First Encourage Birds of Prey The sparrows in my street had a good spring breeding season this year, and as I have water dishes in my garden they come to drink along with the native birds. I always hoped a bird of prey might learn about this potentially valuable food source, and sure enough during late November, early December, I regularly saw a male Collared Sparrowhawk sitting there quietly in the shrubs and trees. Mostly it was the Willy Wagtails and Honeyeaters who revealed his presence by their warning calls and finally sent him on his way with them following in hot pursuit; but at times I saw him quietly standing on top of the fence tearing a Sparrow apart. A family of Pied Butcherbirds also took up the challenge, and came along for mum and dad to teach their young ones some ambushing skills. They would all surround a shrub with Sparrows hiding inside it, until a Sparrow finally made a dash and was caught!
Second Encourage A Bearded Dragon The last few summers I've frequently seen a Bearded dragon in the garden, feeding on leaves and fallen fruit, or sitting on top of my mail-box. On Thursday 15th December, I disturbed him at 11 am with a Sparrow held head-first in his mouth, so I promptly retreated to watch from my kitchen window and see what would happen. After half an hour the Dragon was still under the shrub, occasionally adjusting the position of the Sparrow which looked to me to be far too big for him to swallow. I frequently checked with my binoculars until things began to happen, and with the Sparrow finally in position it began to swallow the bird. Finally only the tail and legs could be seen, and then a final gulp finished the meal - it had taken about an hour to complete! Looking very full, the Bearded Dragon remained under the shrub for a while before climbing into a full standing position leaning on a concrete Wombat garden ornament. Presumably this would help the large meal to go down and digest - what a sight! Anyway another hour passed before the Bearded Dragon moved away - probably to go and sleep off his Sparrow meal.
Rainbow Bird May 2006. |
