Park Birds

It looks like the restrictions combating the Coronavirus might soon start getting wound back - at least until a second wave of infections comes, I suppose. For the last seven or more weeks schools and many businesses have been shut, and people have been asked not to travel or even go out unless there's a good (and specific) reason.

So of course, during this time we haven't been allowed to travel far. For me includes travel for birding as well as astronomy. I like to get out of the city, particularly into the desert, for birds, as well as for general mental health. I'm also pretty regular at the ASV's dark sky site for astrophotography.

Instead, I've been walking - normally with Mickey the Labrador - in a number of local parks, all of which are near the Yarra, the river flowing through Melbourne.

When the weather is sunny, I sometimes take my birding lens, and I've taken photos of birds I've seen in my travels. None of them are especially rare, but it's nice to see them around.

You may have read before that the park closest to my house has grown a pair of White-faced Herons. These birds patrol the cricket ovals each morning, probably feeding on creepy-crawlies that come to the surface after the sprinklers do their job overnight.

White-faced Heron

White-faced Heron

Other regular birds in the park are Laughing Kookaburra and Rainbow Lorikeet. You can hear the Kookaburras from our house in the morning. Of course, the most common bird in the park is the Noisy Miner. These guys are colonial, so they tend to push other birds around. They certainly try to hassle Mickey - but being a gun dog, she ignores them.

Laughing Kookaburra

Rainbow Lorikeet

Noisy Miner

I've mentioned the Pied Currawongs as well. There was one hopping around some trees while I went past a few days ago. Up close, they're a big and fairly intimidating bird. That beak is pretty robust!

Pied Currawong

Finally, the Galahs and Eastern Rosellas are semi-regulars. The Galahs graze on the grass, and the Rosellas are tree-dwellers. It's amazing what you find in your local park.

Eastern Rosella

Galah