Feeding Time at the Menagerie
The birds are taking over!
About this time last year, the trees in our front yard had their annual haircut, and I started dabbling with feeding the local birds.
The clientele was slow on the uptake. For months, a few Ringnecks would have a quick nibble in the bird feeder before they’d skedaddle.
The local dirty rotten swoopers (Australian Magpies) would often stop by to quench their thirst. They’re carnivores, so they’re not at all interested in my birdseed — but they hang about the street as one of my neighbors feeds them every morning.
I spied a sunflower block at the shops, and it followed me home. Word spread among the Ringnecks, and they stopped by more frequently for a quick munch.
Then the Pink Galahs rocked up and demanded breakfast.
Unlike the Ringnecks, they’re not at all shy, instead preferring to squawk and screech when they get disturbed. At times, the screeching is out of control — that’s how a male Pink Galah finds his mate. He screeches incessantly.
The females need to make a good choice as Pink Galahs mate for life. I’ve seen girls ‘pecking’ the boys just to get them to shut up.
Most of the Pink Galahs are off to do other bird business by about 9 am. Grandpa hangs about longer each day — he’s older than the other birds, with ruffled feathers. I’m guessing his mate has died, as he's always on his own.
I leave a pile of seed in his favorite spot, so he’s got extra to munch on.
A few weeks after the Pink Galahs showed up demanding breakfast, the White Cockatoos arrived. They’re just as loud (if not louder) than the Pink Galahs.
Twelve months on, each morning sees up to thirty or so birds fossicking about the front yard hunting for seed.
You’ll find more happy snaps of birds in my Six Word Photo Story “Bird Saga” collection.
Sandi Parsons is an award-winning school librarian with over 20 years experience working in educational libraries. She lives with her favorite husband and two problem puppies. She dabbles in the art of photography.
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