human-bird friendships

Magnificent songsters, Pied-butcherbirds are common through most of Australia.  Butch and Cass came into our yard by invitation in June 2002. Little did we know of the joys and rewards that followed, when when their kids began appearing the following year. 

Minnie was the first Noisy Miner to initiate a conversation with us. Noisy Miners are one of the commonest flock birds in eastern Australia. Some folks call them 'mickey birds'.  We call ours 'Minnie birds' as umpteen generations of Minnie's kids have grown up in our yard and delighted us with their play, song and interaction with the magpies, butcherbirds and others. 

Here is Maggie - our male mapgpie - standing on the post.

Two sets of magpie parents have brought their chicks in our yard, giving us a dozen magpie babies over five years and we have never been dive-bombed. 

Birds love sunbathing.

Basking in the full sun, even on hot days, many species can be seen enjoying their siesta, in different poses and also at different times of the day.  We call it 'trancing' as they look like they are in a deep trance.

Sunbathing poses:

Full spread:-