Bird baths can be real saviours for birdlife in the current hot, dry and smokey conditions in Canberra. I have a bird bath in our back garden in Canberra which the local birdlife has been using regularly over the last few weeks. I took a camera out a few days ago to photograph the Galahs, Gang-gang Cockatoo, Australian Magpie and Pied Currawongs that visited it during the morning. The birds were able to have a drink while I was able to enjoy seeing these wonderful creatures in my garden. I hope you enjoy the photographs below.
An Australian Magpie (Cracticus tibicen) was the first bird I photographed that day, somewhat appropriately given how popular these birds are in Australia. I think one reason for their popularity is that magpies can become very accustomed to humans, even interacting with a familiar person. As an example, only a week or so before this day I was watering some of our plants in the back garden. While I was occupied with pointing the hose in the right direction I saw movement of a black and white object out of the bottom corner of my right eye. It was a magpie walking along less than an arm’s length from me. It kept walking past me to the place where I had just been watering so it could put its beak in a small pool of water that had formed near the plant. I took the hint and put some fresh, cool hose water in the bird bath. The magpie waited on a nearby rock while I filled the bird bath. Every now and then bracing itself like it was about to jump onto the edge of the bird bath but being a little concerned, probably as I was still there making a noise with the hose. As soon as I switched the hose off and turned away from beside the bird bath the maggie was straight up on to the lip of the bath. It had a drink then walked into the bath to let the water wash over it. The bird would wash, then get back onto the lip to shake itself, before repeating the process. I let the bird enjoy the water while I kept watering. I thought it was going to to fly off when I saw it take to the wing but it flew to the other side of the garden where I was pointing the hose. While I was watering a plant the magpie walked to the area just short of the plant where droplets were falling like rain. It stayed there for a while, getting low in the dirt while moving around. It would then walk away from the droplets to shake the water off, before returning. It did this several times and I gave that plant a good watering as I felt compelled to play my part by holding the water steady for this bird to enjoy. I suppose the Maggie eventually felt it was satisfied, as it flew to the top of a wood pile closer to me before departing to a tree. I really enjoyed this brief encounter, as this magpie gained some relief from the heat while displaying trust in me. Providing water to birds is not just about helping them, I believe it can also bring enjoyment to us as we get to have experiences like this.
Australian Magpie
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 500, 286mm, f/8.0 and 1/400 SEC])
A Galah and the magpie both want a drink, surprisingly the magpie decided to depart
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 500, 248mm, f/8.0 and 1/400 SEC])
Galahs (Eolophus roseicapillus) are always at our place, so I was not surprised to see them at the bird bath. The female Galah arrived first, while the magpie was still at the birdbath. There was no real confrontation as the magpie appeared to have finished at the bird bath. When the magpie flew off the Galah did strike an aggressive pose but relaxed once it realised the magpie had departed. The male Galah joined the female after about a minute. They stayed there, only drinking but not bathing, until a Pied Currawong arrived. The Galahs moved on leaving the bird bath to the currawong, which looked like it had been injured in the fires around Canberra.
Female Galah drinking at the bird bath
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 500, 234mm, f/8.0 and 1/250 SEC])
A second Galah arrives
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 500, 234mm, f/8.0 and 1/250 SEC])
The second Galah settling on the rim of the bird bath
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 500, 234mm, f/8.0 and 1/250 SEC])
The two Galahs, male in the front and female behind
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 800, 234mm, f/10 and 1/400 SEC])
Two, apparently fire-injured, Pied Currawongs (Strepera graculina) have been hanging around my house the last few days. They appear to have fire-related injuries with their heads seeming to have the most damage, although their plumage does have patches of brown that may be scorched feathers. In addition, if you look at the second photo below you can see that the currawong has some damage to its legs. Previously, I noticed a currawong eating ants on the front path, it was just sitting there, but when it stood-up I noticed it had trouble walking. They are sticking around the house, hardly calling and looking up when they hear other currawongs calling. I have heard from CathB on Canberra Nature Map that they have two similar currawongs at their place. I am glad these currawongs are making use of the bird bath and I try to leave them alone as much as possible so they can recover.
A burnt Pied Currawong with a wound on the top of its head
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 500, 248mm, f/8.0 and 1/400 SEC])
The other fire-injured currawong
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 800, 278mm, f/10 and 1/400 SEC])
A female Gang-gang Cockatoo (Callocephalon fimbriatum) also came to drink at the bird bath. She was initially up in a Yellow Box eucalyptus we are lucky enough to have in the back garden. She had a few drinks before she walked around the lip of the bird bath and flew back into the Yellow Box. She only stayed in the tree for a short while before flying off. It was only when she flew off, with another Gang-gang beside her that I realised there had been a second Gang-gang in the tree, although I could not see what sex it was. A few days before that, there were two male Gang-gangs in the same tree but I did not see them come down for a drink.
Gang-gang Cockatoo female taking a drink at the bird bath
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 800, 300mm, f/10 and 1/400 SEC])
Enjoying it
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 800, 234mm, f/10 and 1/400 SEC])
Letting it go all the way down
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 800, 234mm, f/10 and 1/400 SEC])