It is mid spring, and after a little rain, the animals are all on the move in Upper Burringbar, NE NSW, Australia. Here is a collage of photos – some of the animals that share my home environment with me. Some are to be very respected, like the eastern brown snake (bottom RHS) and the white- tail spider (mid RHS).
Friends in my garden October 2009
The Striated Pardalot (top RHS) is a frequent visitor these days. His beautiful “tchip tchip” call can be heard through the bush, as I write this.
The Python, which is in the background? I almost stood on him as I walked outside. Both the Python and the Brown Snake were sunning themselves and waiting for the small marsupials that abound here, to run along their pathways.
The White-Tail Spider was inside the house. He was nestled between the black keys of my piano, when I went to play, so I took a small brush, and brushed him into a glass, then took him outside. I like to take the “biting/hunting” spiders (wolf, white-tail, funnel-web spiders) outside. Firstly by putting a tall glass over them, then gently sliding some hard paper to cover the top of the glass, so that they can’t run or jump out of the glass, until I have emptied them out into the garden, close to where they can run for protection.
The Crow is the Father Crow of Benoit, my Crow friend (who has now grown up and left the Crow Nursery). I still put out water every day for the birds, and the parent Crows have their own water container. The Father Crow had just had a bath, in this photo. He is out there now splashing in his bath… he LOVES it!!!
The Goanna is also a frequent visitor. There are a number of these living nearby – of different sizes. This one is the largest one here – about four foot in length. I have, however, met one that was much much larger – over six foot in length, on the Marburg Range, west of Brisbane, many years back now.
The Skink – look hard in the collage – its there – is a common sight, both inside and outside the house.
The Honey Bee? Well they are constant visitors, although, since it has been so dry here, they do not seem as pollen loaded as usual, and I haven’t seen any native Black Bees for some months now.
Me trying to be very quiet and hidden in the garden
A note about taking photos for education and environmental advocacy purposes:-
Many animals do not like to have their photo taken, particularly birds. It is important when taking photos not to disturb them, as they are busy with their lives. These days, the lives of Australian wildlife can be somewhat stressful, so try not to stress wildlife by needlessly pursuing them, just for the sake of “capturing” their image. If you wish to photograph them or learn more by watching them, move slowly, preferably staying or sitting very still. And try not to focus too much attention on them – native wildlife are usually very very AWARE of their surroundings.
Eastern Brown Snake
Links:
Birds in Backyards – Birdfinder .
Honey Bee – bluecray environmental search
Native Black Bees – bluecray environmental search
Snake Identification at wildlifeqld.com.au
Goanna – bluecray environmental search
Australian Lizards and Skinks – bluecray environmental search
Look carefully at this Ladybird Beetle... does it have an extra leg? NO! That is an ANT behind it!!
Honey Bees (introduced) in the Passionfruit Vine flowers, in the dry before the Spring rain came.