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Re John Brannan's description of his evening stroll around the western
shore of Lake Ginninderra, particularly the ibis on the little willow-covered
island:
A few years ago, the government removed lots of willows from local
waterways. In the main, fair enough, because they seem to become an
environmental nuisance (the willows I mean in this instance, rather than the
government). Nonetheless, I held my breath hoping they didn't remove the willows
from that tiny island in Lake Ginn. If ever they do, I hope (perhaps wistfully)
they install alternative perching structures because, over the years, I've
noticed the willows attract a good variety of water birds including, at times,
Rufous Night Herons and Pied Cormorants.
In some areas of the US, dead trees (snags as the Americans call
them) which have toppled, or need to be removed as a safety
measure, and are known meccas for birds, are replaced with other dead trees
probably set in concrete for stability. Sometimes, they are replaced with
fibreglass "snags". Anyhow, the birds usually take to the synthetic snags.
Better than no where to perch and preen, I suppose.
Anyhow, I (he-who-must-obey) have to go now because, on this mild,
early September evening, Younger Brat has fired up the gas barbie on the
verandah and has chucked a handful of snags thereon. Snags in the Aussie
vernacular, that is.
John Layton.
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