A special photo for Miss Eagle, who sent me a special message the other day. (Thanks) This is a shot I took just after sunset, several evenings ago.
It is a White-breasted Sea Eagle (Haliaeetus leucogaster) just taking off from its perch on a dead tree, overlooking a long strip of ocean beach.
Forgive the dull light, please. But the silhouette works well enough.
And life is going on well at Dalmeny. So much "Nature" to see, to observe and to marvel at.
I know that hand feeding Possums and Rainbow Lorikeets is not the "high end" of nature observing, but I love the opportunity to unwind, doing it.
For Jim, a special note, that I have been doing some walking, and getting out in the real bush behind Narooma. It is wild, wild country, but it is unfortunately being "tamed" by the people of "Forests NSW".
I am not a forester; neither am I a local (in Narooma). I know fires are a real problem in this country, but to me, it seems as if they are creating a "treed desert", with their program of burn-offs in the forest country behind Bombala, Moruya and Mogo.
There is so little of this wonderful forest which has not been burnt in the last few years. So the natural understorey of shrubs has mostly gone. Disappeared. Empty. Trees alone do not constitute a forest environment.
I have really enjoyed the visit to Dalmeny (and Narooma). Thanks to Brendan and Beth for the use of their lovely house.
6 comments:
I don't know why but I assumed you were not blogging during your Tooth Fairy Holiday. What a treat to have so many posts to read in one go!
Hi Anni
I almost wasn't blogging, courtesy of the very thin copper wire connection between Narooma and the rest of the world!
Glad it was a surprise for you.
The "Tooth Fairy" has done her job, by the way.
Cheers
Denis
Thank you Denis for the eagle picture. The eagle has a special significance in my life. It has become something like a totem for me - and where I live, at Upper Ferntree Gully in Victoria, the eagle - known as Bunjil - is the creator spirit and spirit of wisdom for Aboriginal people. The eagle is also the symbol for the local council based on an early family who have connections with the eagle through their Scottish background. So the eagle has come from many places to meet me and now it comes from the Southern Highlands. So beautiful. Thank you. You and your photograph are much appreciated.
Blessings, bliss, and good health
Anni reports having seen a seal - once! That probably makes it all the more special, Anni. We should not get blase about them. Yours was one of 270 individuals of that entire population.
So that is a memory to be treasured.
I have seen rare plants here too, which exist only in 4 Sq Km of forest which is unburnt, surrounded by 1600 Sq Km of forest which has been burnt, in the name of good forest management.
They are playing a dangerous game -trading off human interests against the very right of existence of native plants, birds and animals.
Are the Lories nippy when you hand feed them? I fed a few Lories at an exhibit in Jamaica (in a huge aviary full a various species of birds) and they were nippy!
Hi Joe
These Lorikeets are extremely noisy, and competitive. They chase all other birds away, when they come in to a feeder (as my brother has at his coast house, where those photos were taken).
They did not bite, but they certainly can. In some commercial zoos, etc, they have regular feeding times, and the birds arrive in hundreds, and tourists pay to feed them. Usually that means birds in your hair, and on top of bald heads, etc. Scratchy claws, noise, chaos, but it is a part of a typical "holiday experience" in some places.
These days it is somewhat frowned upon, as the feeding can spread diseases from bird to bird. And that was before we had ever heard of "bird flu". That is not (yet) recorded here, but give it time.
Cheers
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