Since we feed seeds to our local bird population copiously, we get visits from a wide variety of species such as eastern rosellas and their crimson compatriots, king parrots, rainbow lorikeets, crested pigeons and, of course, galahs which are possibly the most numerous. More recently, we've even proved attractive to a host of white corellas, which are relatively new to Armidale but whose population is expanding rapidly. The attraction is our seed-bearing pistachio Chinensis and the corellas get at the seed by bouncing up and down on twigs bearing the seed from the tree's main branches and then having their meal at leisure on the ground. It's a pain having to go around picking up those twigs.
Because of the abundant feed we've discovered that we're setting up an old-folks home for birds, an especially it seems for galahs. We have already been undertakers to several deceased members of that species. For the past week we have witnessed the slow decline of another galah, a bird that no longer seems to be able to fly. It even cannot now fly away like galahs always seem to do when humans get too close. When I'm out cycling whole flocks take to the air simultaneously and chattering voluminously. But our poor bird just looks at us inquisitively and backs off at a slow pace when approached. Well, this afternoon I had to mow an overly long lawn after all the heavy rain we've had recently - a job I didn't want to do in case I gave our elderly galah a cardiac arrest.
Well I pulled the cord and mower started. In order to reduce avian consternation kept the revs low and started at the far end of the garden from where our guest was huddled. The strategy worked and the bird remained still, cocking its head to observe progress. As I got closer and closer it began to shuffle and eventually moved as far as it conveniently could, but never flew off like a healthy bird. In fact, it let me get within a couples of meters (yards) of where it was observing me. And then I moved further away to finish off the rest of the lawn with some thoughts springing to my mind.
Do birds experience empathy? Can they recognise specimens of our species and learn to fear some but not others? Are they subject to pastoral care by members of their own species? Since I tried to hand-feed the poor creature this morning, perhaps it recognised me as a benefactor! Perhaps it valued future delivery of food highly and didn't want to foreclose on that option! Perhaps the bird has learned to value neat and tidy gardens! Maybe it valued my presence because I've scared off the corella pests plaguing its dying days! And, on the issue of pastoral care, I saw another galah land near its relative when I turned the mower off and stand by our guest, looking it up and down.
My guess is that it's only a few days before our guest shuffles off its mortal coil and we have another departure ceremony.
AS
Because of the abundant feed we've discovered that we're setting up an old-folks home for birds, an especially it seems for galahs. We have already been undertakers to several deceased members of that species. For the past week we have witnessed the slow decline of another galah, a bird that no longer seems to be able to fly. It even cannot now fly away like galahs always seem to do when humans get too close. When I'm out cycling whole flocks take to the air simultaneously and chattering voluminously. But our poor bird just looks at us inquisitively and backs off at a slow pace when approached. Well, this afternoon I had to mow an overly long lawn after all the heavy rain we've had recently - a job I didn't want to do in case I gave our elderly galah a cardiac arrest.
Well I pulled the cord and mower started. In order to reduce avian consternation kept the revs low and started at the far end of the garden from where our guest was huddled. The strategy worked and the bird remained still, cocking its head to observe progress. As I got closer and closer it began to shuffle and eventually moved as far as it conveniently could, but never flew off like a healthy bird. In fact, it let me get within a couples of meters (yards) of where it was observing me. And then I moved further away to finish off the rest of the lawn with some thoughts springing to my mind.
Do birds experience empathy? Can they recognise specimens of our species and learn to fear some but not others? Are they subject to pastoral care by members of their own species? Since I tried to hand-feed the poor creature this morning, perhaps it recognised me as a benefactor! Perhaps it valued future delivery of food highly and didn't want to foreclose on that option! Perhaps the bird has learned to value neat and tidy gardens! Maybe it valued my presence because I've scared off the corella pests plaguing its dying days! And, on the issue of pastoral care, I saw another galah land near its relative when I turned the mower off and stand by our guest, looking it up and down.
My guess is that it's only a few days before our guest shuffles off its mortal coil and we have another departure ceremony.
AS
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