tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13151709027811784902024-03-13T13:48:42.002+11:00BirdlifesavingBirds colour my life, their tweets are my music, watching them is my passion. Therese Ralstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00511255133990375522noreply@blogger.comBlogger99125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1315170902781178490.post-80781007023953505312023-11-29T00:09:00.000+11:002023-11-29T00:09:26.388+11:0097: LOVE AND SURVIVAL<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">In early February 2 tiny peachicks hatched at my place.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS5lFcXCmFz0iYGPaew8gJ-JqZvxU5Tlj22k59iWibMKOxfhC4_TCP2GVyhWlGJRwqMauBbyVERx6rJPM24myHZxAVUAl7UFRgqjtV0uvLpPmeXIfvfZ_N8OrLKlsXS3vXXVNnh7y9HNUPOndVoq3Ln-Ni9Oi1PXzHQ_M2FiYSp14MI7vVH1jcsa7G/s4717/IMG_8646.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: left;"><span style="clear: left; float: left; font-size: large; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3630" data-original-width="4717" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS5lFcXCmFz0iYGPaew8gJ-JqZvxU5Tlj22k59iWibMKOxfhC4_TCP2GVyhWlGJRwqMauBbyVERx6rJPM24myHZxAVUAl7UFRgqjtV0uvLpPmeXIfvfZ_N8OrLKlsXS3vXXVNnh7y9HNUPOndVoq3Ln-Ni9Oi1PXzHQ_M2FiYSp14MI7vVH1jcsa7G/w400-h308/IMG_8646.JPG" width="400"></span></a></div><p style="text-align: left;"></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br></div><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="clear: left; float: left; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="4108" height="355" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioZsVqMmq-NdvUH1v3LT4AaAc5iENwH6TbP4K1nzvsCRFpQojLmi-gXA0vEiaav5aHIwhSRFO2xK2HUo6VUbg7xC1RaDDe2iy3ky61ei3eBm-98fGH3HgL1fy7qrNMCHQVkl9QgCdCqoVfr9-haAAkap_qm3YEAMx9NzFXbTCyr74xwJWGEFi3kqbL/w400-h355/IMG_8628.JPG" width="400"></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Pea 1 and Pea 2 look up to their mum about 20000 times a day.</span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span><a href="https://www.birdlifesaving.com/2023/11/97-love-and-survival.html#more"></a>Therese Ralstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00511255133990375522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1315170902781178490.post-65698615652190287922023-02-12T22:09:00.022+11:002023-02-12T22:28:15.380+11:0096: Destroying the Sunnies<p></p><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhndwC-4C0xTTIVxEFp-z_MGEm43L34mbUkmbql4qpG4_jliVtloUHhjdp7bJrLLsYGeHmpCmRomKy5AXFKOgjRvxsEfi3Jin7-ruV2KD0Vwt4rpzcPXfj0I_eRKOPQeX6pqKS4bTSgCY4DftQzZ1A4NPeIUIJL7t8MJ8yEnNHNqzt0wE-a16VpPWCW/s5152/IMG_7889.JPG" style="clear: left; display: inline; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3864" data-original-width="5152" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhndwC-4C0xTTIVxEFp-z_MGEm43L34mbUkmbql4qpG4_jliVtloUHhjdp7bJrLLsYGeHmpCmRomKy5AXFKOgjRvxsEfi3Jin7-ruV2KD0Vwt4rpzcPXfj0I_eRKOPQeX6pqKS4bTSgCY4DftQzZ1A4NPeIUIJL7t8MJ8yEnNHNqzt0wE-a16VpPWCW/w640-h480/IMG_7889.JPG" width="640"></span></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">I planted 100 sunflower seeds from the middle of October to mid-November last year. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span></span></div><a href="https://www.birdlifesaving.com/2023/02/96-destroying-sunnies.html#more"></a>Therese Ralstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00511255133990375522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1315170902781178490.post-61139430593214564622023-02-07T22:39:00.000+11:002023-02-07T22:39:22.825+11:0095. TWO LITTLE MIRACLES<p> </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV9wqffuy7O8HAISzW7AVVgXAkOZn619Em0_fekAVShUE1Ob2GHrA6EeJHtjw6ro_2Ckcj6EMR-_PSya4fugRRGhGcg7vbBkbFKVMwELJ40R68Y5bmlpwsNGKGVLho7T6NXfPzgG68uxLnbnb45XWzYQPxnF1wY16_1gHd9LxTZtV9ivvu6X7NVTwY/s4523/IMG_8308.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3223" data-original-width="4523" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV9wqffuy7O8HAISzW7AVVgXAkOZn619Em0_fekAVShUE1Ob2GHrA6EeJHtjw6ro_2Ckcj6EMR-_PSya4fugRRGhGcg7vbBkbFKVMwELJ40R68Y5bmlpwsNGKGVLho7T6NXfPzgG68uxLnbnb45XWzYQPxnF1wY16_1gHd9LxTZtV9ivvu6X7NVTwY/w640-h456/IMG_8308.JPG" width="640"></span></a></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">After trying, waiting, and sitting eggs all summer long for a decade, my peahen has finally produced two fledgling peachicks.</span></p><span></span><a href="https://www.birdlifesaving.com/2023/02/95-two-little-miracles.html#more"></a>Therese Ralstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00511255133990375522noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1315170902781178490.post-1639266457701881252023-01-22T17:16:00.003+11:002023-02-06T17:36:38.691+11:0094. Cherries and Kings<div class="separator"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br></span></div><div class="separator"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8c5AigU6yTLRQ-ylXmEw7yC9u789R1dvFpdHZymzrpmf-J3mBk8F1d1StqF8GIN78X1N6kKMi0nmD4j_6HvoLOzrvKDUquMzntFHenr-d4azW8kDZpGc1TrrVONhgrlq1pp4Uzt7Bpiw4GZ-mtJxN23Fv-lLO-jPiYRH95vUrM9ktWPiiuwz0jN_r/s5152/IMG_5393.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3864" data-original-width="5152" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8c5AigU6yTLRQ-ylXmEw7yC9u789R1dvFpdHZymzrpmf-J3mBk8F1d1StqF8GIN78X1N6kKMi0nmD4j_6HvoLOzrvKDUquMzntFHenr-d4azW8kDZpGc1TrrVONhgrlq1pp4Uzt7Bpiw4GZ-mtJxN23Fv-lLO-jPiYRH95vUrM9ktWPiiuwz0jN_r/w640-h480/IMG_5393.JPG" width="640"></span></a></div><div class="separator"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br></span></div><div class="separator"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">My husband made a beautiful orchard. We couldn't have it near the house, where the Red-necked Wallabies and Wallaroos come to graze at dusk each day. The giant vegetable garden with loads of grapevines, berries, and fruit trees is a block with high fences half a kilometre down the mountain.</span></div><div class="separator"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br></span></div><div class="separator"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwf95C22HCCiz3JSDTKop9S48GosDfGbbaEhM_1L_rz-axfplb_1V2jsGa0Rmvq85WRTxAZz_Tr8PBh__8F3pC7ELRDvOXzt3qAckXGJTXrbtea8r2iLrIdBCaJcmVEqFYMLBoDC8gvyQ/s1600/IMG_8164.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1480" data-original-width="1600" height="592" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwf95C22HCCiz3JSDTKop9S48GosDfGbbaEhM_1L_rz-axfplb_1V2jsGa0Rmvq85WRTxAZz_Tr8PBh__8F3pC7ELRDvOXzt3qAckXGJTXrbtea8r2iLrIdBCaJcmVEqFYMLBoDC8gvyQ/w640-h592/IMG_8164.JPG" width="640"></span></a></div><div class="separator"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br></span></div><div class="separator"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br></span></div><div class="separator"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br></span></div><div class="separator"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br></span></div><div class="separator"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br></span></div><div class="separator"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br></span></div><div class="separator"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br></span></div><div class="separator"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br></span></div><div class="separator"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br></span></div><div class="separator"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br></span></div><div class="separator"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br></span></div><div class="separator"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br></span></div><div class="separator"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></div></div></div><a href="https://www.birdlifesaving.com/2020/08/kings.html#more"></a>Therese Ralstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00511255133990375522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1315170902781178490.post-64053254792255543852023-01-14T16:14:00.019+11:002023-01-14T17:09:53.053+11:0093: Babes in the Jacaranda<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2D7iPTRNnJDWmxxs7qZFFnsnz2F5x8qUwlbiwO-iVcL52qHHXii_jhaIwrFgi6YLH3merxAuA3SBEG813TOcHs29ljJ6y9Ll7EC4RdIbFNZfVfbIDCh9wzLN8ysSmq13N_ac8ZmZttnfvh437P_76qKurAbLTKAL_Qa0z-51RLzFdMCaWSGEW_ez4/s5472/IMG_3829.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2D7iPTRNnJDWmxxs7qZFFnsnz2F5x8qUwlbiwO-iVcL52qHHXii_jhaIwrFgi6YLH3merxAuA3SBEG813TOcHs29ljJ6y9Ll7EC4RdIbFNZfVfbIDCh9wzLN8ysSmq13N_ac8ZmZttnfvh437P_76qKurAbLTKAL_Qa0z-51RLzFdMCaWSGEW_ez4/w640-h426/IMG_3829.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />One of two fledgling Willy Wagtails that left the nest around Christmas Day. Two babes jumped along the branches of my favorite tree, a massive Jacaranda next to the house.</span><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0vEbn1AkwMFIchhLOENmd93JtBmQbYjXD_yZiwvk-eBd6mZ6T_H1hAUllv_7d1bl3IxFTUGtW03O_EdphFk7_G-JWnvWK_AFvCnIGBNxBtzRYV4A5i6DhlDr10M5cxnEmlxexnZJMr5tNmfxCG3uwgcz0a-I01oeHkvUr4w45I-wybaNPmm1zrgLu/s5037/IMG_3873.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="clear: left; float: left; font-size: large; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5037" data-original-width="3561" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0vEbn1AkwMFIchhLOENmd93JtBmQbYjXD_yZiwvk-eBd6mZ6T_H1hAUllv_7d1bl3IxFTUGtW03O_EdphFk7_G-JWnvWK_AFvCnIGBNxBtzRYV4A5i6DhlDr10M5cxnEmlxexnZJMr5tNmfxCG3uwgcz0a-I01oeHkvUr4w45I-wybaNPmm1zrgLu/w453-h640/IMG_3873.JPG" width="453" /></span></a></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">The 20-year-old tree is high and wide and shady. Whenever I feel sad I look up through the lacy leaves or stomp all over the carpet of purple tubes decorating the grass. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZR7dQ7B_Zt6P3GD4j3xRnusTAEH7wuXEIZpYHq1Pm4zzYUZVAjDsSYr0UXNYnSaRColDFHSBULoNIAqTSNZqe-l5vbWNQn_NK3rIm9Bffds5Jsi2jlllaWPDAC6rk99mFPsiagwdbJ3pNFGIbudEkJcLjbBPR_E73PvL6i6G-Ut7GpdVNlJLE242h/s5472/IMG_3839.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5472" data-original-width="3648" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZR7dQ7B_Zt6P3GD4j3xRnusTAEH7wuXEIZpYHq1Pm4zzYUZVAjDsSYr0UXNYnSaRColDFHSBULoNIAqTSNZqe-l5vbWNQn_NK3rIm9Bffds5Jsi2jlllaWPDAC6rk99mFPsiagwdbJ3pNFGIbudEkJcLjbBPR_E73PvL6i6G-Ut7GpdVNlJLE242h/w426-h640/IMG_3839.JPG" width="426" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /> </span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Two vigilant Willie Wagtail parents chose a tree protected by a hundred branches. A network of delicate green leaves and flower tubes shaded the nest so the eggs didn't cook in a harsh Australian summer. The filtered light meant eagles and raptors couldn't spot it from above. Eggs are a monitor's favorite food; they climb trees as easily as we walk. With 2-metre-long adult lizards, a 12 cm bird or 5cm long chick doesn't stand a chance</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHV736z26OHPSDd0-TazU-RdLWRbjCqkazqa-nwp_-naGs5bWuEgADuCtFS9obckLueXXJRhaDPlrV1PbHLjaQDO2wN329hEhTjXG_vBUsR0oyXaWpXk3KqH_eaNGSKp-lAaRAeyrv_EkBbQ9Ca_cNSjr762w7sOK7I5z5Qyklxd0sYHIrwOMKqiqi/s5152/IMG_3723.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3864" data-original-width="5152" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHV736z26OHPSDd0-TazU-RdLWRbjCqkazqa-nwp_-naGs5bWuEgADuCtFS9obckLueXXJRhaDPlrV1PbHLjaQDO2wN329hEhTjXG_vBUsR0oyXaWpXk3KqH_eaNGSKp-lAaRAeyrv_EkBbQ9Ca_cNSjr762w7sOK7I5z5Qyklxd0sYHIrwOMKqiqi/w640-h480/IMG_3723.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">These fantails have done a super job of bringing 2 nestlings to the fledging stage. You can never underestimate the awesome strength of a mated pair. They would pretend to be hurt to drag my eyes away or fly over my head so close I could hear their wings, attacking like a squadron of fighter jets.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_RXNorAbBPbwhrWbMbqdCl8YQxvgjFqzhXek2RSiHB-j6YSy15l40qG-eLd1rewlpNEpB40t6_ubUmG1TMnFsipnhJqC-J-wFEWDWgrfU7JM6b2xHPC5BSCpmKQHEJdtctWbf1YLTTP2FcGfr7GAnjTPw6mISZVnPyY5m-wQ4sM4aq-wcynuV9fcT/s5472/IMG_3653%20(1).JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_RXNorAbBPbwhrWbMbqdCl8YQxvgjFqzhXek2RSiHB-j6YSy15l40qG-eLd1rewlpNEpB40t6_ubUmG1TMnFsipnhJqC-J-wFEWDWgrfU7JM6b2xHPC5BSCpmKQHEJdtctWbf1YLTTP2FcGfr7GAnjTPw6mISZVnPyY5m-wQ4sM4aq-wcynuV9fcT/w640-h426/IMG_3653%20(1).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Wagtails go to supreme lengths to protect their young. This included dive-bombing every other bird within a 10-metre radius. Even if the bird is a resident peacock 200 times its size, or a human, like me.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZNrsvGUKMPJmmPQPmYVRlheBbM5QwI7ZjkuaZHLjSGAX29GjH5D5P4ZPLSxDjRF5NEh_020esCoflqCB55IBzsKfdPbAJsLx1M8yXLSXnhoaJR4KkOsvGWKM-wpmIsRpNOuB3xtBL2i5ZALTbEL5_-wsLesS7Q_Nc3NjWtTZ9eZFmJKVMXsG7YCa7/s5152/IMG_7736%20(1).JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3864" data-original-width="5152" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZNrsvGUKMPJmmPQPmYVRlheBbM5QwI7ZjkuaZHLjSGAX29GjH5D5P4ZPLSxDjRF5NEh_020esCoflqCB55IBzsKfdPbAJsLx1M8yXLSXnhoaJR4KkOsvGWKM-wpmIsRpNOuB3xtBL2i5ZALTbEL5_-wsLesS7Q_Nc3NjWtTZ9eZFmJKVMXsG7YCa7/w640-h480/IMG_7736%20(1).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Three months ago, I cleaned my hairbrush outside and saw a Wagtail picking up the strands, carrying them off to a nest. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXOogJ5Depb-yBkNhd4EasmHP48jRR3JvII7yYI_xpm2DM5YrgphyNjvzgjYwocbL4dzSxEKrBLz3OqR34cEntsluUVrYFN3i9TCyGn1kyoSHf4S8o9GT5LKY05DlyBF0uq2tUeeY-hIhKpfo8T5oqTdC4bxwhmJHpAczObcaEZpTqdCcjUj3dd6WU/s3347/IMG_1315.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2431" data-original-width="3347" height="464" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXOogJ5Depb-yBkNhd4EasmHP48jRR3JvII7yYI_xpm2DM5YrgphyNjvzgjYwocbL4dzSxEKrBLz3OqR34cEntsluUVrYFN3i9TCyGn1kyoSHf4S8o9GT5LKY05DlyBF0uq2tUeeY-hIhKpfo8T5oqTdC4bxwhmJHpAczObcaEZpTqdCcjUj3dd6WU/w640-h464/IMG_1315.JPG" width="640" /></span></a><span style="font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div>Two weeks later I woke in the night to the haunting sound of a Wagtail lullaby. A male parent sings to his eggs so they know the distinctive voice of their daddy after hatching. Then they will either come to him or freeze in place in response to his scritching, tch-tch-tch warnings.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlbiwsspEaj7TJ2CN2HSvNF9msD23oIC8tjGHBT5UZFUWP8Lw--5eE0nOSPkLaEWwl4szlbZovdKfvnsKzvhj2cTeKm2sdjCtO4w88fxrGcz75ujUScj8nU9ZWTO3xNi1N5DFpeyjCyj2is-SoUGiD49dBBbdvEaa4CjlAUE2GMITcGQm8_pu-wxKM/s5472/IMG_3505.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlbiwsspEaj7TJ2CN2HSvNF9msD23oIC8tjGHBT5UZFUWP8Lw--5eE0nOSPkLaEWwl4szlbZovdKfvnsKzvhj2cTeKm2sdjCtO4w88fxrGcz75ujUScj8nU9ZWTO3xNi1N5DFpeyjCyj2is-SoUGiD49dBBbdvEaa4CjlAUE2GMITcGQm8_pu-wxKM/w640-h426/IMG_3505.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: large;">I couldn't tell where the nest was until mid-December. Dragging the hose past the jacaranda on a watering jag, I stopped to look at the sunlight through the canopy. I was divebombed, looked up, and spotted a tiny bowl, neat and lopsided, made with my hair.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw-2m3fcD5X_psssyQt92WS8cEMrlnoizsAV_TuJGC9J6EW2VH_8lAzT1rX3iDy7f_gi-95IFXHtN-xhDlEpo3S0be7fZY5RsE3iTH9AxO3BwnuXqsayDPqqRr_8WHE8fJhdHS0zXuHRlzJVMjwAkXsJX8NDdArFq_Uw6tS0ftPvaRp2U6f58_odi7/s5472/IMG_3506.JPG" style="clear: left; display: inline; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw-2m3fcD5X_psssyQt92WS8cEMrlnoizsAV_TuJGC9J6EW2VH_8lAzT1rX3iDy7f_gi-95IFXHtN-xhDlEpo3S0be7fZY5RsE3iTH9AxO3BwnuXqsayDPqqRr_8WHE8fJhdHS0zXuHRlzJVMjwAkXsJX8NDdArFq_Uw6tS0ftPvaRp2U6f58_odi7/w640-h426/IMG_3506.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">The little ones squawked for food for the next fortnight, while the parents worked in tandem to sit or bring them insects constantly. It was a while before I saw feathers above the rim. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbptMmqTY_HXHr4yOZIb2-DnBBEoPJgBWm5gKdckUfD9gEqAyQbopqHAt4C9PIypTrVnGmEEMPZk2y7KjS_Wl5McA9g_n_Xuo5IYRnMVCXh6vUn9pB3CyG_Ri-2k676L0P-WTM3NNgEWV--L97CSzajgDquLJDfTRMAwdiTdPIeO2GD8fWRhE99HUc/s5472/IMG_3607.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbptMmqTY_HXHr4yOZIb2-DnBBEoPJgBWm5gKdckUfD9gEqAyQbopqHAt4C9PIypTrVnGmEEMPZk2y7KjS_Wl5McA9g_n_Xuo5IYRnMVCXh6vUn9pB3CyG_Ri-2k676L0P-WTM3NNgEWV--L97CSzajgDquLJDfTRMAwdiTdPIeO2GD8fWRhE99HUc/w640-h426/IMG_3607.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD-hBiX6igUG6vPzxGEfuRmqdXMN-5sWgOO0KR8dUD-mVWbty0Dw0lgdEkAcZJ4vN9poeCFGSfwKcBm2TAwyhUdq1g2fyOxHHONhPsGMUblwr9s37K_DUvej7NtqYN-lvyFCmeqnqa4uwdFz985qWYaoX6Asx_VjsFrP-ajsq2bziImMdupcxDtij-/s5472/IMG_3606.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD-hBiX6igUG6vPzxGEfuRmqdXMN-5sWgOO0KR8dUD-mVWbty0Dw0lgdEkAcZJ4vN9poeCFGSfwKcBm2TAwyhUdq1g2fyOxHHONhPsGMUblwr9s37K_DUvej7NtqYN-lvyFCmeqnqa4uwdFz985qWYaoX6Asx_VjsFrP-ajsq2bziImMdupcxDtij-/w640-h426/IMG_3606.JPG" width="640" /></span></a><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The Jacaranda was looking glorious after a year after almost a metre of rainfall, complete with intermittent floods in 2022. I liked to sit underneath in its shade, but it was too stressful on the helicopter parent Wagtails.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_QfFoVDpq0l3EthYbGYe2JO7KTJOaFRAe5j_i3Q4-HVjqoa4YCMUAWmcqCtHU98EwWBxZzL_hIPGSwUKDoLpsqWBg8VONJnMIQLobP7O7tvrpEmN_NodGvXLxhrn0P_ps6RT3HrbC0jNzlG9rex4BOe8Aiggs63oGoCYRumsj-brunGgNYoE1JXgo/s5472/IMG_3627%20(1).JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_QfFoVDpq0l3EthYbGYe2JO7KTJOaFRAe5j_i3Q4-HVjqoa4YCMUAWmcqCtHU98EwWBxZzL_hIPGSwUKDoLpsqWBg8VONJnMIQLobP7O7tvrpEmN_NodGvXLxhrn0P_ps6RT3HrbC0jNzlG9rex4BOe8Aiggs63oGoCYRumsj-brunGgNYoE1JXgo/w640-h426/IMG_3627%20(1).JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Eventually, there was a smudge of grey down above the lip of the nest. The babes were bigger.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaOr0AG62paTO2fsVJCodnJKEg-vnYQ0RAxbY59KxD2R7jHNU9NVxKA_g6TYRvo1NtW2ToiileM_ICfVqBfMCwnHUu5XNZGmCa9ZSLtt7pOzUNVq0HQz4P7ZfqxYaTqrsQusoOhG3DGFK5NqywRSdm_x5VyIi3wVEK8EXG125T_fbE4bHNyQGj9qAK/s5472/IMG_3646%20(1).JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaOr0AG62paTO2fsVJCodnJKEg-vnYQ0RAxbY59KxD2R7jHNU9NVxKA_g6TYRvo1NtW2ToiileM_ICfVqBfMCwnHUu5XNZGmCa9ZSLtt7pOzUNVq0HQz4P7ZfqxYaTqrsQusoOhG3DGFK5NqywRSdm_x5VyIi3wVEK8EXG125T_fbE4bHNyQGj9qAK/w640-h426/IMG_3646%20(1).JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDOV5w3-WaoZpmj1Q9lvfDPlH1fx62W2tSjX0RI0uNIFZ6hc62cZWLpsU3c_mGW95sJJFvNeOSuOwTIJjbPmSxpKKpx4z-V3R6_3SZTo02tock3N9HsYzfrGNrZYrXVOqQUls1rNNm6zAiHsv6zsaFqpnmyiwZDGNlFxTmVvMLIBU1yKodYDflXGTp/s5472/IMG_3892.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDOV5w3-WaoZpmj1Q9lvfDPlH1fx62W2tSjX0RI0uNIFZ6hc62cZWLpsU3c_mGW95sJJFvNeOSuOwTIJjbPmSxpKKpx4z-V3R6_3SZTo02tock3N9HsYzfrGNrZYrXVOqQUls1rNNm6zAiHsv6zsaFqpnmyiwZDGNlFxTmVvMLIBU1yKodYDflXGTp/w400-h266/IMG_3892.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And, of course, there was always the angry bird patrolling or jumping on the twins whenever I peeked beneath the Jac tree.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDaufZIqo2ihGN7a9FmEOqmUHYGQRHGoPPUVNN1bknKqAV4HFrlKPeLimsfsUIIxSlT-FcNFgE5nSgtDa3JYnQ_Q2EKD7D86nmVca5n_F9b9MlQna4AVLCwW9sLFTn5xXt2ghbGdofbxydg0Gye1QtOidGCqTrM1loOasWC6fOR-wH9J0-Lx-L89BS/s4096/IMG_3634.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2635" data-original-width="4096" height="412" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDaufZIqo2ihGN7a9FmEOqmUHYGQRHGoPPUVNN1bknKqAV4HFrlKPeLimsfsUIIxSlT-FcNFgE5nSgtDa3JYnQ_Q2EKD7D86nmVca5n_F9b9MlQna4AVLCwW9sLFTn5xXt2ghbGdofbxydg0Gye1QtOidGCqTrM1loOasWC6fOR-wH9J0-Lx-L89BS/w640-h412/IMG_3634.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDbNDYuVxXWyJgbgodsGI5N2M-99hxqdOuW7TA1EkPu8_lkSL_eYPcTFVgojaSAE1IrfvoWLD1eRm2ZBSQwwOqHsx7SWs7yCJXoTjCqDTb9JWuNhrRvRTzIjhmVKi-wUxHBxHnhCO_1myLBQvfHLWWvii9k0iSl0pj3Z8NXF_lyFeZ0yfwnRboCBwS/s5472/IMG_3654.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDbNDYuVxXWyJgbgodsGI5N2M-99hxqdOuW7TA1EkPu8_lkSL_eYPcTFVgojaSAE1IrfvoWLD1eRm2ZBSQwwOqHsx7SWs7yCJXoTjCqDTb9JWuNhrRvRTzIjhmVKi-wUxHBxHnhCO_1myLBQvfHLWWvii9k0iSl0pj3Z8NXF_lyFeZ0yfwnRboCBwS/w640-h426/IMG_3654.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Mum and Dad WW created a no-go zone near the tree. Once, when I went out with the camera one wagtail flew in my face.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTpGazpfi54YlTtbAxzH9-pZkfyzDlo9DmbjcVdWQtk720lr3wF4GKX7dDZOc1UE0oYuBg7b03sOS_JUtd8kQoHlyt2H5NDkfAAMABMoPyfW_XQT3cx-XpcY0VD_d2eg0EipZ58Wuf17rXz-evXZtq8FaP2VZSElXjftF0iKVmZm0qYHjmCqF3Zl9y/s5472/IMG_3609.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTpGazpfi54YlTtbAxzH9-pZkfyzDlo9DmbjcVdWQtk720lr3wF4GKX7dDZOc1UE0oYuBg7b03sOS_JUtd8kQoHlyt2H5NDkfAAMABMoPyfW_XQT3cx-XpcY0VD_d2eg0EipZ58Wuf17rXz-evXZtq8FaP2VZSElXjftF0iKVmZm0qYHjmCqF3Zl9y/w400-h266/IMG_3609.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Parent Wagtails were kept busy from 5 am to 8 pm.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIbfpI4-ZylT5hRR11IB8wiIqo1YHT03uK_X7p5insbBIbyDeye6C42W6M1xsofhAFU0v67EfstqugGLfMndsj0FRA7cwB5m26lPWjMaju9XBB4Gv1uHePLtKNWuiKg8cvVP4yBbGwo7kKqGNfgvJClgmmVnH95KxKni_Y2yNpqNUiifDQV2AtoFI3/s5472/IMG_3651%20(1).JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIbfpI4-ZylT5hRR11IB8wiIqo1YHT03uK_X7p5insbBIbyDeye6C42W6M1xsofhAFU0v67EfstqugGLfMndsj0FRA7cwB5m26lPWjMaju9XBB4Gv1uHePLtKNWuiKg8cvVP4yBbGwo7kKqGNfgvJClgmmVnH95KxKni_Y2yNpqNUiifDQV2AtoFI3/w400-h266/IMG_3651%20(1).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The food needs of the little ones was never-ending, but they grew.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLC4y8_bfZqHMwck4jpQz6d-2YuWeqZC0fT50a5dELHyVJF-QMBRcAk7lFFa5F7RyTGnY91L98qK3Nh2Uk4uh3MiEi_9dyIU3JrOV7O4oacNLGXXkED_vFo3ZW6nQX1YiwmYtwkQ6lU8zUgtdnSX9-BSdxV7ObZrC8K-e9y7OdqvC3Mor4OU7Cac8g/s5472/IMG_3642%20(1).JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLC4y8_bfZqHMwck4jpQz6d-2YuWeqZC0fT50a5dELHyVJF-QMBRcAk7lFFa5F7RyTGnY91L98qK3Nh2Uk4uh3MiEi_9dyIU3JrOV7O4oacNLGXXkED_vFo3ZW6nQX1YiwmYtwkQ6lU8zUgtdnSX9-BSdxV7ObZrC8K-e9y7OdqvC3Mor4OU7Cac8g/w640-h426/IMG_3642%20(1).JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And grew.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikbfSw2HtfadupX0162nckmApCPCqzeuhEQBj3Dcfm8wc_Xnu2AhopjkJ2LM87718G09xvBqvsADFfGYYIg74wSC84331uATKkGCIfa6EnO2VlSRdTo8fCtp6noqXsDNny7mTSFc4zYUgHXZ85n1cuU74tVETQV7k2i3TbAKkShh94laVbxfp7nWr5/s4349/IMG_3846.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2979" data-original-width="4349" height="438" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikbfSw2HtfadupX0162nckmApCPCqzeuhEQBj3Dcfm8wc_Xnu2AhopjkJ2LM87718G09xvBqvsADFfGYYIg74wSC84331uATKkGCIfa6EnO2VlSRdTo8fCtp6noqXsDNny7mTSFc4zYUgHXZ85n1cuU74tVETQV7k2i3TbAKkShh94laVbxfp7nWr5/w640-h438/IMG_3846.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Until both could barely fit into the nest.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXEuMIiQl9jNpD2SyCzFj6Pc_OPJ8tjDAYkPLC2C7pKNftMEDloc4faiL7dJxJD8GUjMOvrrxRK2YsAza5fm-NUHFzsvBgnewvJH9m9QkvmEatWRSbPkMc9djFz5GwE6N_zXEMRkZpJh3UogVcXwzzl5dmJj0Ct9DHJlWjdGGkMEnjQjXporKc1EM8/s4031/IMG_3860%20(1).JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2500" data-original-width="4031" height="396" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXEuMIiQl9jNpD2SyCzFj6Pc_OPJ8tjDAYkPLC2C7pKNftMEDloc4faiL7dJxJD8GUjMOvrrxRK2YsAza5fm-NUHFzsvBgnewvJH9m9QkvmEatWRSbPkMc9djFz5GwE6N_zXEMRkZpJh3UogVcXwzzl5dmJj0Ct9DHJlWjdGGkMEnjQjXporKc1EM8/w640-h396/IMG_3860%20(1).JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Despite all the stress, they thrived. Though, as with most birds, one got the lion's share of the food and was twice as big as the sibling and sat on top.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQYnSb2_HpTkUdGzBP6B6Jn9avRS6KuByIEu0-7Yi7wtZSDCOJ07OCYqaR2ExqaTc9rLoM4Nu7HxEpwTPzCpO-fuKcWPaaBNxux-EMtCIG5eQv4o3jHFFihLx4QjwHh-A4JYATl1lNOYtoWFPAjyMBmq1oSuumb3cSHJ9kiGDHQUKzmesCRHMyfCBT/s5472/IMG_3825.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQYnSb2_HpTkUdGzBP6B6Jn9avRS6KuByIEu0-7Yi7wtZSDCOJ07OCYqaR2ExqaTc9rLoM4Nu7HxEpwTPzCpO-fuKcWPaaBNxux-EMtCIG5eQv4o3jHFFihLx4QjwHh-A4JYATl1lNOYtoWFPAjyMBmq1oSuumb3cSHJ9kiGDHQUKzmesCRHMyfCBT/w640-h426/IMG_3825.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">It was Christmas Eve when I ventured one last look underneath the Jacaranda to see how the chicks were doing. They were out of the nest, sitting high and pretty along the branches. They were frozen, probably petrified. The wind was blowing hard and I couldn't risk another photo. It might make the fledglings fall to their deaths. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">But, I have seen them a lot in the new year. At the birdbath, or scaring up insects. The parents still admonish me when I'm watering. Both chicks have lost their down and now have shiny black feather coats with snow-white underbellies. Oh, and small, white eyebrows that are already well-practiced at scowling. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">I'm privileged to have had this special nature gift at Christmas.</span></div></div>Therese Ralstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00511255133990375522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1315170902781178490.post-39785655329900811612023-01-12T19:39:00.015+11:002023-01-14T17:08:56.713+11:0092: Eating the Christmas Tree<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhts0CE6yM8Df_eBMpkgxf7cG0b5oEBw7Y7Y_7TELbPIgb_0Q_mE4JZ4rD6jXZ_HGUCBq_OlYM5or63fUvbZs0DykNPRe-l2TFMvrKyaSR_sjgZP7aZg1rnyl1GSRP9LpwOWlhcaseysnOjbaXVdgRX5p5HGtgei7B41uSOLiNKzkZfKRwhf82CKkqe/s5472/IMG_7831.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5472" data-original-width="3648" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhts0CE6yM8Df_eBMpkgxf7cG0b5oEBw7Y7Y_7TELbPIgb_0Q_mE4JZ4rD6jXZ_HGUCBq_OlYM5or63fUvbZs0DykNPRe-l2TFMvrKyaSR_sjgZP7aZg1rnyl1GSRP9LpwOWlhcaseysnOjbaXVdgRX5p5HGtgei7B41uSOLiNKzkZfKRwhf82CKkqe/w426-h640/IMG_7831.JPG" width="426" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">I'm about to take the decorations off our 2022 Christmas tree. </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-EDwbt1lK1QRw9xp0nRnu_9WfP1GexW0sRLAle2HZGWLf_H_PMirs41sMoiB_3dRb8wqnDjVd0dnsUzUIYiK9Uy0ZOrytRwM0nFMha975I2MJ4qdPCi37Ho7ELrnGHJ0HYWovLzjAo0QTiab1czvj1eOAzharPrvbImfzcIQ9xszXjaVX2_SvkQG3/s5472/IMG_7836.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5472" data-original-width="3648" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-EDwbt1lK1QRw9xp0nRnu_9WfP1GexW0sRLAle2HZGWLf_H_PMirs41sMoiB_3dRb8wqnDjVd0dnsUzUIYiK9Uy0ZOrytRwM0nFMha975I2MJ4qdPCi37Ho7ELrnGHJ0HYWovLzjAo0QTiab1czvj1eOAzharPrvbImfzcIQ9xszXjaVX2_SvkQG3/w426-h640/IMG_7836.JPG" width="426" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><div style="text-align: left;">My husband cuts down a pine every year. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The tree gets close to the high ceiling.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1_C3uAjxBSAhKObBfPP_sBjJBsRqMh0THKItkismegfmTyyQl1I6bTreArqfnsyyYPsdVDQXsmEzTFX8oWBQ20hVyD3tgcxucPPPb24zn3Bvq9FM04YTgfKQhEyvsEV1Mz32OA7EADQpYdBInlQitG5pOcW39ULx-hMI59R9la_mlChHlUrMEzXjN/s5472/IMG_7795.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5472" data-original-width="3648" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1_C3uAjxBSAhKObBfPP_sBjJBsRqMh0THKItkismegfmTyyQl1I6bTreArqfnsyyYPsdVDQXsmEzTFX8oWBQ20hVyD3tgcxucPPPb24zn3Bvq9FM04YTgfKQhEyvsEV1Mz32OA7EADQpYdBInlQitG5pOcW39ULx-hMI59R9la_mlChHlUrMEzXjN/w427-h640/IMG_7795.JPG" width="427" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Last birthday, my son gave me a baby blue budgie.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></span></span></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p></p></blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjczYgndA2Zb7KEUv_qvCTpFA4axUGLfHvBISrF-ma9d-q61HFUyNjKCy7aOzaVPotVhNZ6CcFokSomlZ3w-MZeMOXC8w_o80qw28ylZjuRIQQ5vRxwh8nD12-YtbJ9nrVbI9wHDsoyx5DjQyElLealCT5Y_civCRh8o1tl5CjA2uPdqsZmw0THh1JF/s5152/IMG_7802%20(3).JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3864" data-original-width="5152" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjczYgndA2Zb7KEUv_qvCTpFA4axUGLfHvBISrF-ma9d-q61HFUyNjKCy7aOzaVPotVhNZ6CcFokSomlZ3w-MZeMOXC8w_o80qw28ylZjuRIQQ5vRxwh8nD12-YtbJ9nrVbI9wHDsoyx5DjQyElLealCT5Y_civCRh8o1tl5CjA2uPdqsZmw0THh1JF/w640-h480/IMG_7802%20(3).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large; text-align: left;">He imitates the whistles of 12 different birds.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large; text-align: left;">He says hello constantly. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">He chatters away when the covers are off.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvX_EIqis5-9sQyX8Xr_mLRegVRPJHLFB1NPLqAk60Wso06Pk3ODNxKL8JPG_LSYDNDwHZoZ66Ri8pZlM7t0eixdrOkZxttEjFSJZurS_NSrAHXhZJYSlgWNp8c9XR0kw90fuRVOjf4wboU2ADYldbz4EJbiokYhZwf5u3Oze9TjAEBH71U_pR8qp9/s5472/IMG_7827.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvX_EIqis5-9sQyX8Xr_mLRegVRPJHLFB1NPLqAk60Wso06Pk3ODNxKL8JPG_LSYDNDwHZoZ66Ri8pZlM7t0eixdrOkZxttEjFSJZurS_NSrAHXhZJYSlgWNp8c9XR0kw90fuRVOjf4wboU2ADYldbz4EJbiokYhZwf5u3Oze9TjAEBH71U_pR8qp9/w640-h426/IMG_7827.JPG" width="640" /></span></a><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">I thought he might like to be in a real tree for a change. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">I popped him up into the decorations. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">The first time, he was fine.</span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWH8t-UK1Y6vQNlRjH_baoKXYI4Bh-0Ab4pj3zz-7lP-l5q0MTZvNitopRyKQ3EMsYz3pKWkDul8pmed9mUeUgyT-F-pw0wKE8LqX8j3iItEBhXi_oH3CPBg1z--03t2rUiCfpbUZahTnPU7sCQTLMPbqOjzfRdnvw9tGO4lq9xfWpAkdQ1e9wERPs/s5472/IMG_7828%20(2).JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWH8t-UK1Y6vQNlRjH_baoKXYI4Bh-0Ab4pj3zz-7lP-l5q0MTZvNitopRyKQ3EMsYz3pKWkDul8pmed9mUeUgyT-F-pw0wKE8LqX8j3iItEBhXi_oH3CPBg1z--03t2rUiCfpbUZahTnPU7sCQTLMPbqOjzfRdnvw9tGO4lq9xfWpAkdQ1e9wERPs/w640-h426/IMG_7828%20(2).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">He didn't want to get off my shoulder at first; t</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">hen liked it. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik9khcc8PmoNqgPl6HAmR1O9gy-HrNOzdHdJumIaDs2UMTkqoIkpMxAfIk4y7P3W1rsx56cNyH7FsLixKuVoCAk61FBfgkpNV3IQ_uYHH27lwKdBkc5CpVv2Gri5i3iNzyNTUyLr1TZcguSyrt8jNonQJXRGvsMHkeobgMS6c6oNBkph2Ng64giz6e/s5472/IMG_7819.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik9khcc8PmoNqgPl6HAmR1O9gy-HrNOzdHdJumIaDs2UMTkqoIkpMxAfIk4y7P3W1rsx56cNyH7FsLixKuVoCAk61FBfgkpNV3IQ_uYHH27lwKdBkc5CpVv2Gri5i3iNzyNTUyLr1TZcguSyrt8jNonQJXRGvsMHkeobgMS6c6oNBkph2Ng64giz6e/w640-h426/IMG_7819.JPG" width="640" /></span></a><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">I took some photos and left him alone.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">But, the second time all chirping stopped. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">That was unusual. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiA-YufAQo7_lGSmmNXpar0hjb6e6kq5hXZy2TgF-ZXE35mSX7tL6UZpoCS9akkK27Mppwk_MMciSrPt4-c_my77u2MRrvE9RAewqKI6QOQ_9dS3pJMEBXwf6dohttYY5l8-TF_buDmObTsO2j6ocIAKgTb_8YSBFetJpGf8E_sKzl3YrwNfSrwmr7/s5472/IMG_7825.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiA-YufAQo7_lGSmmNXpar0hjb6e6kq5hXZy2TgF-ZXE35mSX7tL6UZpoCS9akkK27Mppwk_MMciSrPt4-c_my77u2MRrvE9RAewqKI6QOQ_9dS3pJMEBXwf6dohttYY5l8-TF_buDmObTsO2j6ocIAKgTb_8YSBFetJpGf8E_sKzl3YrwNfSrwmr7/w640-h426/IMG_7825.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">When I saw him again, his beak was green. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">He'd been eating the Christmas Tree. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">He looked sick.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk_HU0jOx7FLnz0SrUS7JKWWayGrcHzhBQRdCmJhIwGAvY2Z8Nst-kW1jk-FUGTSmPFIZlUBiGQWzaln5UIH6IDnkxCkbJxFJtQYSYcwZLH_i_xMKplrqdjc6WTG6_0tlMr8YEjf3iAUF7lpskx5aNvkh2EwFFwOj6LIKqaU2e3rTynupeplMnTmS_/s5152/IMG_7797%20(2).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3864" data-original-width="5152" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk_HU0jOx7FLnz0SrUS7JKWWayGrcHzhBQRdCmJhIwGAvY2Z8Nst-kW1jk-FUGTSmPFIZlUBiGQWzaln5UIH6IDnkxCkbJxFJtQYSYcwZLH_i_xMKplrqdjc6WTG6_0tlMr8YEjf3iAUF7lpskx5aNvkh2EwFFwOj6LIKqaU2e3rTynupeplMnTmS_/s320/IMG_7797%20(2).JPG" width="320" /></a></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">It was some strange compulsion, he couldn't stop. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhzlTGwLNVywSu8fazz-879Zy8boXulp3PEIG6TZQNFq3-j9hGK1yH7sHHYliNT_8YFG8J5mv3MKgp2DqQAxrhtm9ga76_OCxjqSOA0Q8TlPHX4VfJrV9YkznjzzXoyWA52SZ3AhJUg19phfjyGNDjORa2o7bXxkOQJYQixtWeXG8crvHNNICNH3lR/s5472/IMG_7826.JPG" style="clear: left; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhzlTGwLNVywSu8fazz-879Zy8boXulp3PEIG6TZQNFq3-j9hGK1yH7sHHYliNT_8YFG8J5mv3MKgp2DqQAxrhtm9ga76_OCxjqSOA0Q8TlPHX4VfJrV9YkznjzzXoyWA52SZ3AhJUg19phfjyGNDjORa2o7bXxkOQJYQixtWeXG8crvHNNICNH3lR/w640-h426/IMG_7826.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">He refused to hop on my finger, or get out of the tree. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6dtmd1vLUBaDPUfUmi3MB3JKpt0tcn_qh5XZ89i75CAmErW__8eZvC2aQV-aKHYCObt5ZgVSVeXRNVlTIUUL-KxMuHt5dqVhDh6V-6y6zwolkUzlOUQFgfe7Lx_4wYbOZ5QBsC64Pz3voMlDNvTQFATXTiIFFB4f1Q8PZNna02BUqdbNjJcoJezt-/s5152/IMG_7796%20(2).JPG" style="clear: left; display: inline; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3864" data-original-width="5152" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6dtmd1vLUBaDPUfUmi3MB3JKpt0tcn_qh5XZ89i75CAmErW__8eZvC2aQV-aKHYCObt5ZgVSVeXRNVlTIUUL-KxMuHt5dqVhDh6V-6y6zwolkUzlOUQFgfe7Lx_4wYbOZ5QBsC64Pz3voMlDNvTQFATXTiIFFB4f1Q8PZNna02BUqdbNjJcoJezt-/s320/IMG_7796%20(2).JPG" width="320" /></span></a></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">Climbing higher into the center.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhHlk3rQ2IG1LR5o-HNrksr1Xq8Acw5wwjMKT5wkkaG7BGN7bpto5taCKYarOf11GtSoAnNTuoDbuYuFs5iQLCUplgEPpsQ3jLz5MbN9NVCTczYX1z4PMsTcUNn5RQM59NkmvbVE3N5xlXmHgcRfTlonkNXLrusX2UiSzt5l6tQvYBdwWXYxqTKNTY/s4920/IMG_7823.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4920" data-original-width="3648" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhHlk3rQ2IG1LR5o-HNrksr1Xq8Acw5wwjMKT5wkkaG7BGN7bpto5taCKYarOf11GtSoAnNTuoDbuYuFs5iQLCUplgEPpsQ3jLz5MbN9NVCTczYX1z4PMsTcUNn5RQM59NkmvbVE3N5xlXmHgcRfTlonkNXLrusX2UiSzt5l6tQvYBdwWXYxqTKNTY/w474-h640/IMG_7823.JPG" width="474" /></span></a></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">He went out of my range.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWHwpueNVFyQ4UXnbdtfx3jn3uSh5bsz-L4Zj0ZebqRYemLedGdaWOpqTxYPwL5Tq8tNm8QH2n656iRUt5Yz9DM567LVzmJBmMwy_f4cALoXUd9aqTZYgUolWERhHAC3BKq6d4y-78BWvYr-Fo4DPVuC3pV2v5JjQtxQ31O4609s8PwA9yyT1pvKgF/s5472/IMG_7829.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="clear: left; float: left; font-size: large; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWHwpueNVFyQ4UXnbdtfx3jn3uSh5bsz-L4Zj0ZebqRYemLedGdaWOpqTxYPwL5Tq8tNm8QH2n656iRUt5Yz9DM567LVzmJBmMwy_f4cALoXUd9aqTZYgUolWERhHAC3BKq6d4y-78BWvYr-Fo4DPVuC3pV2v5JjQtxQ31O4609s8PwA9yyT1pvKgF/w640-h426/IMG_7829.JPG" width="640" /></span></a><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">He wasn't being an Angel.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiA-YufAQo7_lGSmmNXpar0hjb6e6kq5hXZy2TgF-ZXE35mSX7tL6UZpoCS9akkK27Mppwk_MMciSrPt4-c_my77u2MRrvE9RAewqKI6QOQ_9dS3pJMEBXwf6dohttYY5l8-TF_buDmObTsO2j6ocIAKgTb_8YSBFetJpGf8E_sKzl3YrwNfSrwmr7/s5472/IMG_7825.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiA-YufAQo7_lGSmmNXpar0hjb6e6kq5hXZy2TgF-ZXE35mSX7tL6UZpoCS9akkK27Mppwk_MMciSrPt4-c_my77u2MRrvE9RAewqKI6QOQ_9dS3pJMEBXwf6dohttYY5l8-TF_buDmObTsO2j6ocIAKgTb_8YSBFetJpGf8E_sKzl3YrwNfSrwmr7/w640-h426/IMG_7825.JPG" width="640" /></span></a><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">A bit of a devil bird really.</span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNj6gsuIItQb48vmA1wdfOKhfcU8mx5_oekpRJ_fgw_U2wkdWDsRjL_h2mUX-pP7TB5Khv9elo7AlOIKVvF0yuIg3jR_-SSAj0JDgxezDTRTel7u_9F7aD9BCB_un3m90v7gQ8kY2PrEaO-3M413FhHcRSqYRK8Pr4SwShZ5yUP_UVI1tHV6ZLv_PU/s5152/IMG_7794%20(1).JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3864" data-original-width="5152" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNj6gsuIItQb48vmA1wdfOKhfcU8mx5_oekpRJ_fgw_U2wkdWDsRjL_h2mUX-pP7TB5Khv9elo7AlOIKVvF0yuIg3jR_-SSAj0JDgxezDTRTel7u_9F7aD9BCB_un3m90v7gQ8kY2PrEaO-3M413FhHcRSqYRK8Pr4SwShZ5yUP_UVI1tHV6ZLv_PU/w400-h300/IMG_7794%20(1).JPG" width="400" /></span></a><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">I wasn't getting on a ladder.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Or falling off one.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">I've just had major knee surgery.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">It got later. And darker. </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">I urged the little blighter to come back with food offerings.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizOKs3VktrYVNmDDpRYf7xnRzTs0rn2_U2rpRtzybGIpX_2wx_UdS6BXICv8TcdOnzBF2mTUU9cJx2oh6zJ9fo50CskS6DoYmq8bZlgL3mAaWy5phGD0WOop_xRXYIX3_oBPo6eXb8maIHuekUHhDY_o7e9H7GP9H5sV-FVde17inRWCeGiBCet_5A/s5152/IMG_7799%20(2).JPG" style="clear: left; display: inline; font-family: georgia; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3864" data-original-width="5152" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizOKs3VktrYVNmDDpRYf7xnRzTs0rn2_U2rpRtzybGIpX_2wx_UdS6BXICv8TcdOnzBF2mTUU9cJx2oh6zJ9fo50CskS6DoYmq8bZlgL3mAaWy5phGD0WOop_xRXYIX3_oBPo6eXb8maIHuekUHhDY_o7e9H7GP9H5sV-FVde17inRWCeGiBCet_5A/w640-h480/IMG_7799%20(2).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">Nah, he looked sicker. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">I stood beneath the tree for 30 minutes while he munched.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">It was mindless, like me with chocolates over Christmas.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-7jOFpBvKsSTfzd4SbCzBw_CAXqHLJ9jP8j1FiTdlVJXPoA2INE91FuExkVxyWC5aJ6J2mF1rjZ58FTWNNunO7sR9BpwhGPBfLErS-U31qSpfIjsY9Csm5KT_sOpdOL1HvvytuvidnOZXAm_XDeOvq-KHI9HPUccKlVYTuTvteGLvb0b1dQGYRsUX/s5152/IMG_7795%20(2).JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3864" data-original-width="5152" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-7jOFpBvKsSTfzd4SbCzBw_CAXqHLJ9jP8j1FiTdlVJXPoA2INE91FuExkVxyWC5aJ6J2mF1rjZ58FTWNNunO7sR9BpwhGPBfLErS-U31qSpfIjsY9Csm5KT_sOpdOL1HvvytuvidnOZXAm_XDeOvq-KHI9HPUccKlVYTuTvteGLvb0b1dQGYRsUX/w640-h480/IMG_7795%20(2).JPG" width="640" /></span></a><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">I was wondering if pine resin was toxic.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">He still hadn't chirped.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">Given his name, of course, he tried to get up high. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">Angels always belong at the top of the Christmas Tree.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSxWq8FNN-9tLOtp1ztc8tt3mrdu6mc7bLu39X8-3I19ndQCc6nDPOo5Im53ZZhb2395aTmtZR-kTT3qZ99sZy55lLYuu9zFSGQMVWTecvPAtDfjh-K-uFmy0uwX4lPs35GWE-fKqVlZo0a2j-9cXqAn4xzrcJ5HcACQ1iW3-vdNIC1CcADBNXM5EZ/s4986/IMG_7830.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="4986" height="469" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSxWq8FNN-9tLOtp1ztc8tt3mrdu6mc7bLu39X8-3I19ndQCc6nDPOo5Im53ZZhb2395aTmtZR-kTT3qZ99sZy55lLYuu9zFSGQMVWTecvPAtDfjh-K-uFmy0uwX4lPs35GWE-fKqVlZo0a2j-9cXqAn4xzrcJ5HcACQ1iW3-vdNIC1CcADBNXM5EZ/w640-h469/IMG_7830.JPG" width="640" /></span></a><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /><br /><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">Angel almost choked-one pine needle too many. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">He let out a weak noise. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">A bird version of 'ick'.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">I wasn't sure if he'd live through 2023.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3T_I7IsgNcpDQ0_WFUCkan5rlPQZZW2nrT5Q9s72XFtzQbDkpHJqS7c13Ej9EeChWxlaCeM7MdJj2_bx5Q6Zk9djqu6cqFf4ssDW2H5EpJt1aC6pGhZTN3yTYxj2IvxEEMCB0Om1ETLJV5nRyK98XlNxcqgpoefLqwGUOb8r0ADkllZ7Q3PKWAini/s5472/IMG_7799.JPG" style="clear: left; font-family: georgia; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5472" data-original-width="3648" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3T_I7IsgNcpDQ0_WFUCkan5rlPQZZW2nrT5Q9s72XFtzQbDkpHJqS7c13Ej9EeChWxlaCeM7MdJj2_bx5Q6Zk9djqu6cqFf4ssDW2H5EpJt1aC6pGhZTN3yTYxj2IvxEEMCB0Om1ETLJV5nRyK98XlNxcqgpoefLqwGUOb8r0ADkllZ7Q3PKWAini/w426-h640/IMG_7799.JPG" width="426" /></span></a></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">But, he's back chirping continually like a mad, manic bird.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">Saying hello, 15 times every 15 minutes.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">Imbibing that tree didn't have any long-term consequences.</span></span></div><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG_WVlLgg7ZhG6sd3Db7P2pIxpUU6Lf5WUN055zNPs_sG12Jl4h-Fa4gd3TZCdW_FiXLAVKegJmp4vInpF9LzUSA_A445cP2SYw4uTjMqeEIqgyzp_-webzn97DnQiHttqyxEi6ILRgAOfvKFAUIr4nCRhh05cPjNjm9KzHCjCxsIPVT7bIXOww2VE/s5152/IMG_7803%20(3).JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: georgia; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="clear: left; float: left; font-size: large; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3864" data-original-width="5152" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG_WVlLgg7ZhG6sd3Db7P2pIxpUU6Lf5WUN055zNPs_sG12Jl4h-Fa4gd3TZCdW_FiXLAVKegJmp4vInpF9LzUSA_A445cP2SYw4uTjMqeEIqgyzp_-webzn97DnQiHttqyxEi6ILRgAOfvKFAUIr4nCRhh05cPjNjm9KzHCjCxsIPVT7bIXOww2VE/w640-h480/IMG_7803%20(3).JPG" width="640" /></span></a></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><br /><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">I'm glad. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Happy New Year from me.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Plus, a big hello from Angel.</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">The only pet ever who tried to eat a Christmas Tree. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">And, my prettiest decoration.</span></span></p>Therese Ralstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00511255133990375522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1315170902781178490.post-33768011021229324602022-02-15T16:58:00.034+11:002023-01-14T17:07:40.609+11:0091: Sunny Yellow Robins<h4 style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUeB30SOWKEFj3mXfeLeGzEwyQuutE61E6RhbPZNbHL2gSePQj1CCkAgnl-U8wY0ulKZjh0kNIBaV8kHcU956ORqgYc7klmG094mnlmZornyhZMXAUZ8QjvO_wwbik8I15IzEtE5GJw14/s1600/IMG_2659.JPG" style="clear: left; display: inline; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1555" data-original-width="1600" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUeB30SOWKEFj3mXfeLeGzEwyQuutE61E6RhbPZNbHL2gSePQj1CCkAgnl-U8wY0ulKZjh0kNIBaV8kHcU956ORqgYc7klmG094mnlmZornyhZMXAUZ8QjvO_wwbik8I15IzEtE5GJw14/w320-h257/IMG_2659.JPG" width="320" /></a></h4><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><div style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">I switched off the news, sick of statistics from a world grappling with Covid-19 for the third year. An Eastern Yellow Robin sat on the fence outside. It wanted to watch me as much as I wanted to watch it.</span></div></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBOCWBQs3L-otZS9F6Jx__JOvSvYZxaVTVzPD6-GOcA4-jc8g6H9mm4JKs94nfTg7triMMGguSwQ8To5AhVMRanDlEiAD4VFjZrXnS6ARUEUMyxBGkPZBQ-a8w8z472u_bY1bkHtrqIks/s1600/IMG_8192.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1311" data-original-width="1600" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBOCWBQs3L-otZS9F6Jx__JOvSvYZxaVTVzPD6-GOcA4-jc8g6H9mm4JKs94nfTg7triMMGguSwQ8To5AhVMRanDlEiAD4VFjZrXnS6ARUEUMyxBGkPZBQ-a8w8z472u_bY1bkHtrqIks/s320/IMG_8192.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">These birds are usually in pairs of family groups. This one is scanning the ground for a juicy insect.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPy8riIlcx3vE1xZAV0VfWJSwTbiXYt7Udmr8mMfbjZgcRPsOviVna3iRu_Srt2tyF-LnN0TDoSRyb4oihjn2GrYc8sJgCdQSEnVO6Pk5td6zvjvEhHXtgXBBwrG9xF8BhK43vvIRiseo/s1600/IMG_2665.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1483" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPy8riIlcx3vE1xZAV0VfWJSwTbiXYt7Udmr8mMfbjZgcRPsOviVna3iRu_Srt2tyF-LnN0TDoSRyb4oihjn2GrYc8sJgCdQSEnVO6Pk5td6zvjvEhHXtgXBBwrG9xF8BhK43vvIRiseo/s320/IMG_2665.JPG" width="296" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">It hasn't quite come into all it's glorious yellow breast plumage yet. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp2BZpRtZhBYGSkVipOdgZu_6Ab5iQwohnvULqPz0Xh-_pRw4GwrxUiaRwlGyrSRZKVSp1uX_BjAzN6v1lmuukriO-TI9mVUyZ32GRxVYLah5VD09sojkVRjQIO6TGeSGEJhB3QI_6UFI/s1600/IMG_4838.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1444" data-original-width="1600" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp2BZpRtZhBYGSkVipOdgZu_6Ab5iQwohnvULqPz0Xh-_pRw4GwrxUiaRwlGyrSRZKVSp1uX_BjAzN6v1lmuukriO-TI9mVUyZ32GRxVYLah5VD09sojkVRjQIO6TGeSGEJhB3QI_6UFI/s320/IMG_4838.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Yellow Robin chicks hatch brown and streaky white. Golden feathers are too obvious to predators. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-eSSs8Y3Nra4IKJDYSuuor1I4I17IkTmsWSQs-YsKcTNjqUN40lxDFlxtT8Uyv4FO41pZXKeCexAiEVDQNplIOoMBE_EV4oUN19YW8qHB6pp5It9tka5Wh8Kpr-osJd9qzo3su_Wflbk/s1600/IMG_2552.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-eSSs8Y3Nra4IKJDYSuuor1I4I17IkTmsWSQs-YsKcTNjqUN40lxDFlxtT8Uyv4FO41pZXKeCexAiEVDQNplIOoMBE_EV4oUN19YW8qHB6pp5It9tka5Wh8Kpr-osJd9qzo3su_Wflbk/w300-h400/IMG_2552.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">A beautiful adult, checking me out from the Cypress Pine forest on my property.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtKfIb-Uu4iS5qiPRwGCUPfiTWAyEI5iAE4MKQCO4qWr-13c6c6jX2gOh98YMikvEAGPzxb2aFLjS5kImaCfTb6VS0Kf7XHodRdbuZOjqwT89v3wHjn3az74eHCAKLYhU8e3eo_eNX59U/s1600/IMG_2703.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1542" data-original-width="1600" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtKfIb-Uu4iS5qiPRwGCUPfiTWAyEI5iAE4MKQCO4qWr-13c6c6jX2gOh98YMikvEAGPzxb2aFLjS5kImaCfTb6VS0Kf7XHodRdbuZOjqwT89v3wHjn3az74eHCAKLYhU8e3eo_eNX59U/s320/IMG_2703.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">The chicks start plain and take a while to grow into their glorious golden feathers.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHkHUK4kszuIT6l1X593PCBDbX14cFubemUPgM9C79nCRaPAOKhjEegzanwapQstCSwwT7UczAc_HXV0ZhgIOzq7groonRTpEzVcfxnbCs01xS5J2MRBQp7HUFdtFfcicqqFckqozk_3Y/s1600/IMG_4839.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1296" data-original-width="1600" height="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHkHUK4kszuIT6l1X593PCBDbX14cFubemUPgM9C79nCRaPAOKhjEegzanwapQstCSwwT7UczAc_HXV0ZhgIOzq7groonRTpEzVcfxnbCs01xS5J2MRBQp7HUFdtFfcicqqFckqozk_3Y/s320/IMG_4839.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">The birds are such darlings, sleek and pretty.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy_1EL0eBfgTilmqY1O506qJ_u2ubgb4voVL2bTNFkwwXGxUk1EiuixyWaQjyK4D_TDG8WuBn2PrnZwdFd1n4BOcYTFlbnIgNRz_6ar1GV0Ah8OMxyF92oE8vXV6a1NiizSHZ971Ve-hw/s1600/IMG_2666.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1564" data-original-width="1600" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy_1EL0eBfgTilmqY1O506qJ_u2ubgb4voVL2bTNFkwwXGxUk1EiuixyWaQjyK4D_TDG8WuBn2PrnZwdFd1n4BOcYTFlbnIgNRz_6ar1GV0Ah8OMxyF92oE8vXV6a1NiizSHZ971Ve-hw/s320/IMG_2666.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">They glide in to landing.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuAod-LoaEWz30SMzpDWOU-_u9RiFKKGvP7WxVaU8_EV8jSWX_7cW706yG6UzV4BqAJ_ufbTNckTK1ZHsTDEbQCclv9i_T7Vf_fwacoLgGGSMOh7FeHAs5IToO0iHcaS18rlT-pqd4H1A/s1600/IMG_2550.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuAod-LoaEWz30SMzpDWOU-_u9RiFKKGvP7WxVaU8_EV8jSWX_7cW706yG6UzV4BqAJ_ufbTNckTK1ZHsTDEbQCclv9i_T7Vf_fwacoLgGGSMOh7FeHAs5IToO0iHcaS18rlT-pqd4H1A/w213-h320/IMG_2550.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: justify;">Sitting on a post, they come closer if you make squeaky sounds.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJEJ1J402wsqyG4enF6aiC_U7ZSnhzj8k-uURscNQS0mXJYqeJm8a69z9wVadU2j7tlhW5yoVKsxLZTP1I1FV2TzMrfiTmJraiG6JaERB6FnuI0Tsac1KR5EQzHdA_4NIUoo3btaUrBtM/s1600/IMG_2665.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1483" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJEJ1J402wsqyG4enF6aiC_U7ZSnhzj8k-uURscNQS0mXJYqeJm8a69z9wVadU2j7tlhW5yoVKsxLZTP1I1FV2TzMrfiTmJraiG6JaERB6FnuI0Tsac1KR5EQzHdA_4NIUoo3btaUrBtM/s320/IMG_2665.JPG" width="296" /></a></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Two young Yellow Robins busy bathing in the heat of an Australian summer.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEcMsDJjVNe6dAhrGJQAhWs13dUqZ1uXfrxk5SIzw6JI9_M-Ze08rss4jjGzoMfbHfXB4Ve8oz14Bhc54OyiWbOw1epyvm1jEzhMguYQazNBew1zfrGxUtIRYACFUQzhaRLMWMpsI1g0I/s1600/IMG_4840.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1535" data-original-width="1600" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEcMsDJjVNe6dAhrGJQAhWs13dUqZ1uXfrxk5SIzw6JI9_M-Ze08rss4jjGzoMfbHfXB4Ve8oz14Bhc54OyiWbOw1epyvm1jEzhMguYQazNBew1zfrGxUtIRYACFUQzhaRLMWMpsI1g0I/s320/IMG_4840.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Robins are always searching for the next snack on the ground.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0TWuT-3vgFFL4yCXZMy2bJKXNA2OZIor961zjg5QV-gjpm3gWabxWz4GY1zvk-uCiNl97I-r0-hxu0T01OAPDtLWOaLW9WRxmfC0xjwMj_1RolFxAr21oxnM4TnoPhQIGTpDKVXvr26c/s1600/IMG_8193.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1494" data-original-width="1600" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0TWuT-3vgFFL4yCXZMy2bJKXNA2OZIor961zjg5QV-gjpm3gWabxWz4GY1zvk-uCiNl97I-r0-hxu0T01OAPDtLWOaLW9WRxmfC0xjwMj_1RolFxAr21oxnM4TnoPhQIGTpDKVXvr26c/s320/IMG_8193.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Nestmates stick together and are as cute as yellow buttons with their own individual shape.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKa965VudfAr9xb2iHlY5HdadAF9nd_YbG_XBjY6FiU_oM30BQiCM1V46Jqfk-aqs2erbXfsPYpOTJ_z2EDFVCPLyol29cd4xECKxccFYi5L9GpvMK_suJ3K7-X3F2bfX6q2xO3DbvBvw/s1600/IMG_4836.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKa965VudfAr9xb2iHlY5HdadAF9nd_YbG_XBjY6FiU_oM30BQiCM1V46Jqfk-aqs2erbXfsPYpOTJ_z2EDFVCPLyol29cd4xECKxccFYi5L9GpvMK_suJ3K7-X3F2bfX6q2xO3DbvBvw/s320/IMG_4836.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Sometimes I can catch the robins flicking their wings in excitement. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOCyJCOocAVLCLFeisBxD-qchqKOpVcztCfCdGZritQG17UqugJOFrZYd0fqRPQb5b5rGiyX6PnDUg56gOaL2V-yTRut5kvIkv9p3IKN060p8P8biyDEGfrpAd5WSJBgQCDNjbNeOflfU/s1600/IMG_8197.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1560" data-original-width="1600" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOCyJCOocAVLCLFeisBxD-qchqKOpVcztCfCdGZritQG17UqugJOFrZYd0fqRPQb5b5rGiyX6PnDUg56gOaL2V-yTRut5kvIkv9p3IKN060p8P8biyDEGfrpAd5WSJBgQCDNjbNeOflfU/s320/IMG_8197.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Sometimes, I hear their clear piping whistle in the pines or scrubland past the garden, and rush outside. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='323' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzS7dHpSyF7O0dGwNfnF2Mzd-YR8hofum_EY5AkPsro3BYWlAqRyjpXzdHDWjfUdzi6jV8o1HdLVbiMncdNRg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br />But, every time I catch sight of them, Eastern Yellow Robins add a little sunshine to my day.<br />Therese Ralstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00511255133990375522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1315170902781178490.post-74765594518285815342021-08-15T00:22:00.003+10:002023-01-14T17:06:45.198+11:0090: Glowing Green <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSxXDc7tq1KrJQCxNpMMLcGkzzSOHH1QMVUPDsG5Gu8L1JyPUHDtd18bgBUCQ7n6UwVONMGT1feBc-Bq_1bqdKuFebXaDCylAJNO6MxRqOGhtb_pdTAgtsdb4uvQTbLuXVw2TqtCBCXto/s5152/IMG_7012.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3864" data-original-width="5152" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSxXDc7tq1KrJQCxNpMMLcGkzzSOHH1QMVUPDsG5Gu8L1JyPUHDtd18bgBUCQ7n6UwVONMGT1feBc-Bq_1bqdKuFebXaDCylAJNO6MxRqOGhtb_pdTAgtsdb4uvQTbLuXVw2TqtCBCXto/w400-h300/IMG_7012.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I visited
my next-door neighbours this morning. Photographing </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18.6667px;">Musk Lorikeets gorging on honey in the flowering gum tree in their yard.</span><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCcdSkiLwdjMjfkALFDh3zMvmRqaKf5-OXcunaAeytcPMJS_-NSsOe5iYlv91gZCRU9_3Fsvfufd6y5uM9JiWw7fxMBmAESeh2PVuRSA5pkdyuOrF_AShnL53W3FuwzGOFPrQPlfdav_o/s5152/IMG_6997.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18.6667px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3864" data-original-width="5152" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCcdSkiLwdjMjfkALFDh3zMvmRqaKf5-OXcunaAeytcPMJS_-NSsOe5iYlv91gZCRU9_3Fsvfufd6y5uM9JiWw7fxMBmAESeh2PVuRSA5pkdyuOrF_AShnL53W3FuwzGOFPrQPlfdav_o/w400-h300/IMG_6997.JPG" width="400" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18.6667px;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18.6667px;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 18.6667px;"><br /></span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><div><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This afternoon, all NSW went into Coronavirus lockdown. </span></div><div><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Regardless, it couldn’t put a dampener on the bright green Loris I saw.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtsMSxmNRxUn9rosAgOZJgI1CZ9ihac-V3SvYUrmq5Dyqd9jb4ekErozKBLg5BVEH2QxIZCKvx-YOCq-b5-awd-Rt74EfukqRkmNNrd9rgf-UW6g-eq3SKxUKHooA4LwgXj6C9M4s0XBE/s5152/IMG_6921.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; font-size: 18.6667px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5152" data-original-width="3864" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtsMSxmNRxUn9rosAgOZJgI1CZ9ihac-V3SvYUrmq5Dyqd9jb4ekErozKBLg5BVEH2QxIZCKvx-YOCq-b5-awd-Rt74EfukqRkmNNrd9rgf-UW6g-eq3SKxUKHooA4LwgXj6C9M4s0XBE/w300-h400/IMG_6921.JPG" width="300" /></a><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div><div><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">If you’re locked down or tired of the pandemic, come and see some acrobats.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBVy1IZZpDif3cpPhgPGoeVaalFIMEFmE0ezjJSiOi3PTK4OnCkLxgusY-zuOb4luqoX0ErdKuFu3miYQoZBMLT-HLpCjpjtUh_eNs7ehlLnu3RlIyNMfj7xV4o6W1rXQe8Ldwb6uQong/s5152/IMG_6993.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; font-size: 18.6667px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3864" data-original-width="5152" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBVy1IZZpDif3cpPhgPGoeVaalFIMEFmE0ezjJSiOi3PTK4OnCkLxgusY-zuOb4luqoX0ErdKuFu3miYQoZBMLT-HLpCjpjtUh_eNs7ehlLnu3RlIyNMfj7xV4o6W1rXQe8Ldwb6uQong/w320-h240/IMG_6993.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The camouflage birds.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPzZHnoT09K8JJ4Pb1xYDig6rdqLpMggWgy6C3FNV-fQI0xfsxqyAwTJFmK6qV1h1M_vxAAruVm7jlEOHL32SBBuFgtmAUnD_K1niPW6UXOPd4IwnNKDiNVRExfXlghhmC5J5vTE9AMwM/s4482/IMG_7000.JPG" style="clear: left; font-size: 18.6667px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3651" data-original-width="4482" height="326" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPzZHnoT09K8JJ4Pb1xYDig6rdqLpMggWgy6C3FNV-fQI0xfsxqyAwTJFmK6qV1h1M_vxAAruVm7jlEOHL32SBBuFgtmAUnD_K1niPW6UXOPd4IwnNKDiNVRExfXlghhmC5J5vTE9AMwM/w400-h326/IMG_7000.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 18.6667px;">Flighty little things that shine and glow with vitality.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 18.6667px;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 18.6667px;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 18.6667px;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxi0lLxTeKQwXRYr4BhNx9xFq8pSaeMYJ1GtMtaksZ3GX8BQ5arzvQ62Us8x3X6blXXgRFIzjFP10FF41DWISDPwO4ytMOk8n1xUiEaA_SumqDQ2Rs10y0JmiC0bZ3-GWhqslMryGplqU/s3897/IMG_6985.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; font-size: 18.6667px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2873" data-original-width="3897" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxi0lLxTeKQwXRYr4BhNx9xFq8pSaeMYJ1GtMtaksZ3GX8BQ5arzvQ62Us8x3X6blXXgRFIzjFP10FF41DWISDPwO4ytMOk8n1xUiEaA_SumqDQ2Rs10y0JmiC0bZ3-GWhqslMryGplqU/w400-h295/IMG_6985.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 18.6667px;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 18.6667px;">Bright beauties that drink and chirp at the same time.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 18.6667px;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyLCoLU85LtR7-SrljJiiMam8sDfroLvwpUfc69PR1KMr29c0J635ZqlAtn9S1Nr60HfyvwjaN_YrjLLCBlBg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><span style="font-size: 18.6667px;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Feathery things intent on guzzling sugar, they don’t realise you’ve<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> crept closer.</span></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinEIzKXzzkMhsJJN5Ah4tQ-NLTw_C4O1nBCETcu1aXDeuMvaw5Vd8ctgSCvMfsmrNJIfMkeLhHa7MUFEykEr4WPfH-MEDliAoY-XmfCtSNi8C3T2n56OyT87xwKe39NwGxFvR51t-Gras/s4753/IMG_7009.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; font-size: 18.6667px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3539" data-original-width="4753" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinEIzKXzzkMhsJJN5Ah4tQ-NLTw_C4O1nBCETcu1aXDeuMvaw5Vd8ctgSCvMfsmrNJIfMkeLhHa7MUFEykEr4WPfH-MEDliAoY-XmfCtSNi8C3T2n56OyT87xwKe39NwGxFvR51t-Gras/w400-h297/IMG_7009.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 18.6667px;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 18.6667px;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Musk Lorikeets </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;">with blue crowns are males.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3gWzrpQ5YD5uWmxTvEzpsNCTg7ksWpA5eR85wKhZaGtS6YUGT9HBASug-VRwuA8jvxA7JQyvhD4ws5OdtwAaCSc-L86QBU4BVLnBrIGc6pyrerHcJwo1XIGDUot8CSap_sRAL-cHx900/s4057/IMG_6971.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3073" data-original-width="4057" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3gWzrpQ5YD5uWmxTvEzpsNCTg7ksWpA5eR85wKhZaGtS6YUGT9HBASug-VRwuA8jvxA7JQyvhD4ws5OdtwAaCSc-L86QBU4BVLnBrIGc6pyrerHcJwo1XIGDUot8CSap_sRAL-cHx900/w400-h303/IMG_6971.JPG" width="400" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">The females wear turquoise green hats.</span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18.6667px;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghDTEhIF8fgIReUTJUUMvPcz9D3hspDTfD6vXo_7jTKcwagFpsErba2XO_FTM5hehQnb_K7Bq2mjr_DVocs9NAqrG5vYc542Ide8lWRQFBWMk13OjumXhkJd1Qql8GKo1vWdot_QT4SUA/s4874/IMG_6947.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18.6667px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3510" data-original-width="4874" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghDTEhIF8fgIReUTJUUMvPcz9D3hspDTfD6vXo_7jTKcwagFpsErba2XO_FTM5hehQnb_K7Bq2mjr_DVocs9NAqrG5vYc542Ide8lWRQFBWMk13OjumXhkJd1Qql8GKo1vWdot_QT4SUA/w400-h288/IMG_6947.JPG" width="400" /></a></p><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Nomadic birds, they go wherever gum trees are flowering. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrd7UBRoqejw0lWNNXqdGCJ1Mjd0hCo0wuqArrZVZLSmeO9PoV-HeF6S_UepOjoy5l33LZphmFTBncLoIjnQdXOgTSJCDoO4ShWI31ZlaQM2ILMFUcIGMJsGpy6D3GGi4zwCvno14yITM/s4398/IMG_7004.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2950" data-original-width="4398" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrd7UBRoqejw0lWNNXqdGCJ1Mjd0hCo0wuqArrZVZLSmeO9PoV-HeF6S_UepOjoy5l33LZphmFTBncLoIjnQdXOgTSJCDoO4ShWI31ZlaQM2ILMFUcIGMJsGpy6D3GGi4zwCvno14yITM/w640-h430/IMG_7004.JPG" width="640" /></a><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;">Staying only as long as the nectar in the blossom.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiMdpE6lk9Dva3RrISu8JrPlDbDL23beRbbnOKNQats96FMHfb8d9HNZ6WBXDLREM7Vv9ozpPAuswBjW7H32MXHyvytZI4sZ26g-QO8bnjw5jBOT6VqQKbPUQURNbQPIkNaJ4iE3_5Bo4/s5152/IMG_7002.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5152" data-original-width="3864" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiMdpE6lk9Dva3RrISu8JrPlDbDL23beRbbnOKNQats96FMHfb8d9HNZ6WBXDLREM7Vv9ozpPAuswBjW7H32MXHyvytZI4sZ26g-QO8bnjw5jBOT6VqQKbPUQURNbQPIkNaJ4iE3_5Bo4/w480-h640/IMG_7002.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; text-align: left;"> </span></div></span>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;">These birds
were so plump full of sugar they seemed hyperactive.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzKzkzg0LlXBusW4Hbwx9z-MtG48-vsNxuOIr6mRioYTz-Xcs2u4FZx271ixk4t-UvA04xVNlL1JGwR3NY0fw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> Drinking from the pale lemon flowers, blooming just before spring.</o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBVy1IZZpDif3cpPhgPGoeVaalFIMEFmE0ezjJSiOi3PTK4OnCkLxgusY-zuOb4luqoX0ErdKuFu3miYQoZBMLT-HLpCjpjtUh_eNs7ehlLnu3RlIyNMfj7xV4o6W1rXQe8Ldwb6uQong/s5152/IMG_6993.JPG" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18.6667px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3864" data-original-width="5152" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBVy1IZZpDif3cpPhgPGoeVaalFIMEFmE0ezjJSiOi3PTK4OnCkLxgusY-zuOb4luqoX0ErdKuFu3miYQoZBMLT-HLpCjpjtUh_eNs7ehlLnu3RlIyNMfj7xV4o6W1rXQe8Ldwb6uQong/w320-h240/IMG_6993.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;">So lively, they</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18.6667px;">’</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;">re exquisite to watch, even when they</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18.6667px;">’</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;">re in hiding.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSnTwDZ52qY79C9CyjJKT2TqJhoAzjq_e0AUfqEgd4OOCW8IvNeXxhyphenhyphenGtjwuWPEeenGE0l_WhylpGdg0fAOS-6xKA5oxp7iI7Sar2CVmVSeAH_GqgIpMyLk-SPgTxWvLYdzf33TVWiSTU/s5152/IMG_6915.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3864" data-original-width="5152" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSnTwDZ52qY79C9CyjJKT2TqJhoAzjq_e0AUfqEgd4OOCW8IvNeXxhyphenhyphenGtjwuWPEeenGE0l_WhylpGdg0fAOS-6xKA5oxp7iI7Sar2CVmVSeAH_GqgIpMyLk-SPgTxWvLYdzf33TVWiSTU/w400-h300/IMG_6915.JPG" width="400" /></a><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Watching
them made me forget there was such a thing as Coronavirus. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinEIzKXzzkMhsJJN5Ah4tQ-NLTw_C4O1nBCETcu1aXDeuMvaw5Vd8ctgSCvMfsmrNJIfMkeLhHa7MUFEykEr4WPfH-MEDliAoY-XmfCtSNi8C3T2n56OyT87xwKe39NwGxFvR51t-Gras/s4753/IMG_7009.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18.6667px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3539" data-original-width="4753" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinEIzKXzzkMhsJJN5Ah4tQ-NLTw_C4O1nBCETcu1aXDeuMvaw5Vd8ctgSCvMfsmrNJIfMkeLhHa7MUFEykEr4WPfH-MEDliAoY-XmfCtSNi8C3T2n56OyT87xwKe39NwGxFvR51t-Gras/w400-h297/IMG_7009.JPG" width="400" /></a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;">Thanks to my neighbours for morning tea and the photo opportunity!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVTrvrkQn7zcgNbUCSrNGkjCihZBVI3Ex9dOImCuoHaNFWCwbvL_FOzJZixjWapY3luXJDXfSpZFw18fI0iqd99F358jflbIizF5JG-wquPLy_HzTqFRysJiMhSUMKPZ4CgNP-NE4NOKQ/s4512/IMG_6964.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18.6667px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3013" data-original-width="4512" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVTrvrkQn7zcgNbUCSrNGkjCihZBVI3Ex9dOImCuoHaNFWCwbvL_FOzJZixjWapY3luXJDXfSpZFw18fI0iqd99F358jflbIizF5JG-wquPLy_HzTqFRysJiMhSUMKPZ4CgNP-NE4NOKQ/w400-h268/IMG_6964.JPG" width="400" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: left;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Lockdowns
will end, things will always get better.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju9gYQ9wJJI2JRoVYagLCCqVjk0C0f8euXgBzMQtVHkPwwekyumts95uuKJwHzPn6gOaIGMS_L0f0s_WL1AMJXFwvoVWq18iHzUNAlRLq8rUbB5vUAiQUJk0hCsWzZ1o3cCo8BlwOr2RA/s4398/IMG_7004.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2950" data-original-width="4398" height="269" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju9gYQ9wJJI2JRoVYagLCCqVjk0C0f8euXgBzMQtVHkPwwekyumts95uuKJwHzPn6gOaIGMS_L0f0s_WL1AMJXFwvoVWq18iHzUNAlRLq8rUbB5vUAiQUJk0hCsWzZ1o3cCo8BlwOr2RA/w400-h269/IMG_7004.JPG" width="400" /></a><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: left;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Rainbow
coloured birds will still fly and fill the trees with soft chattering.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: left;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje2m3j0OVf3048AwRpDcHCZXCUiIdx4rfSrhTRmhAD8tZmx7aW5pneQNvnC8gXBFbuIfpA_1x15buTfPh6irpzHzThy-gYboPQnWm48pzIdN5l0BEtzI7jQ00YF_mWmGpELYh9qDIEBMc/s5152/IMG_6979.JPG" style="clear: left; display: inline; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3864" data-original-width="5152" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje2m3j0OVf3048AwRpDcHCZXCUiIdx4rfSrhTRmhAD8tZmx7aW5pneQNvnC8gXBFbuIfpA_1x15buTfPh6irpzHzThy-gYboPQnWm48pzIdN5l0BEtzI7jQ00YF_mWmGpELYh9qDIEBMc/w640-h480/IMG_6979.JPG" width="640" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We can still feel joy that there’s such enchanting creatures to see in our world.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p><br /><p></p>Therese Ralstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00511255133990375522noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1315170902781178490.post-16898978237965198152020-12-31T16:38:00.016+11:002021-06-14T13:11:25.904+10:0089. Wild Willies<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB6jjsGPm4qO4Z2lOsa6_DhnRdoYniJqPoWnaxpvdVrC0PNHktcIH0sERgH0th0632wGnVfydpEgcskVFDWw2ZlZfEb4D_3htPyWSVL9VLU_caH-oNvtMZoU8r1AkrfX6u9o9JbvIolzY/s4161/IMG_0712.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3247" data-original-width="4161" height="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB6jjsGPm4qO4Z2lOsa6_DhnRdoYniJqPoWnaxpvdVrC0PNHktcIH0sERgH0th0632wGnVfydpEgcskVFDWw2ZlZfEb4D_3htPyWSVL9VLU_caH-oNvtMZoU8r1AkrfX6u9o9JbvIolzY/w640-h500/IMG_0712.JPG" width="640"></a></p><p><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;">We have a high walled courtyard off the main
bathroom. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;">When my children were preschoolers, they planted a branch of cypress there.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;">Surprisingly, a pine tree grew. It must have come up from a seed on the stick. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;">The kids thought themselves master gardeners, e</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;">specially when a pair of Willie Wagtails built a nest in that pine. </span></p><a href="https://www.birdlifesaving.com/2020/12/89-wild-willies.html#more"></a>Therese Ralstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00511255133990375522noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1315170902781178490.post-81084719681241988902020-12-26T19:30:00.002+11:002020-12-31T16:16:26.529+11:0088. Happy Christmas from the Angel on the Tree Top<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVI2-TQoR4sZdc5KdAhOV-Ynrdg7_rdcy9dHbk73eIAjJdVmQSPJXaEQpVwT_aNYLbZw70l6OiRN31Dnit3lJEXHamJbCtaMqST93Y97vAns-j6sGDETVPVqgsj7_9X1cN7O2aX6fmWg4/s1600/IMG_9665.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVI2-TQoR4sZdc5KdAhOV-Ynrdg7_rdcy9dHbk73eIAjJdVmQSPJXaEQpVwT_aNYLbZw70l6OiRN31Dnit3lJEXHamJbCtaMqST93Y97vAns-j6sGDETVPVqgsj7_9X1cN7O2aX6fmWg4/w640-h480/IMG_9665.JPG" width="640"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Christmas Day was yesterday. I didn’t imagine it, but birds
seemed to be in on the human celebrations, tweeting from 5 am to 7 pm. Especially
the Cockies who are kind of cocky at the best of times.<span></span></span></p></div><a href="https://www.birdlifesaving.com/2020/08/77-big-white-alarm-clocks.html#more"></a>Therese Ralstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00511255133990375522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1315170902781178490.post-74263424797841072942020-12-16T15:40:00.028+11:002020-12-26T20:00:09.372+11:0087: Scarlet (Hay) Fever<p><br> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSA8An1KRcwlIxNFACquzZWmzj7itwEYqlvUExNAwoOMSmGBcwEWml6fF9WLl3s-L6MXcaf3O-1sqk6uRnoSm8JfGRHAoD7rIfaLkpxoTVMRb8Bs-u3CHs1_dj9FE-bSbr0qwxqED21To/s5152/IMG_4386.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3864" data-original-width="5152" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSA8An1KRcwlIxNFACquzZWmzj7itwEYqlvUExNAwoOMSmGBcwEWml6fF9WLl3s-L6MXcaf3O-1sqk6uRnoSm8JfGRHAoD7rIfaLkpxoTVMRb8Bs-u3CHs1_dj9FE-bSbr0qwxqED21To/w640-h480/IMG_4386.JPG" width="640"></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;">You rarely see something so enchanting it seems like an illusion, but that’s what
happened last spring.</span></p><a href="https://www.birdlifesaving.com/2020/12/scarlet-hay-fever.html#more"></a>Therese Ralstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00511255133990375522noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1315170902781178490.post-27807876866526238372020-11-07T19:58:00.042+11:002020-11-07T20:22:19.015+11:00Double Delightful Double Bars<div class="separator"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwOStVTUxVP_jg4D5o58IzVkhtNKPYAixJAN_d2V3nESuUuJEAIw-ltpL3PiU_J_oVg5Zzu2JnERZMhsbh-8QvPbP2EDuXCLr8MKTf_SNSiFcOA5ADsn7VQYb_ebrYm9A8XYFSLKbmCOY/s4615/IMG_9738.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3537" data-original-width="4615" height="490" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwOStVTUxVP_jg4D5o58IzVkhtNKPYAixJAN_d2V3nESuUuJEAIw-ltpL3PiU_J_oVg5Zzu2JnERZMhsbh-8QvPbP2EDuXCLr8MKTf_SNSiFcOA5ADsn7VQYb_ebrYm9A8XYFSLKbmCOY/w640-h490/IMG_9738.JPG" width="640"></a></div><div class="separator">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-left: 0cm;"><span style="color: #050505; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI Historic"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Every day I see </span><span style="color: #050505; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px;">Double-barred Finches on my birdbath.<span></span></span></p></div><a href="https://www.birdlifesaving.com/2020/09/double-delightful-double-bars.html#more"></a>Therese Ralstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00511255133990375522noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1315170902781178490.post-78424198670605374142020-10-30T18:50:00.087+11:002020-10-31T22:00:33.150+11:0086. Peacock Practice<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtaLnSuSTuR1G_WvrY8_mT358TWVL8wq0hiSTcP8dVLSOAiJ1gAEcHUzGiGtlHR6wbz-mfhrZydi_9FhBrt_70tnp9dxawDQPTnd07qnLjXIPpcqWcpfmnF6Houhy8r-pcBH4Kdmlf2Dk/s2048/20201029_152123.jpg" style="background-color: transparent; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtaLnSuSTuR1G_WvrY8_mT358TWVL8wq0hiSTcP8dVLSOAiJ1gAEcHUzGiGtlHR6wbz-mfhrZydi_9FhBrt_70tnp9dxawDQPTnd07qnLjXIPpcqWcpfmnF6Houhy8r-pcBH4Kdmlf2Dk/w640-h360/20201029_152123.jpg" width="640"></a><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; letter-spacing: -0.05pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; letter-spacing: -0.05pt;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">My Peacock</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; letter-spacing: -0.05pt;"> Pops has full breeding plumage.</span></div><a href="https://www.birdlifesaving.com/2020/10/86-peacock-practice.html#more"></a>Therese Ralstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00511255133990375522noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1315170902781178490.post-62492507199596961692020-10-20T17:58:00.008+11:002020-10-20T18:08:43.496+11:0085. Blue-billed Duck Making a Splash<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2OjV5DBbCnnsIRVIjdxRPjTtUZxXGy_7QkTQF2gvEIfcxoSN-kvjON8fmGmfmAhK9dGQmotpOgHFYR5MIQrZMZsWWwQBQHMmLE9MraVewBCN-PbzjqOTzuny0Nm9dZSrMywgoN0unn08/s3214/IMG_4059.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2172" data-original-width="3214" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2OjV5DBbCnnsIRVIjdxRPjTtUZxXGy_7QkTQF2gvEIfcxoSN-kvjON8fmGmfmAhK9dGQmotpOgHFYR5MIQrZMZsWWwQBQHMmLE9MraVewBCN-PbzjqOTzuny0Nm9dZSrMywgoN0unn08/w400-h270/IMG_4059.JPG" width="400"></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 48.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 24.0pt; margin: 24pt 0cm 0cm 48pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; letter-spacing: -0.05pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">The absolute need to replace
ourselves is scratched deep into the DNA of every living creature. But few
birds have such an awesome courtship display as the Blue-billed Duck.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 48.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 24.0pt; margin: 24pt 0cm 0cm 48pt;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyhHAUNz30jSXPxiUZLM6EZjnjr4gR_F1T-9oj2wjbHjWaTS7sd4LXnzgNZ2wX68UOjLb76KzbijhO_L4eUvg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 48.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 24.0pt; margin: 24pt 0cm 0cm 48pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; letter-spacing: -0.05pt; text-align: left;"><span></span></span></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 48.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 24.0pt; margin: 24pt 0cm 0cm 48pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; letter-spacing: -0.05pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><span></span></span></p><a href="https://www.birdlifesaving.com/2020/10/85-blue-billed-duck-making-splash.html#more"></a>Therese Ralstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00511255133990375522noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1315170902781178490.post-26495003001783156582020-10-14T23:55:00.039+11:002020-10-15T00:17:28.763+11:0084. The Swallow Sagas - Part 1<div class="separator"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7HASaT80r9FKSYcZRYQ_pMUSkR6zQXqn5MS5q5edlHnLu1joXovohAXP3ZriY_kfD46_ZArJUMBU7RCwxVmHd_c0KgvFrYL9kRQt82mqdCsmF1l-qV7v5Stwg72ix0I48JkOzK2KFRNM/s5152/IMG_0269.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3864" data-original-width="5152" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7HASaT80r9FKSYcZRYQ_pMUSkR6zQXqn5MS5q5edlHnLu1joXovohAXP3ZriY_kfD46_ZArJUMBU7RCwxVmHd_c0KgvFrYL9kRQt82mqdCsmF1l-qV7v5Stwg72ix0I48JkOzK2KFRNM/w400-h300/IMG_0269.JPG" width="400"></a></div><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px;">Welcome Swallows are the most prolific and resilient birds I know. A flock of them breed permanently at my farm house, getting through to the eaves. <span></span></span></p><a href="https://www.birdlifesaving.com/2020/10/84-swallow-sagas-part-1.html#more"></a>Therese Ralstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00511255133990375522noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1315170902781178490.post-85006160069549222202020-10-09T14:27:00.046+11:002020-10-31T13:28:51.225+11:0083. Babysitting a Finch<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYnjSNZ_3cMT44sJWx0I0f4OTfPvpkyPVV0RTBHY3UwEIPlxA7VeiH9PiVL4kM7wuJY7M4FYtra27WnQc46Gj46mb3OUMXNKNnIYw7Rz42plEyN5y9udqbxyuXNP2DLhz9JdmfEKze30c/s3154/IMG_3530.JPG" style="clear: left; display: inline; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2279" data-original-width="3154" height="462" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYnjSNZ_3cMT44sJWx0I0f4OTfPvpkyPVV0RTBHY3UwEIPlxA7VeiH9PiVL4kM7wuJY7M4FYtra27WnQc46Gj46mb3OUMXNKNnIYw7Rz42plEyN5y9udqbxyuXNP2DLhz9JdmfEKze30c/w640-h462/IMG_3530.JPG" width="640"></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 115%; margin: 24pt 0cm 0.0001pt 48pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14pt; letter-spacing: -0.05pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">I heard a plaintive cry
outside the lounge room. It usually means the finches are in danger; that either a
goanna or a snake threatened. <span></span></span></p><a href="https://www.birdlifesaving.com/2020/10/babysitting-finch.html#more"></a>Therese Ralstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00511255133990375522noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1315170902781178490.post-36568177896099185182020-10-08T00:02:00.004+11:002020-10-08T01:02:33.452+11:0082. Feathering the Nest <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD1Hm1yix5Zfde1KDt0F9VuVZkhK53dJ_muTJx71pqZDtFQ0vxzRNvaCEc2Z5HXDtB6otrgxZC9TuJ5riC8CJNxuCbTD29SyGwT9Pw4Bi3YORuQ0rpZc_Shzqj3lYln-ifqUl-J7Z-Oog/s3588/IMG_3443+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2355" data-original-width="3588" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD1Hm1yix5Zfde1KDt0F9VuVZkhK53dJ_muTJx71pqZDtFQ0vxzRNvaCEc2Z5HXDtB6otrgxZC9TuJ5riC8CJNxuCbTD29SyGwT9Pw4Bi3YORuQ0rpZc_Shzqj3lYln-ifqUl-J7Z-Oog/w400-h263/IMG_3443+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></p><h3 style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif" style="background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.03); color: #14171a; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">In spring<br /></span><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif" style="background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.03); color: #14171a; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">birds fly two by two<br /></span><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif" style="background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.03); color: #14171a; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">playing <br /></span><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif" style="background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.03); color: #14171a; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">chasing <br /></span><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif" style="background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.03); color: #14171a; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">dancing on branches<br /></span><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif" style="background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.03); color: #14171a; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">bobbing and bowing<br /></span><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif" style="background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.03); color: #14171a; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">mating<br /></span><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif" style="background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.03); color: #14171a; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">nest building<br /></span><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif" style="background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.03); color: #14171a; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">finding feathers<br /></span><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif" style="background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.03); color: #14171a; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">for beds<br /></span><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif" style="background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.03); color: #14171a; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">for eggs<br /></span><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif" style="background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.03); color: #14171a; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">to nestle nestlings<br /></span><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif" style="background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.03); color: #14171a; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">the babes to be <br /></span><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif" style="background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.03); color: #14171a; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">hatchlings<br /></span><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif" style="background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.03); color: #14171a; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">and chicks</span></h3>Therese Ralstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00511255133990375522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1315170902781178490.post-19623736565671743022020-10-04T20:02:00.009+11:002020-10-31T13:12:55.764+11:0081. Naked Birdwatching<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifwk56RbLKv2ur_W9g6bQ3gUHCSoo91Mjpe4G27RsUeqgxTZshBvJXn49_bSqrJX7W8DmQIallry7BfuqpT92dsJa_aCcuK8muUoFXUo0dnfIiYXm8wQ_efLLbDlF0iMc2KLZ-Jt7E8MM/s5152/IMG_3369.JPG" style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18.6667px; letter-spacing: -0.0666667px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3864" data-original-width="5152" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifwk56RbLKv2ur_W9g6bQ3gUHCSoo91Mjpe4G27RsUeqgxTZshBvJXn49_bSqrJX7W8DmQIallry7BfuqpT92dsJa_aCcuK8muUoFXUo0dnfIiYXm8wQ_efLLbDlF0iMc2KLZ-Jt7E8MM/w400-h300/IMG_3369.JPG" width="400"></a></div><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt; letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">I’ve never watched the birds unclothed before. I was so focused </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18.6667px; letter-spacing: -0.0666667px;">on a young Sulphur-Crested Cockatoo out my bathroom window, I didn’t even grab a towel.<span></span></span></p><a href="https://www.birdlifesaving.com/2020/10/81-naked-birdwatching.html#more"></a>Therese Ralstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00511255133990375522noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1315170902781178490.post-2191234338281074222020-09-20T22:44:00.003+10:002022-03-01T18:55:58.763+11:0080. Rainbow Birds, Bees and Blossoms<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOpLADdIoFCB2TBAj35ayHEAwW-Iv4fb_BEWGLDmxM591Nk7Zb9Mt5M0Rh_XFulc2ojazWhbwjMfI_sJkt4VTADXu3IXxasLA2p4sRGQ1LOmWbYQH_HKWxZsjF8yikTIkiz1DubPNiJVI/s5152/IMG_2959.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3864" data-original-width="5152" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOpLADdIoFCB2TBAj35ayHEAwW-Iv4fb_BEWGLDmxM591Nk7Zb9Mt5M0Rh_XFulc2ojazWhbwjMfI_sJkt4VTADXu3IXxasLA2p4sRGQ1LOmWbYQH_HKWxZsjF8yikTIkiz1DubPNiJVI/w400-h300/IMG_2959.JPG" width="400"></a></div><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #292929; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt; letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">Rainbow Bee-eaters are back
from wintering in north Queensland or New Guinea.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #292929; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt; letter-spacing: -0.05pt;"><span></span></span></p><a href="https://www.birdlifesaving.com/2020/09/80-rainbow-birds-bees-and-blossoms.html#more"></a>Therese Ralstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00511255133990375522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1315170902781178490.post-16861749289548458642020-09-16T16:18:00.144+10:002020-09-16T19:37:12.001+10:0079. Dusky Snuggles<div class="separator"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXcCZV9f01tQMSqKMWinEQ1zqWZtq1xXtFmFTbGhYNujrroZmo9CoBIHRmwriqvA0Snl1CgeR7352yZDRnHx4vhTH1WEu4z0NniqhrF3pKiLFZ355m0ay0JRO6eLrjV5F-fnJ_I83leqo/s1600/IMG_9436.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1201" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXcCZV9f01tQMSqKMWinEQ1zqWZtq1xXtFmFTbGhYNujrroZmo9CoBIHRmwriqvA0Snl1CgeR7352yZDRnHx4vhTH1WEu4z0NniqhrF3pKiLFZ355m0ay0JRO6eLrjV5F-fnJ_I83leqo/w400-h300/IMG_9436.JPG" width="400"></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 12pt 0cm 12pt 22.7pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A Bee Bird, a Woodswallow, a Skimmer, a Bluey, a
Jackie Martin and even a Sordid Woodswallow are all names given to one of my
fave birds - the Dusky Woodswallow.<span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 12pt 0cm 12pt 22.7pt;"><span></span></p><a href="https://www.birdlifesaving.com/2020/08/dusky-woodswallows.html#more"></a>Therese Ralstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00511255133990375522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1315170902781178490.post-76810641023405211122020-09-12T22:54:00.006+10:002020-09-13T16:59:36.483+10:00 78. Our Peacock's Tail?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjN3vj915Eg_jKm1dgIWl9X5D0TzSK5ZKPuNIuKaqUh3uV5Sd3OzbO5MJVZZ6U73IEV3wfChx4bWkfBs6PYsh1qkLZUFk6ya_0zi0txN_-_7t0qZtS1TdXLLvtpelGsJqdAjbiIq1HFBs/s5152/IMG_2694.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3864" data-original-width="5152" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjN3vj915Eg_jKm1dgIWl9X5D0TzSK5ZKPuNIuKaqUh3uV5Sd3OzbO5MJVZZ6U73IEV3wfChx4bWkfBs6PYsh1qkLZUFk6ya_0zi0txN_-_7t0qZtS1TdXLLvtpelGsJqdAjbiIq1HFBs/w400-h300/IMG_2694.JPG" width="400"></a></div><div></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 12pt 0cm 12pt 22.7pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 28px;">To attract a peahen, a peacock raises his train into a wide fan shape, then shimmies and shakes, enclosing her in a glorious cave of long feathers.<span></span></span></span></p></div><a href="https://www.birdlifesaving.com/2020/08/our-peacocks-tail.html#more"></a>Therese Ralstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00511255133990375522noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1315170902781178490.post-42866078564483535552020-09-07T19:47:00.018+10:002020-09-08T13:48:33.077+10:0077. Whiskered Honeys<div class="separator"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlk0tKsvwpP52-GJ02Nm6pBa-FsD2wel0b7v34hyphenhyphenh5ftsTmKaHNF4psVgUHaEDwhrAtBCFtKauqVNW3eMc-C1aLVHZ_HtEaLr-G0-fa-Qt8iYZxp6U7AdlibZWjJhawhpmb5EnlcXLy88/s5152/IMG_2217.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3864" data-original-width="5152" height="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlk0tKsvwpP52-GJ02Nm6pBa-FsD2wel0b7v34hyphenhyphenh5ftsTmKaHNF4psVgUHaEDwhrAtBCFtKauqVNW3eMc-C1aLVHZ_HtEaLr-G0-fa-Qt8iYZxp6U7AdlibZWjJhawhpmb5EnlcXLy88/w500-h375/IMG_2217.JPG" width="500"></a></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #292929; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16pt; letter-spacing: -0.05pt;"><br></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #292929; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16pt; letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">Spiny-cheeked Honeyeaters are
at my home again. <span></span></span></div><a href="https://www.birdlifesaving.com/2020/08/spiny-cheeks.html#more"></a>Therese Ralstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00511255133990375522noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1315170902781178490.post-58630555411296384682020-08-29T17:32:00.013+10:002020-08-30T19:14:41.870+10:0076. Dad's Ducks <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvwEpEGWM9C3WIzsi-2kSjQqsCi8_A3lpUUKozBv4sUmXL8rvls3KJY-DXPl1ucRBnUd80d3Ko6XZNoIQykBq-UMOL7xBWCullXFe7uWRAc_LbtXeyKAEPoMFy7ev_iKg8JnRHFU7OUiA/s3570/IMG_1972.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3378" data-original-width="3570" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvwEpEGWM9C3WIzsi-2kSjQqsCi8_A3lpUUKozBv4sUmXL8rvls3KJY-DXPl1ucRBnUd80d3Ko6XZNoIQykBq-UMOL7xBWCullXFe7uWRAc_LbtXeyKAEPoMFy7ev_iKg8JnRHFU7OUiA/s640/IMG_1972.JPG" width="640"></a><br>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #292929; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 21.3333px; letter-spacing: -0.0666667px;">This place is full of ducks dipping in and out of green water. </span><br>
</div><a href="https://www.birdlifesaving.com/2020/08/dads-ducks.html#more"></a>Therese Ralstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00511255133990375522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1315170902781178490.post-30712296616764444652020-07-08T01:00:00.001+10:002020-07-08T01:00:16.682+10:0075. Fruit for Breakfast<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 0cm; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6tijj-qdICJaO6VL_ownlcSd-55xbJtOS3OXOBYaZKoteXb_ONaLYtXVoeWpYISJygrK2GRdmfI006LjRUJq15x7baReXFfMwqLuDazvhr9Bx2pPmnaK91mLWlwa2kp9Y-DEjLI1muxI/s1600/IMG_1419.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1392" data-original-width="1600" height="347" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6tijj-qdICJaO6VL_ownlcSd-55xbJtOS3OXOBYaZKoteXb_ONaLYtXVoeWpYISJygrK2GRdmfI006LjRUJq15x7baReXFfMwqLuDazvhr9Bx2pPmnaK91mLWlwa2kp9Y-DEjLI1muxI/s400/IMG_1419.JPG" width="400"></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 0cm; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 0cm; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">I’ve been teaching at a school in
a village in the mountains. It takes about an hour to get there and another to
travel home again. But even at the coldest time of the year, going to work meant I witnessed extraordinary things.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"></span></div>
<a href="https://www.birdlifesaving.com/2020/07/75-fruit-for-breakfast.html#more"></a>Therese Ralstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00511255133990375522noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1315170902781178490.post-45461851670331954552020-06-21T21:54:00.004+10:002020-06-21T22:00:57.769+10:0074. Chick Number 3<br>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI-m4IrTvy2a3Ap2CRE9tomkIGenA1FnTqms5KWpylTIMvEwctei2hKGl8vke19C4d4Pm1Zi9BALZwojwqcHWckXMn_kFEkbIUb3GOTW5prhPK77GU7ioRCt46GSgVLZCDSTWUsvYw_EE/s1600/IMG_2823.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1463" data-original-width="1600" height="365" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI-m4IrTvy2a3Ap2CRE9tomkIGenA1FnTqms5KWpylTIMvEwctei2hKGl8vke19C4d4Pm1Zi9BALZwojwqcHWckXMn_kFEkbIUb3GOTW5prhPK77GU7ioRCt46GSgVLZCDSTWUsvYw_EE/s400/IMG_2823.JPG" width="400"></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia", "serif"; font-size: 16pt;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia", "serif"; font-size: 16pt;">Life is tenuous. All life, but particularly wildlife, and
bird life too.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 0cm; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia", "serif"; font-size: 16pt;">On the morning I went to check if the last Grey Shrike Thrush
had left the nest, I almost killed it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia", "serif"; font-size: 16pt;"></span></div>
<a href="https://www.birdlifesaving.com/2020/06/74-nest-in-toolbox-part-4.html#more"></a>Therese Ralstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00511255133990375522noreply@blogger.com0