The warfare and death of any of these wild ones is sad as it too is the result of sin in this world.

__________________________
In His Love, Mercy & Grace

Daryl

It's happening again! I can't read my previous post or anything that may have been added after that. I hope it rights itself sooner than last time.

Hi zyph, magpies, such an interesting bird arn't they.
Our magpies are not a lot smaller, but enough to notice the difference.
Out walking in a park yesterday, I noticed one chasing a blackbird away from the pinetrees - their favourite nesting tree here.
So yes, they do attack here, one has to be real careful not to upset them!

I was at a friends place recently, and we enjoyed watching a pair of thrushes feeding their baby in the corner of the neighbours roof. Two days later I visited again, and discovered the baby dead in her garden.Tail not grown enough for it to fly, it must have hit the ground. Very sad, as it was a female thrush, and I love their spotted chests.

A few days previous I had had to rescue a blackbird from the neighbours cat. Again, it was half grown, but couldn't fly. As we didn't know where it came from I brought it home and attempted to feed it.

Next morning I heard it chirping in it's cage on the washing machine and investigated.As I tried to again feed it, I noticed a blackbird outside on the fence - worms in it's mouth. The father! Then the Mother appeared! They had found their baby! I very quickly returned it to the tree, after making a phone call to the neighbour and waking them up, so I could borrow their ladder and get it up as high as possible.
The joys of spring and baby birds.

Zita

Our magpies now bring the baby - as big as its parents - to feed. The female has twice landed in my son's lap to feed from his hand. She is so tame. The baby hasn't taken food from us yet, but it's not very afraid, and stays close while the parents eat from our hands. Several times the male has been wandering along our hallway, presumably looking for us!
The crows have a baby, but I think juvenile crows were attacking it yesterday, and I hope it's alright. They have become as aggressive as the magpies were, with the female crow attacking my son. I've never seen crows do this before, and I believe they learned the behaviour from the magpies.
We were frantic last weekend. The crows were attacking a possum, mercilessly pecking its tail and face. It was bleeding and in shock. All we could do was put the jet spray from the hose on the crows. It worked, but they were determined. We bought the timber to make two possum boxes. The possums in the cities have no old-growth trees and logs to nest in and hide from the birds. We (rather inexpertly) nailed them together, and gave one to our neighbour. We've put ours on a branch of the macadamia tree, but it's not high enough. We don't have a ladder, and we're not really climbers. I'm hoping to borrow a ladder shortly, and to wire the thing up on a higher branch. I don't know if it will save the possum, but I hope one moves in eventually.
I'm so glad your blackbird baby was found by its parents, Zita. It's always a relief to hand the babies back - even wildlife babies! It's a miracle any of them survive when you see how hard the poor parents have to work to keep them fed and safe.

Today I had some time to kill while waiting for an appointment.
So I found a park bench beside the river that runs through our city. It is not a wide river, and rather shallow in the city area.

Islands have been created with lovely trees, ideal for watching bird life. A water wheel was nearby turning slowely.
In the middle I noticed 6 seagulls standing together in a group. they were all taking a bath. I had never seen seagulls doing that in fresh water before, and they had delightful mannerisms in their bathing ritual.
I had to drag myself away to keep my appointment, but it is a spot I will return to and enjoy.
Zita

I don't think I ever heard tell of birds attacking humans here in Canada and the United States.

__________________________
In His Love, Mercy & Grace

Daryl

Please forgive the long delay...but I have better news then a few sightings..I have met the most amazing Borneo bird authority in the bush!He was an Indian Britisher/ex-Major General of the Gurkhas (for you ladies, just read "as manly as they get" here). He spends months at a time in obsevation, is an adopted son of the local tribe of christian ex-headhunters and a very intense fellow.
I was in the villages, so not many birds around to speak of...
Here's his sight...
http://www.geocities.com/RainForest/Vines/6980/brdpage1.html

I'm off to N.Z. for campmeeting. If I sight a real kiwi, I'll post!!

Hello Ikan, thank you for sharing that bird site. I shall enjoy exploring it.

If you want to see a Kiwi, you will need to come South! We have wonderful Kiwi houses here with a great breeding programn.

Have a safe trip

Joy and Peace
Zita

Come with me on my early morning sunrise walk.
We are heading for the Bridle Track, created in the 1800's from the Harbour, over the hills to the plains of Canterbuty.
It is a very well maintained walking track, which takes us up to the Summit Road, and from there you can either drop down to the harbour, or choose numerous other walking tracks.
today we are on the Crater Rim walk over looking a peaceful harbour. The day is still and the sun is rising.
The 1st birds I see are swallows. there is a group of them flying around me, some stopping to sing to me from the bushes. I answer back, and we have a delicious conversation.
I walk on and drop down into bush.I no sooner enter and a bellbird calls to me. so another conversation before it too flys off.
I settle on a rock by the side of the track and listen. So many birds calling, singing, flying. The fantail hovers, hoping I will disturb some breakfast as I brush the bushes as I resume the hike. We briefly exchange greetings.
I am heading back down the hill now, off track and on the sheep trails. I hear behind me the call of the magpies bidding me good day.
Yes, I thought, the good old magpie, always has the last say!

Joy and Peace has filled my soul
Zita

I am really happy this week that I have 4 new baby Zebra Finches hatched out in my No. 1 avery. Such pretty colours,their constant chirping and movement is a delight to watch.

The next project is to make a larger cage inside the avery for the pair of lovebirds I have in their. If I let them out the canaries would loose their feet! One did escape last week into the avery, but it was short lived when I retrieved the butterfly net from the front fish pond and captured it.
I have come to the conclusion that birds were made to fly, and that small cages are cruel.
But then not everyone can have an avery, let alone 2, and having a canary singing it's heart out on a wet winters day is enough to make anyone sing for joy.