Fur, Feathers, Flowers and More #17

Andrew sends in a photo taken from the Livingstone Community Centre, where he keeps himself involved as a volunteer with their food distribution initiative.

Such beautiful birds - how can they keep those feathers pristine white while living outdoors? And eating juicy red berries!

Not for these guys the delicate feathers of Birds of Paradise. Nor the stunning colours of pheasants and shimmering hummingbirds.

But what magnificent birds they are - deported in plain white, sulphur crest and bluish black skin & beak.

FofEV is delighted to welcome a pair of butcherbirds who appear to be resident in our Sherwood Road plantings preparatory to the breeding season.

Bird of the Week

Red-lobed Wattlebird

This is one of our largest honeyeaters, and a good defender of food sources.

It's barking, croaking, coughing "song" should perhaps be kindly referred to as "vocalisation".

A busy bird, rarely staying still for long.

Plant of the Week

Brachyscome diversifolia

The FofEV nursery has successfully raised over 50 Brachyscome diversifolias from seed this year, and they are being progressively planted out.

It is becoming a rare plant in the wild around Melbourne.

Beast of the Week

Domestic Cat (Felix catus)

Warning - cat lovers may be offended by this content.

No matter how much we love their company around our homes the inescapable fact is that cats - domestic or feral - are highly efficient killers of wildlife. Daily.

Unless we are prepared to keep them as isolated from the environment as a goldfish in a bowl, cats will continue to be an environmental threat.

We must start adjusting to this reality - soon. Now.