Uncle AJ's Rolex, Wrist Watch & Nature Forum A place to chill out and have some fun a forum about nothing yet also about everything. An alternative wrist watch and nature forum.
Joined: 07 Aug 2007 Posts: 263 Location: Queensland, Australia
Posted: Wed Aug 15, 2007 5:08 am Post subject: THE EFFECTS OF THE DROUGHT ON BIRDS
South East Australia is having the worst drought on record. In my area we have not seen any appreciable rain since June. The annual seasonal records are below normal by a factor of at least 70%. Birdlife on the coast is not noticeably affected. Species like Seagulls, Fish Eagles and Skuas are always around.
My home is situated approx 70 miles from the sea and on a range of hills around 2000 feet ASL. The bird population over the last 24 months up here has become noticeable smaller. Even the Indian Miner bird which is considered a pest here as it destroys the indigenous birds by eating their nest eggs and spreading disease has also diminished.
We used to get Galahs, Sulphur crested Cockatoos and Lorikeets in abundance. The Lorikeets used to feed, drink and bathe in our garden and have all but disappeared as well.
The stalwart bird is the Australian Magpie which remains in numbers and has resorted to pecking on the window for food when they know my wife is sitting in her chair as she feeds them morsels of raw mince meat. They are very territorial and will now see off most other species in no uncertain terms. They have a battle with Kurrawongs. but the Kurrawongs usually retreat even though they are slightly larger than the Magpie. A Big black 'Drongo' crow sometimes drops into the garden, but he is driven off by our black and white residents as well.
As Spring approaches, we are desperately hoping the rain will return giving life to our flora and fauna. Aborigines believe when we hear the call of the Kookaburra (Laughing Jackass) repeatedly going off, sounding like an hysterical madman, then rain is on the way.
I wish I could send you some of the rain we are having in the UK. It never seems to stop. :cry:
Yes my cousin in Lincoln keeps telling me that.
When I look at the news each morning on CNN it seems that the whole of the Northern Hemisphere of our planet is subject of rain, floods and storms, yet the Southern Hemisphere is relatively calm.
Any theories?
I think the world is wobbling on its axis to which my wife says I should stick to 2 Martinis before dinner!
Joined: 05 Aug 2007 Posts: 1802 Location: Work, Saudi Arabia..Home Bolton, England
Posted: Thu Aug 16, 2007 8:56 am Post subject:
Anonymous wrote:
uncle aj wrote:
I wish I could send you some of the rain we are having in the UK. It never seems to stop. :cry:
Yes my cousin in Lincoln keeps telling me that.
When I look at the news each morning on CNN it seems that the whole of the Northern Hemisphere of our planet is subject of rain, floods and storms, yet the Southern Hemisphere is relatively calm.
Any theories?
I think the world is wobbling on its axis to which my wife says I should stick to 2 Martinis before dinner!
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