Wildlife September - November 2012

[annew]

Just heard about the deaths of a lot of migrating birds off the UK coast  - http://www.rspb.org.uk/news/327453-migrating-birds-lost-at-sea

[Paul T]

Anne,

That's awful.    Particularly bad given they're saying that some threatened species could be further endangered by this.  Must have been dreadful for the fishermen just watching them fall out of the sky.

[vanozzi]

The ''WOW'' word came to mind too, when I saw the koala, with its ungainly gait, approaching the gum tree just before 8PM.

Paul T, they aren't so uncommon in Victoria as they are further up the east coast.In fact, they are subject to a contraception implant program of slow release progesterone (sp?) hormone.The reason they are becoming rare imo, is due to their habitat being cleared for housing, also dog attacks and road deaths. As their food source is removed, they weaken and become prone to disease, the main one being a chlamydia organism that can lead to blindness, conjunctivitis, pneumonia and reproductive tract infections.

Lesley, I'm not accurate with correctly identifying eucalyptus species, but do know koalas appreciate in my area, blue gums (globulus), manna (viminalis), swamp (ovata) forrest red gum and grey gum. The first 3, I have in my wind break. Just over the road, 100 metres down, lives a wonderful elderly Irish/Australian lady who has turned her 10 acres into a wildlife friendly habitat.Her house and garden is perhaps 100 years old, with all mature trees native to our area.Surrounding us on all four sides are dairy farms, all over 400 acres each.The only vegetation there are huge cyprus trees planted as wind breaks against the ocean gales.Our 2 properties are like an oasis for birds and animals.As the cyprus trees are past their prime, many are now being blown over and so are gradually being replaced with mixed natives. Much more accommodating for wildlife.Around the dense cypres trees it gets pretty dry and huge branches are torn away during gales.Left to rot, they provide habitat for ants, fat grubs and the like.Directly opposite is such an area.Perfect for this fat little echidna. 

[Anthony Darby]

Sounds like paradise.

[Lesley Cox]

It does indeed. We know Fermi loves echidnas.

[jandals]

Had a few visitors arrive yesterday on our apple tree





So we called BeeBusters and they sent a wee man around . He parked a new house underneath ...



...and then shook the branch vigorously



They all fell into their new home . I had a look there this morning and they seem very happy .
Later in the week he will come back one night and shift the honey bees to a new location .

I have been replacing a macrocarpa and gum tree hedge with Pittosporum colensoi and some of them are now big enough to flower and they have been providing a good food source for the bees

[scatigaz]

Mark, have you been for the Buff-bellied Pipit at Tyrella?

[annew]

Is that a starter, main course or dessert? 

[Anthony Darby]

Sounds like a course of treatment with the word unmentionables thrown in for good luck?

[scatigaz]

 

[Roma]

When I came back from feeding the ponies tonight about4.20 I saw one or possibly two bats flying near the garage door. 

[mark smyth]

Door open or closed? Security Light?

Bats can be seen flying most months of the year

[Roma]

Door open, no lights and almost dark.
A few weeks ago I rescued one which had got stuck in the bottom of a bucket in the garage.  I put it on the wall (rough concrete blocks) so it could hang on.  It stayed there for a while but had disappeared when I came back.  It made loud clicking noises when I picked it up and when I picked the cobwebs off its front claws

[mark smyth]

There could be a small roost in the garage

[mark smyth]

its the woluf, its the woluf - said Lambsey
http://www.facebook.com/#!/photo.php?fbid=10151545780047627&set=pb.157954817626.-2207520000.1353580357&type=3&theater