I understand Steve is suggesting that his nicely graduated rosellas had been finding the pines attractive until they were removed, since when they've been forced into his garden. This adds another (well-known, especially for Black Cockatoos) dimension to the discussion on exotic plants that suit native birds.
A similar observation that surprised me was the attached Major Mitchell's Cockatoo. The usual reason given for their reductions in range and numbers has been the lack of suitable remaining woodland habitat and that they are reputed to be fussy as to their vegetation likes. This bird and it's ten or so friends might indicate another side to the story (or suggest some controversial outback plantings, at least for feeding if not nesting). The cockatoos were seen on two different days by COG members on the Easter Willandra campout, at Meriwagga between Griffith and Hillston.
These pines might even be the more voluptuous surroundings that Mitchell himself was thinking of (apparently a fan of exotic greenery?!)...
"Few birds more enliven the monotonous hues of the Australian forest than this beautiful species whose pink-coloured wings and flowing crest might have embellished the air of a more voluptuous region" - Major Sir Thomas Mitchell.
Julian
-----Original Message-----
From: Graham Stephinson [
Sent: 19 May 2011 21:46
To: canberrabirds chatline
Subject: [canberrabirds] pine trees again.
More visitors to our garden yesterday.
Probably the result of disturbance from machinery & habitat loss where the pine tree harvesting is taking place.
Very rare to have one eastern rosella in garden - yesterday there were at least 6 amongst 50 plus young crimson rosellas. Most unusual.
Photos -- 1- motley me, 2 - some improvement, 3 - wow, that's better, 4
- aren't I gorgeous!
Steve.
