The many non-Canberran subscribers to this chatline might be puzzled by our seasonal preoccupation with the Australian National Botanic Gardens, which nestle on the lower slopes of Black Mountain, near the ever-optimistic Australian National University, and the recently again-ravaged CSIRO. The attraction here is that during the relatively poor months for birds in this town (except for the cockatoos!!) the Gardens attract a suite of ‘altitudinal migrants’ down from the nearby hills. Typical of these are Golden Whistlers and Rose Robins. Another species, rather scarcer this year than usual , is the Crescent Honeyeater. Based on my own experience of a couple of visits a week, the Gardens have had less than the usual bird influx this May and June. Yesterday I glimpsed a male Rose Robin and a couple of skulking Bassian Thrushes, both species I would expect to see in perhaps one out of three 2-hour visits. There was also a female Crescent Honeyeater - a silent participant in a loose mixed feeding flock with Brown Thornbills and Yellow Robins, among others. There do seem to be a lot of children making use of the Gardens, perhaps the result of the milder weather, or perhaps the attraction of a new ‘Red Centre’ display which is adorned with a model of an oversize Thorny Devil, a cause of squeals of delight from the younger garden-user, and a popular spot for family snaps. Yesterday I heard the stern direction ‘Wayne – get over closer to that thing with Nanna …’
