14th, 2017 at 2:45pm
 
mantra wrote on Mar 29th, 2017 at 10:47am:
Possums will eat rat bait.

Quote:
Rodenticides. Possums (particularly Brushtail possums) will eat rat baits or poisons laid out for rats and mice. Any consumption by rodent baits requires the animal to have veterinary attention immediately.

http://www.woaw.org.au/teachers/possums-and-gliders/
thats rubbish, in reality they wont touch it.
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bogarde73
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Re: Resident & visiting wildlife
Reply #14 - May 16th, 2017 at 12:28pm
 
It cuts you to the quick when you unintentionally kill wildlife.
This morning I found a frilly gecko crushed in a wheelbarrow of firewood. I thought he might be just playing dead but sadly no.
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Re: Resident & visiting wildlife
Reply #15 - May 16th, 2017 at 3:46pm
 
bogarde73 wrote on May 16th, 2017 at 12:28pm:
It cuts you to the quick when you unintentionally kill wildlife.
This morning I found a frilly gecko crushed in a wheelbarrow of firewood. I thought he might be just playing dead but sadly no.


I saved two skinks today from a slow death while they were hopelessly stuck to some sticky tape out in the backyard by using liberal amounts of De-Solve-It with a cotton bud.

Smiley
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bogarde73
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Re: Resident & visiting wildlife
Reply #16 - Aug 20th, 2017 at 2:35pm
 
Looked out the front window a little while ago: 5 crimson rosellas, two chooks, a duck and a baby rabbit all sitting & feeding peacefully.
Didn't last long. The rabbit did a jump with a 90 degree turn & the rosellas scattered.

So many rabbits (and hares) about now my neighbour is talking about shooting them.
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Re: Resident & visiting wildlife
Reply #17 - Aug 20th, 2017 at 7:18pm
 
Jugged hare, hmmmmm!
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Re: Resident & visiting wildlife
Reply #18 - Aug 26th, 2017 at 2:28pm
 
Cockatoos: why do they have to be -

1. so damn noisy

2. so wantonly destructive just for the sake of it?
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Re: Resident & visiting wildlife
Reply #19 - Aug 27th, 2017 at 7:28am
 
Cockatoos can be a bit noisy at times - usually when they feel threatened, stressed or the babies have left the nest and are scared and alone. Their screech is similar to human babies calling out for mum. If there are plenty of trees around to sharpen their beaks - they won't touch your house.

A small flock usually visit my home in the late afternoon for a snack. They love pieces of hard, stale baguette with sesame seeds. The only damage I've ever found are the tips of branches from large trees which saves me the effort of trimming them.
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bogarde73
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Re: Resident & visiting wildlife
Reply #20 - Aug 27th, 2017 at 7:43am
 
Don't buy your explanations.

Watched a.couple of big mobs wheeling around quite high up yesterday and the noise was deafening . . .and my hearing isn't even that good (after years of standing in front of big amplifiers). No screeching babies methinks, they were all flipping screeching.

I'm thinking more of damage to fruit crops. They don't just pull off some to eat they pull it off just for the heck of it or just to watch it fall. Nature's wanton vandals. The Antifa of the animal kingdom.
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Re: Resident & visiting wildlife
Reply #21 - Aug 27th, 2017 at 8:20am
 
bogarde73 wrote on Aug 27th, 2017 at 7:43am:
Don't buy your explanations.

Watched a.couple of big mobs wheeling around quite high up yesterday and the noise was deafening . . .and my hearing isn't even that good (after years of standing in front of big amplifiers). No screeching babies methinks, they were all flipping screeching.

I'm thinking more of damage to fruit crops. They don't just pull off some to eat they pull it off just for the heck of it or just to watch it fall. Nature's wanton vandals. The Antifa of the animal kingdom.


Of course they would cause damage to crops if there is no natural food around. Large farms often have an absence of trees where they would normally feed off the nuts and berries. I will admit that I have noticed their habit of taking a few mouthfuls of food and then dropping the rest of it uneaten. Still whatever they drop is eaten by other hungry, smaller animals.
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Re: Resident & visiting wildlife
Reply #22 - Aug 27th, 2017 at 9:47am
 
mantra wrote on Aug 27th, 2017 at 7:28am:
A small flock usually visit my home in the late afternoon for a snack. They love pieces of hard, stale baguette with sesame seeds.



Grin Grin Grin

One day you're going to come home and realise you've bought the baguettes that don't have the sesame seeds sprinkled on top ...

... and then you'll soon find yourself playing the part of Tippi Hedren in Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds ... only they'll be Sulphur-Crested Cockatoos instead of blackbirds.
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Re: Resident & visiting wildlife
Reply #23 - Aug 27th, 2017 at 10:39am
 
What a great time of the year - the snakes will be coming out.
They'll soon deal with some of these baby rabbits.
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Reply #24 - Aug 28th, 2017 at 8:02am
 
Chomp. Slow swallow. Sleep.
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Re: Resident & visiting wildlife
Reply #25 - Aug 28th, 2017 at 1:38pm
 
Just thinking, I used to know a girl like that . . . . . . in my dreams
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Re: Resident & visiting wildlife
Reply #26 - Aug 28th, 2017 at 1:49pm
 
bogarde73 wrote on Aug 28th, 2017 at 1:38pm:
Just thinking, I used to know a girl like that . . . . . . in my dreams


Jesus God!

Like Marla?

In your we dreams?
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Reply #27 - Sep 5th, 2017 at 8:18am
 
There are some new birds here, white storks or something like that. They won't find much water.

Also some mozzie activity, which is strange because there's been virtually no rain for months and it's still cold (except in the tortured minds of the climate alarmists).
You know what that means don't you? The harbinger of death for Peter Rabbit and friends and the florabundance of Mr McGregor's garden.
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Re: Resident & visiting wildlife
Reply #28 - Dec 2nd, 2017 at 8:05am
 
The other day I noticed a young hawk in my front garden. I haven't seen one close up before. It was a beautiful looking bird and it was standing on a large feathered hump. It was obvious that its prey was dead, so I sat still and watched it slowly devour this turtle dove over a period of 2 hours.

It methodically went over every part of the body - first pulling out every single feather of a particular area - then slowly devouring every little tendon and bone including the beak and legs. It would stop after a few little mouthfuls and look around checking for danger. It could only see me watching it - so continued this process until all that remained was a pile of feathers.

There is such a difference watching one animal eat another one out of necessity and not just as a toy to play with before killing it slowly for an after dinner snack.

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Reply #29 - Dec 2nd, 2017 at 10:01am
 
It reinforces my skepticism about intelligent design in a way, because I ask why an intelligent designer would build blatant cruelty into HIS model (bait!).
But then I try to imagine another design without it and I can't.
So back to square one.

But yes, predators are beautiful creatures . . . except the insect variety.
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Reply #30 - Dec 2nd, 2017 at 11:22am
 
It's the main reason why years ago I tossed aside the proposition that this 'Creator God' was deserving of the respect and worship of moral humans.

'He' created a world in which survival has depended on Nature being red in tooth and claw, with all the terror, panic, and pain that this implies. 

There may very well be a 'God', but deserving of 'worship'? ~ hardly. If anything, 'He' should be condemned for his callous disregard for the victims who suffer so painfully so that others further up the food chain can survive before they too find themselves being torn apart.

Speaking of which, I'm having a BBQ chicken for lunch.  Tongue
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Re: Resident & visiting wildlife
Reply #31 - Dec 4th, 2017 at 10:01pm
 

Have had the great pleasure of adopting a family of magpies. Territorial birds, they usually stake a claim that they can defend until they establish safety and dominance.

I now have the privilege of an established territory about my house. Two adults and two grown young'uns that approach and carol me for a handout. Mindful of their possible dependency, I only feed them when I feel like it, not when they demand it. But, like an old couch, they have become used to me. I provide water and the occasional treats.

I now have one of the young who is quite comfortable venturing inside the back door to sing and hop about while begging and the others perch on the clothesline while I'm hanging out the washing. I hope I have provided an oasis in suburbia for my avian mercenaries.

My whistling ability has greatly expanded.

I can quite understand some ex-pats who express the loss of hearing the melodies these precocious, garrulous songsters.

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Re: Resident & visiting wildlife
Reply #32 - Dec 22nd, 2017 at 4:36am
 
Lionel Edriess wrote on Dec 4th, 2017 at 10:01pm:
Have had the great pleasure of adopting a family of magpies. Territorial birds, they usually stake a claim that they can defend until they establish safety and dominance.

I now have the privilege of an established territory about my house. Two adults and two grown young'uns that approach and carol me for a handout. Mindful of their possible dependency, I only feed them when I feel like it, not when they demand it. But, like an old couch, they have become used to me. I provide water and the occasional treats.

I now have one of the young who is quite comfortable venturing inside the back door to sing and hop about while begging and the others perch on the clothesline while I'm hanging out the washing. I hope I have provided an oasis in suburbia for my avian mercenaries.

My whistling ability has greatly expanded.

I can quite understand some ex-pats who express the loss of hearing the melodies these precocious, garrulous songsters.



I'm a magpie fan also. I've had a family established in my garden for about 6 years. The alpha female - Bessy - who has had numerous partners initially started off with 2 babies - the following year it was 3 - then the next year it was 4. She's changed partners every season. Occasionally one of her worn out bedraggled partners comes back once or twice for a quick feed and then disappears. Bessy is looking the worst for wear at the moment and showing her age. This year she had 3 babies - all males and the fighting between these 3 brothers for her attention is a worry. They are vicious. Her latest partner has disappeared already, but she has a 2 year old daughter who helps her with the runt of the litter. The family dynamics of magpies is interesting and very similar to us humans.

I've got no idea how long a female breeds for though. Every year I think this must be Bessy's last year, but she keeps on going. I'm assuming the males must become completely worn out from defending and/or disciplining their family to the point where they only live a short life.
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Re: Resident & visiting wildlife
Reply #33 - Dec 22nd, 2017 at 5:05am
 
Lord Herbert wrote on Dec 2nd, 2017 at 11:22am:
It's the main reason why years ago I tossed aside the proposition that this 'Creator God' was deserving of the respect and worship of moral humans.

'He' created a world in which survival has depended on Nature being red in tooth and claw, with all the terror, panic, and pain that this implies. 

There may very well be a 'God', but deserving of 'worship'? ~ hardly. If anything, 'He' should be condemned for his callous disregard for the victims who suffer so painfully so that others further up the food chain can survive before they too find themselves being torn apart.

Speaking of which, I'm having a BBQ chicken for lunch.  Tongue


There was a God a couple of weeks ago. It was exceptionally dry and hot and there hadn't been any rain in my area for weeks. Coming home a little earlier I had noticed a mother duck with an abundance of day old ducklings walking down my newly curbed and now busy street. I chose not to think about their fate. Ten minutes later - I heard this distressed quacking which went on relentlessly until it drove me out of the house to reluctantly investigate.

Across the road there was a young tradesman lying beside a drain while the mother duck hysterically screamed for help. This lovely young man told me that when the mother had jumped up on the curb to get to the grass - 5 babies didn't make the jump and fell into the drain.

The ducklings couldn't be reached and a young woman passing by had run home to get a tool to undo the grate. My contribution was a long handled net and a tub of water for the mother which was ineffective, but the perseverance of these young strangers and then the help of another very strong young man passing by - had all contributed to releasing the grate to access the drain. The tradesman jumped down into the drain and picked up the 5 ducklings and reunited them with their mother. She waddled off happily into a nearby backyard.

Regardless of this impressive rescue - I doubt the babies would have survived for very long after that. There are too many predators and fast cars around for most ducklings to live to maturity, but for that day - it was so good to see humane people in action. I couldn't have done what these people did.
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Re: Resident & visiting wildlife
Reply #34 - Dec 22nd, 2017 at 7:06am
 
bogarde73 wrote on May 16th, 2017 at 12:28pm:
It cuts you to the quick when you unintentionally kill wildlife.
This morning I found a frilly gecko crushed in a wheelbarrow of firewood. I thought he might be just playing dead but sadly no.


I share your feelings on that.

I was digging in the garden and found the skeletal remains of a racing pigeon with a leg band. I phoned up the contact number of the club and the information will be passed on to the original owner.

It was unintentionally killed by one of my three cats who I'm sure spent some time thereafter feeling remorseful.  Cool
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Re: Resident & visiting wildlife
Reply #35 - Dec 22nd, 2017 at 7:15am
 
That's a beautiful story, Mantra.
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Re: Resident & visiting wildlife
Reply #36 - Dec 23rd, 2017 at 1:26pm
 
As I go about my place I like to try mimicking the various bird calls.
It's surprising how you can get close enough with some of them to fool them for a while into having a conversation.
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Re: Resident & visiting wildlife
Reply #37 - Dec 23rd, 2017 at 3:50pm
 
Lionel Edriess wrote on Dec 4th, 2017 at 10:01pm:
Have had the great pleasure of adopting a family of magpies. Territorial birds, they usually stake a claim that they can defend until they establish safety and dominance.

I now have the privilege of an established territory about my house. Two adults and two grown young'uns that approach and carol me for a handout. Mindful of their possible dependency, I only feed them when I feel like it, not when they demand it. But, like an old couch, they have become used to me. I provide water and the occasional treats.

I now have one of the young who is quite comfortable venturing inside the back door to sing and hop about while begging and the others perch on the clothesline while I'm hanging out the washing. I hope I have provided an oasis in suburbia for my avian mercenaries.

My whistling ability has greatly expanded.

I can quite understand some ex-pats who express the loss of hearing the melodies these precocious, garrulous songsters.




Yes - me too - I like to whistle and trick the magpies.
Sometimes I can get them to fly over to see where that other magpie is - LOL
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