Flora and Fauna
Birds
The South West of Western Australia is alive.
From forest canopy to ocean vista, each space and place has a unique set of fauna that inhabits it. I am blessed to be able to share my backyard with you through the eye of my camera lens.
There is wonder and magic everywhere when we realise that nature continues every hour of every day without justification for its existence. It gives a unique meaning to our survival, for if it disappears, so too will our lives be extinguished. If you love what you see, its important to remember that we are all a part of this organism called Earth and we must cherish and love it as we would our mind and our souls.
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Admiring herself or warning off a potential mating threat. You decide.
Reflective surfaces offer birds some confusion, they dont realise that they see themselves but a threat. Car windows and mirrors are often covered in guano because of this confusion.
Emu through the fence.
These crazy birds can be found almost anywhere there are nectar giving native and non native flowers. They also put on a real show at bath time.
Drinking the nectar of both native and introduced flowers, is a life source to these native honeyeaters of the South West regions of Western Australia.
This immature little splendid blue wren (Malarus Splendens) was hopping around in my rose bush. It caught my eye as I noticed it had no tail. They often remind me of mice as they hop around the garden floor.
The Western whistler has an amazing call that really is distinctive from other bird species. The female is not nearly as colourful as the male of the species.
"I'm caught in a trap; I can't get out, because I love you too much baby....." If Elvis was a male western whistler, this young lady would be enamoured.
This female western whistler was flitting around the spring vineyard growth looking for a tasty treat. Organic vineyards encourage native birds that assist the pest control with out the need for harmful pesticides.
Male wren surveying his breeding territory.
Pesticide control without the need for harmful chemicals.
Male western whistler hiding however with his distinctive call, he was pretty easy to find.
Pride and prejudice, that is what happens when they preen.
The noisy call of the black cockatoo before the rain comes is a sound that conjures images of pterodactyls and primitive times.
Mum and Dad wood duck with the 15 newly hatched babies. Like ducks to water, they seemed to have no problems being parent of such a large brood.
Where ever there is a blossom that resembles joy and hope and valuable dreams, you will find a new holland honeyeater has claimed it as their own.
The scarlet robin of the woodlands and forests of the South West are easily distinguished with their red breasts however very difficult to see when their backs are turned. Camouflaged into to landscape.
Eating the honky nuts of the marri, karri and jarrah trees in the south west forests of Western Australia, these amazing strong intelligent birds have a declining population due to habitat loss and breeding ground decline. Conservationists around the state have put strategies in place to help them survive human development and land clearing.
These birds are now a distinctly different species from the Golden Whistler of the eastern states. Western Australia has an overabundance of endemic bird species that have evolved singularly different biological aspects than their eastern cousins.
Like a streak of love these delightful birds will sit and stare before diving on their insect lunch with force and gusto.
Mum hiding among the hedges, Trying to maintain some calm while 15 baby ducklings do their own thing.
Mum and babies, I can still see you.
These noisy honeyeaters, one of the largest of the species are very aggressive and have no fear of other flying feathered beaked and talon touting sky traffic.
A favourite, this little bird is an amazing mimic and you can hear the chatter in the trees and along the forest floor. Insect eaters with huge personalities.
No matter how blue things get, the trill of this birds call always makes me smile.
Cruising past looking for a tasty morsel.
Its like that, the insistent repetitive call of a male wren that spells danger.