Aug 2, 2023 3 min read

Fur, Feathers, Flowers and More #16

Nature at your doorstep

Close by the PSO's Chook Shed

Indian Mynas Are A Real Pest

I have selected Profanity Suppression Mode.

Indian Mynas are an aggressive, ugly nuisance to other birds, to people and to pets.

I cannot think of a single redeeming feature. They are the canetoads of the skys.

We have some really horrible environment-blighting imports.

Crown-of-thorns starfish, pampas grass, rabbits, foxes, oxalis, deer, Paterson's Curse, house sparrows, starlings, feral goats, camels.

Some have greater economic impact than others, some have a slightly offsetting cuteness factor.

Not Indian Mynas.

There are ways to fight back.

Plant of the week

Austral Indigo

We have several Austral Indigos planted along Alandale and Sherwood Roads.

They are coming into flower now but need searching out as they are understated plants.

Striking flowers but not overly profuse. The leaf structure and colour alone should win it a place in the dappled shade areas of more gardens.

A beautiful understory shrub that should be in more gardens

Bird of the week

Red-lobed Wattlebird

Likely seen or heard every day in our neighbourhood.

A strong honeyeater - the cause of much breakage of branches too small for its weight as it moves to access nectar.

A lively bird, a wide range of calls, and a defender of food sources

Red Lobed Wattlebird

Beast of the week

Eastern Brown Snake

In our environment all the time, mostly unseen, best avoided

Cuteness Rating = 0

Highly venomous, can be very active and aggressive in hot weather.

Best get ready for some hot, dry El Ninò times following on from our run of La Nina years.

More grass grew, more little herbivores bred up and so did the slippery slithery types.

Nature at work.

Come the hot, dry weather snakes will move from their favourite haunts into our yards in search of food, water and shelter.

Unwelcome, and can be a danger to people and pets.

Do not attempt to handle snakes, keep pets out of harm's way.

Teach young children to be wary.

Reduce your snake risk

Snakes are not a novelty in these parts -

The Argus,

10.08.1929, Page 3

BOHEMIANS OF THE ´EIGHTIES
Mr. Louis Lavater, the musician [..] His memories were of the out-of-doors excursions rather than the social activities of the Buonarotti; of finding a tiger snake as a bed companion on an excursion to Eaglemont and of killing it with a walking stick and non-chalantly turning over and going to sleep again.