I live in an urban area where the houses with large yards and large trees are
being sold and replaced by crowded unit blocks which barely allow for a few
shrubs.
The two blocks opposite me had the biggest Melaleuca quinquenervia which
blossomed serveral times a year, and was a wonderful resource for all the local
birds. It provided food, protection, insects, and nesting sites. However,
it has now gone and only concrete blocks being fashioned unto units remain.
Not a shrub, not a blade of grass. There is only one large tree in the couple
of blocks in front of my home now, and the White-faced Heron is using that. I
think even the pair of crows has had to move on.
The magpie territory is at the front of my house, not the back. That belongs
to the Grey Butcherbirds. Seemingly, the magpies' only option for a nest
site was the poincianna tree in my next door neighbour's yard, but I have never
ever seen a bird's nest in that tree, and the magpie has not used it either.
For the first time in my experience, I am watching the magpies nesting in a
PALM. I don't know my palms, but it is something like a Royal Palm. Last
year's young had not changed to their adult plumage, but they have been evicted
from the area, and the parents are trying to raise young unassisted. The palm
fronds are very thick towards the crown and I cannot actually see the nest
structure, but the young are definitely growing and requiring lots of feeding.
In the eighteen years I've lived here, the magpie family group has been getting
smaller and smaller, and although the breeding male and female have changed
several times over the period, they have maintained the one swooping habit.
NEVER swoop humans, ALWAYS dogs. Obviously learned from one bird to the next.
Hope we don't lose them, along with so many of our birds from this district.
Robyn
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