Obedient to Darwin’s edict, the fish in the murky uncleaned
fish pond have bred into dark coloured invisibility in response to their more
colourful relatives having been removed over the years by kookaburras and
currawongs. This pond is occasionally used for plunge bathing by
migrating silvereyes, honeyeaters etc. Small birds like scrub-wrens like
to hunt over the dark surface through the bare branches of the low spreading Japanese
magnolia. I am sure they enjoy the mosquito hatch. When the annual
rise of the lily roots brings the muddy scunge to the surface, magpie larks
remove nesting material from it. Crimson Rosellas occasionally drink
there, but this depends on the proximity of the staffie-cross and the
pig-chasing dog, the world’s naughtiest dog. Access by birds to 2
smaller well-vegetated pools is impeded by the net designed to stop the
kookaburra getting the occasional summering Spotted Marsh Frog. The
shallow purpose-designed bird bath is useless and goes dry after 3 days of warm
weather. In hot weather the odd small bird might have a bit of a splash,
but only, I have noticed, if there is any water in it. The deeper bird facility
in the front yard is more practical and in warmer weather is used by larger
birds for bathing and drinking. Older residents might remember the
days when garden sprinklers were allowed. THAT was what used to bring the
birds around. Perhaps it will be on again next summer.
From:
Jenny Rees [ On Behalf Of Jenny Rees
Sent: Wednesday, 15 September 2010 8:18 AM
To:
Subject: Re: [canberrabirds] bird baths
does
anyone have a pool that the birds dip into?
We have a salt water pool and we have
seen various birds not only dipping in but also drinking the salt water which
is intriguing as there is a bird bath about 2m away from the pool and 2 ponds
with a stream between a bit further away so they aren't drinking the pool water
because there is nothing else. I usually clean the bird bath out at least once
a week with a blast from a high pressure hose to remove all the scum and then
refill.
Jenny Rees
