I like this time of year, which is Spring in the southern hemisphere. It is a season of renewal and energy, especially in the realm of flora and fauna. Two events reminded me of this today - just an hour or so ago. I was coming out of the building at UNE housing my office when a colleague gesticulated wildly towards a tree in the car park. And there, perched delicately in a fork in the branches of a tree, was a magpie's nest with a bird in it presumably incubating some eggs. I wasn't game to climb the tree for closer inspection because (a) I cannot climb large trunks and (b) magpies have a reputation for attacking humans who invade their territory. At the moment when I ride my bike down a nearby road I am immediately swooped and harassed by the male of the species even though I think I'm a long way from the nest.
Anyway, the nest I saw this morning was in the middle of a car-park and just above several cars. And the birds seem to have made their peace with nearby humans as the female on the nest simply looked at me looking at it. And her partner was nowhere in sight. So here are a couple of pictures I took unmolested. Spot the nest in the tree above the 4WD.
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Anyway, the nest I saw this morning was in the middle of a car-park and just above several cars. And the birds seem to have made their peace with nearby humans as the female on the nest simply looked at me looking at it. And her partner was nowhere in sight. So here are a couple of pictures I took unmolested. Spot the nest in the tree above the 4WD.
And here is a closer view of the nest with the occupant just visible to those of you with good eyesight. Quite how the nest remained in position given today's strong wind I don't know.
And the Azalea in our garden is in full bloom -- a picture just taken after I collected Dot from the airport on her return from Canberra.
Nice, eh!?
AS
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