Birding near Tom Green's seat in ANBG
COG has sponsored a bench seat in the Australian National Botanic Gardens (ANBG) in memory of the late Tom Green. Tom led the Wednesday Walks for COG until his untimely death, and was also a stalwart of the Friends of ANBG.
The seat has been positioned very well, on a nice shady path just up hill from a wet run off area. These factors combine to make it a brilliant place for birding since the water attracts birds to drink (or wade in)
and also creates an insect friendly environment bringing in some other species for a feed. While I was sitting on the seat for a few minutes today there were Superb Fairy Wrens all around, Yellow-faced and White-naped Honeyeaters calling nearby and a Shining Bronze-cuckoo calling from a little further away.
The next track down was the site of the famous ANBG Powerful Owl of a few years ago. It is also the spot from which one can see an active bower of a Satin Bowerbird. When I first arrived I saw the adult male bird resplendent in his satin blue finery. However, what really excited me was getting a snap of a female exploring the bower.
I had hoped to get a better photo but then a school group came near and bye bye bowerbirds! I'm sure the birds will return (and the kids were very well behaved but 20+ kids are going to disturb anything!)
The seat has been positioned very well, on a nice shady path just up hill from a wet run off area. These factors combine to make it a brilliant place for birding since the water attracts birds to drink (or wade in)
and also creates an insect friendly environment bringing in some other species for a feed. While I was sitting on the seat for a few minutes today there were Superb Fairy Wrens all around, Yellow-faced and White-naped Honeyeaters calling nearby and a Shining Bronze-cuckoo calling from a little further away.
The next track down was the site of the famous ANBG Powerful Owl of a few years ago. It is also the spot from which one can see an active bower of a Satin Bowerbird. When I first arrived I saw the adult male bird resplendent in his satin blue finery. However, what really excited me was getting a snap of a female exploring the bower.
I had hoped to get a better photo but then a school group came near and bye bye bowerbirds! I'm sure the birds will return (and the kids were very well behaved but 20+ kids are going to disturb anything!)
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