Very proud to be a member of this great group- I am learning so much! for instance -did you know that this gorgeous Brolga -is Queenslands pride & joy! So many birds are on the endangered list! no wonder the rate they are ripping down forests- and habitat- all the more reason for all of us- to create safe havens for our native animals & birds! My dream now is an environmental dam- to cater for our birds & anyone else who wants to find a safe -secure place to nest -hope to build that soon. 

Just got the newsletter for Birdlife Australia- and a wonderful piece on the Brolga- looks like a Giant Grey Crane- a lovely graceful Bird- who are known for their courting dance- quite spectacular apparently! So putting up this photo. We have been diligent keeping the water points up to all our birds-winter is over & getting  pretty hot again - the little tiny birds certainly need water. Our dam thankfully-full now- but -we keep smaller containers close to the Festival site- we also have several troughs-for my horses- so they have lots of water points. Even if you live in Suburbia- do think about your birds.  below- MULGA PARROT- (from National Birdlife ) 

Some of these birds are from other States- here at Bony Mountain -we have identified so far King Parrots-Grass Parrots-Eastern Rosellas- Rainbow Lorakeets-  Also spotted here a Wedgetail Eagle- our most prolific birds - Kookaburras- Crested Pigeons- Willie Wagtails- Pheasant Coucal- Firetail Finches- Apostle Birds- Butcher Bird- Apostle Birds (my favourites) - Grey crowned babbler-Yellow Thornbull- Bluefaced Honeyeater- plus a few more common species-  Galah-Sulphur Crested Cockatoo- White Ibis- Wood Ducks- Straw Neck Ibis- Magpies- quite a few smaller birds we are not sure of! Our little bird population has exploded since our trees and shrubs have grown- and I am hoping to attract Black Cockatoos-with big Causurina plantings.  Of course lots of Sulpur crested cockatoos- Galahs- Crows- various parrots!  

SWIFT PARROT (pictured right) off National Web Site

If any of you are interested in Birdlife & what the news is on species that are threatened throughout Australia I am including some news from the National web site here.

WEB SITE-   www.nationalmalleefowl.com.au

some birds featured including-  (on right) Victorias -ORANGE BELLIED PARROT

Having spent many years in the mallee I learnt a great respect for these amazing little birds! I have seen many nesting mounds over the years, and was fascinated -so I have an understanding of their habits, their specialised nesting arrangements and I can totally believe that they have been added to the endangered list -simply because they are ground dwellers and very vulnerable. There are so many predators now -with feral cats and more feral cats - and of course the human element. If you have never seen a nest or mound !  and if you ever get the chance to go and see our wonderful Mallee Fowl in their natural habitat!    I'm sure there are parks where you can go & see them! in South Australia or Victorian Mallee regions!

REGENT HONEYEATER!   (pictured)

We have now been at Bony Mountain for over 15 years. In that time our bird population has swollen to very large numbers indeed with many different species and some new visitors altogether. We have a large family of Kookaburras- Magpies- Cockatoo- various sorts of Parrots- Grass Parrots-King Parrots. But the biggest influx has been smaller birds- tiny birds even- little finches- wrens- blue wrens- Willie Wagtails- Pidgeons- Apostle Birds- Kingfishers- Honey Eaters- . There were virtually no small birds here when we first moved onto the property. But since planting quite a few grevillias- Bottlebrush- Ttree- and many more ground covering plants- native bushes they have helped to create a much better habitat here for the little critters!  Our garden sounds like a giant bird avery every morning-such wonderful activity! But we love it- Phil enjoys feeding the birds-(costs a fortune) but we welcome them all we love the activity-