I've been scouting the Helidon sandstone quarries for some time looking for
a biggish rock that I could turn into a 'natural' birdbath - and I finally
found it about two weeks ago. We could call it a flattish oblong cube,
though it's more interesting than that, with a natural dish in the top -
which was full of rainwater when I first saw it at the quarry. A few
machines later, and we've got all two tonnes of it here, and installed just
outside my study window on what could loosely be called a patch of lawn.
I've spent the last few days removing 30 or so square metres of grass, and
mulching the uncovered soil around the rock, with a view to planting an
assortment of native trees and shrubs around it to provide cover, and also
to introduce some new food sources closer to the house. As of tonight,
Wednesday 24th March, the pool is filled, with a discreet top-up hose
running to it from the verandah, we've planted thirty shrubs in the
immediate surrounds of the rock, and we've had birds drinking or bathing in
it every day since it has been here - even though it won't be declared
'open' until tomorrow. Probably around 15 species so far, including
Plum-headed Finches, Striped Honeyeaters and a Sacred Kingfisher.
The vegetation is sparse at present, but I'll post some photos on the
website shortly to show what it looks like, and to show the Plumheads
bathing in it - photographed through the window.
By the way, our two young Channel-billed Cuckoos are still here every day
with their Torresian staff.
Bill Jolly
"Abberton",
Lockyer Valley, Queensland.
Visit our website at http://www.abberton.org
Email:
Ph: (+61) 7 4697 6111 Fax: (+61) 7 4697 6056
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