Relevant evidence is provided by Gould’s Birds of Australia (1848), lithograph by J & E Gould. Gould refers to ‘blue tail feathers of the Rose-hill and Pennantian Parrakeets, bleached
bones, the shells of snails, & c.’. Gould shows the skull of a small animal. Perhaps an antechinus? An expert might be able to identify it from the dentition, and tell us if it is one of the small mammals that have become extinct since European occupation
of the continent or, disappointingly, merely an arrival with the First Fleet.
From: Canberrabirds <>
On Behalf Of Rob Geraghty via Canberrabirds
Sent: Tuesday, 18 November 2025 9:45 PM
To: ben milbourne <>
Cc: Canberra birds <>
Subject: Re: [Canberrabirds] Bowerbird obsession with blue?
I saw a bower in the Brisbane Ranges years ago which was a long way from people. It was decorated with snail shells, rocks and blue native tobacco flowers.
On Tue, 18 Nov 2025, 19:54 ben milbourne via Canberrabirds, <> wrote:
Curious ... What did bowerbirds collect prior to the availability of blue manmade objects?
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