The not so common, Common Bronzewing. 10

A little while back, we started feeding the Birds hanging around our place, in an attempt to encourage some of the local parrots to visit with us. Along with the common birds like the spotted doves and Myrnas (Both the Native Noisy Myrna & imported Indian ones) and the desired parrots, we also had some crested Pigeons visit too. And then one day we saw another strange type of pigeon amongst them. And a very pretty one too. Upon making enquiries I was told that it was a Common Bronzewing Pigeon.
Now according to Wikapedia, “The Common Bronzewing (Phaps chalcoptera) is a species of medium-sized, heavily built pigeon.[1] Native to Australia and one of the country's most common pigeons, the Common Bronzewing is able to live in almost any habitat, with the possible exception of very barren areas and dense rainforests.[2]
As already stated, it is very pretty. Again according to Wikapedia, “Males of the species have pale-yellow to yellow-white foreheads, and pink breasts.[1][3] Both males and females have an easily discernible white line around and close to their eyes. Common Bronzewings also have patches of red, blue and green on their wings, a feature which is characteristic of all Bronzewing pigeons.[1][3] Young birds are usually duller in colour and browner than the mature Common Bronzewing. Common Bronzewings are, on average, between 30–36 centimetres (12–14 in) in length.[2]
Although Wikapedia above says it is very common and it is also supposedly common to the area where I grew up, (not that far from here), I can’t ever remember seeing one before and certainly not this close to human habitation. But now I have seen one up close and personal and on our decking rail! Very happy am I too!
So now we have a male Common Bronze wing pigeon visit us, in what was his/it‘s common native area, but where they are now rarely seen. So today’s query is what are some other things or animals, that used to be common in your area, but aren’t anymore, although an odd one or two may still be around? Your responses please?

Kangaroos, Emus & the Australian Coat of Arms.

In a recent blog, “A Couple of facts about Kangaroos”, I mentioned the fact that they cannot back up. To which I received this further information about that fact: “Dear Walter: More information for your education. The reason (I believe) a kangaroo and an emu is on the Australian coat of arms is that neither can take a backward step. Cheers: ***
Again I was not are of this trait with emus too, until told. However I can understand why this trait of never backing down, would appeal to the early Australian mindset as a then emerging nation in its own right, and thus a suitable statement for our Coat of Arms.
I also think it admirable too, to be of the mindset of never backing down when you are in the right and everything of value stands or falls on your decision, not to back down. But I think if you carry that mindset into everything you do, whether you are right or wrong, that formerly admirable mindset, can become a mighty liability and mighty fast too.
Yes when you are in the wrong, that inability to back down graciously, can cause as much destruction as a kangaroo in a small caravan as it can’t back out and then becomes frightened and panics, lashing out at anyone and anything within reach. And inside a caravan, that is just about everything isn’t it?
So, is there some area in your life today where you need to both step up and not back down because every thing that is right and good depends on it? Or is there some area in your life where it would be beneficial to all, including yourself, for you to just quietly back down and retreat. Even if to only to come back more prepared next time? What say you now?

Who was the Donkey?

In a previous Blog: (“Who’s the Donkey”), I told the e-mail story of a donkey who fell in a well, and how the owner decided that as it was old anyway, and the well needed filling also, that he would simply bury the donkey there and then, and fill in the well at the same time and thereby solve two problems at once. Now, of course the donkey had other ideas and shook off the dirt as the well was being filled in and kept stepping up, until eventually it was able to walk out to freedom. The moral of the story being that you can either let your problems bury you or else you could use them as stepping stones to success and even life itself.
Today I will pass on the follow up to that little “story.” The story continues: ”The donkey later came back, and bit the farmer who had tried to bury him. The gash from the bite got infected and the farmer eventually died in agony from septic shock.
*MORAL FROM TODAYS' LESSON: * When you do something wrong, and try to cover your ass, it always comes back to bite you.”
Yes, with every action of ours, there is always the possibility of a counter action and as today’s moral indicates, the more we try to hide a problem, the more it can come back to bite us. So if you are facing any problems today, it is usually wise to face them head on and own up to them; and then address them properly. Not by hiding them, but by correcting them as best you can even if that means getting professional help. Your thoughts please?

Who’s the Donkey?

Received this delightful little e-mail with its own admirable moral challenge: “One day a farmer's donkey fell down into a well. The animal cried piteously for hours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do. Finally, he decided the animal was old, and the well needed to be covered up anyway; it just wasn't worth it to retrieve the donkey.
He invited all his neighbors to come over and help him. They all grabbed a shovel and began to shovel dirt into the well. At first, the donkey realized what was happening and cried horribly. Then, to everyone's amazement he quieted down. A few shovel loads later, the farmer finally looked down the well. He was astonished at what he saw. With each shovel of dirt that hit his back, the donkey was doing something amazing. He would shake it off and take a step up.
As the farmer's neighbors continued to shovel dirt on top of the animal, he would shake it off and take a step up... Pretty soon, everyone was amazed as the donkey stepped up over the edge of the well and happily trotted off!
Life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds of dirt. The trick to getting out of the well is to shake it off and take a step up. Each of our troubles is a steppingstone. We can get out of the deepest wells just by not stopping, never giving up! Shake it off and take a step up. *
* Remember the five simple rules to be happy:
1. Free your heart from hatred - Forgive.
2. Free your mind from worries - Most never happen.
3. Live simply and appreciate what you have.
4. Give more.
5. Expect less.”
I love the above story because it shows quite clearly that often we can choose whether a problem becomes a stepping-stone up to success, or whether we let it, often literally, to bury us.
Yes I agree that sometimes there is little or nothing we can do in some situations: but often there is, and that old saying about every Cloud having a silver lining, often holds true too. So today, are your problems starting to bury you? Or can you use them as a stepping-stone up and out of your own little wells of despair?
There is another not so delightful moral to this story, but you are going to have to wait till the next blog for that. In the meantime, don’t allow yourself to be buried but step up and step out to life!

A Couple of facts about Kangaroos.

In my “Living With Magpies”, Blog, I concluded with this statement: ” Well! You have heard my memories of Magpies, what are your memories of wild birds or animals that you would like to share?” To which my friend **** replied with this:
“Hi Walter, We had an experience at a caravan park in Queenscliff where we left the door of our caravan open and had Magpies come inside the van looking for a handout. They were not aggressive, but they did leave some calling cards on our carpet. They are very tame down there and will actually come and sit on your knee while you feed them. There is something very rewarding in having a wild creature show enough confidence in you to come as close as that but it can cause problems as you have said. Just last year we were away in the caravan again and we went to a place called Duross in NSW. It is a National Park and there are dozens of Kangaroos there that are also quite tame, although they gave us a couple of warnings about them when we booked in. Don't stand directly in front of them because that is confrontational to them, and don't allow them into your caravan because a Kangaroo finds it almost impossible to back up and they tend to panic and can wreck the interior of your caravan.As I said before, it is nice to be around these creatures but we must treat them as still being wild animals and enjoy them but from a distance.”
Although I grew up not far from, and went to school at a place called Kangaroo Ground, there weren’t many Kangaroos around then as the area was mostly farmland and kangaroos were actively discouraged. However as the land as slowly become Hobby farms, the kangaroos have increased and spread to the point where once there was none even seen on my parents farm in its heyday, there are often many seen there now. And no one really bothers them now. Which is not a bad idea either, for if one does attack you, you will most definitely come off worse for wear and shredded very badly with their Paws/claws.
So my friends advice about not standing in front of them makes a lot of sense, yet it would be the most natural stance for most of us to take against any animal, if you didn’t know better wouldn’t it?
So while I didn’t know it was dangerous to confront a kangaroo front on, I am grateful for that information, and truly believe it might be really handy to know for any possible future confrontations with a kangaroo. (My late mother once came suddenly upon one in her front garden, but fortunately it turned and went away.).
I also did not know that a kangaroo cannot go backwards (although thinking about it later, It does make sense, what with such a big tail to move backwards.) However there is one thing I can tell you with all surety, dumb as I may otherwise be, I would not invite a wild Kangaroo into my house let alone a caravan. (If I owned one that is!). No I know enough about kangaroos and have enough sense to know that if I found one in my house, I would open all the exit points I possibly could safely and then get as far away, and as quick as possible, and wait till it leaves on its own accord. Why? Because I do know that those things are bad news to tangle with. Many a dog has been drowned in water and humans clawed quite badly by these seemingly docile creatures.
What about you? Are there some things, if not animals, that you just might come into contact with that just won’t, or can’t back up? And you just have to treat differently to what you normally would? Or do you still try and apply the one rule fits all solution. Just something to think about before you get all clawed up over something.

There Are Other Types Of Magpies Too!

There Are Other Types Of Magpies Too! 27/4/2009
Just to finish off this series on the Australian Magpie, I have to add that there is also another type of Australian Magpie too. Originally a Victorian one, but now one that flies all over Australia now, even if it has to use an aeroplane to do so!
Although long aware of them, (like every other Victorian,) I hadn’t intended to write about them. Well not until my good friend *** reminded me of them with this comment: “ I have a friend who barracks for the Collingwood Football team (called the Magpies) (Oh how sweet it was for Essendon to beat them with 10 seconds to go on Anzac Day.) ******* taught his son to barrack for them also until one day a swooping magpie cleaned him up properly!! Now the boy barracks for the West Coast Eagles!”
I replied with:” It gave me a good laugh but I am sure *******'s son didn't think it funny at all. Rather strange, if not funny too, that he has gone for another team with another Bird symbol with a savage reputation?”
Not defending the Collingwood Football Club here, but talking strictly about birds, while I would much rather not be attacked by either, I would rather be attacked by a magpie than an Eagle.
Without going into the rights and wrongs of supporting the Collingwood Football Team (Which I don’t, and which is the most hated Club in Victoria, if not the whole of Australia), what do you do when you find fault with your old team/Job/partner? Do you, like the Boy above, just change to a similar team? Or do you go and look for one completely different, if not totally opposite? What say you?

Living With Magpies.

As you will have seen from my earlier blogs on Magpies, we have chosen to not only live with magpies, but to encourage them to visit us too. Like many things in life, this may seem like a simple thing to do at the time, but is one with long term repercussions, even if not commitment. As already shared, we started to feed just a couple of magpies and soon had up to 20 squabbling over the food. So far, apart from a mess on one sheet, we have not had too many negatives out of the experience, but not all are so lucky.
My sister, when I asked her of her memories of the Magpies Mum raised or attempted to raise, wrote this: “I think you are correct that they were usually called George. I don't remember how many Mum raised over the years. I do remember at least one dying and Mum was upset as she always tried hard to raise the little ones.
I don't remember how many there were but when our youngest sister was small, I remember one particular George hung around much longer that the norm and came back the following year as Georgina with her own babies.
Thinking about this in later years, she cursed the magpies as they would come onto (the closed in) the veranda looking to steal the cat food and would get trapped in the bathroom and cause havoc and make one hell of a mess, what they didn't knock down they pooped on!”
So, just remember, when you take on an animal, whether a wild one or a pet, (as well as some other projects) it often has long term repercussions. Some, like Georgina coming back with her babies, are nice ones. Others, like stealing the cat food and messing everywhere, not so good.
Well! You have heard my memories of Magpies, what are your memories of wild birds or animals that you would like to share?

Further Experiences With Magpies In the Croydon Area.

In my Blog about “The Magpie tree” I told you of discovering a few magpies who had begun to gravitate around our back yard. Then one or two of them began to come closer and closer to the backdoor including a couple of smaller ones, of whom my wife started to feed with bread and Meat scraps and even porridge and pretty soon word must have passed around because we have at times counted up to 20 Maggies there. (& a couple of Indian Minors and even a Crow, along with a jay, and a couple of Doves – strange combination that!)
Sadly the smaller Magpies started to get bossed about by the bigger ones and one big one in particular. Also now, one cannot even go out into the backyard with out attracting a hovering crowd of flying black and white feathers. That or else having them perching on the roof and fence, looking menacingly at you, hoping you have something for them, even when you haven’t.
This too is a common occurrence in the human world too isn’t it? One starts to help out the real needy and soon the program is swamped by many others, often nowhere as needy, who begin to take over the whole program.
So what do you do? Do you give up on all completely? Do you try and restrict the bossy, greedy ones? Do you try and provide a safer alternative for the needy ones, like my wife tries to do by throwing some basic food for the greedy ones far away, while feeding the more needy ones up close with better quality food?
Yes, what do you do? Give up completely? Or try some alternatives? Your thoughts please?

The Magpie Tree.

We had been living in this house for over a year when one day early this year, I went out into our back yard to take some compostable material to the compost Bin, hidden in a small triangle area behind a garden shed and in the vee of the back and corner fence. In this rather confined area a tallish privet tree/bush has grown up rather tall and shades the whole area. Because of the smallness of the Yard at this point, there is only about an 18inch entry point into this small area and so one tends to keep ones head down to make sure one doesn’t trip over the empty flower pots I also store in this “dead; area”. Anyway, as I was putting the compost material in the Bin I heard Magpies overhead singing. Having finished what I was doing, I looked up and saw one about 6 feet away sitting on the fence. Then, looking up I saw one bird sitting literally an arms length above me. I then counted 6 others in this tree. Normally Magpies hang out in tall Gum trees and not in small privet bushes; but there they were!
I think that it was not I, or even the tree, but the worms in the compost bin below it, that was the attraction. Whatever! . Henceforth it has become known as “The Magpie Tree.”
What about you? Do you have a tree or object in your yard that attracts birds or animals it would not normally be attractive to? And Why?

Earlier Experiences With Magpies In the Croydon Area.

During our brief stay at our then recently acquired flat in South Croydon in 1999, our adjoining neighbour had some tamish magpies that used to come and be fed out of his hand off his small porch. I thought that this was cool and wanted to do the same, but our oldest daughter kinda frowned on that. Which was fair enough, as, while we would be leaving shortly after to go back to South Africa, she was going to remain there and thus did not want, not only the job of feeding them, but the problem of them hanging around and messing up her washing when it was hung outside and they perched on her small outside clothes line.
I still think it would have been great to have befriended some Magpies there and then, but do realise that it would not have been fair on our first born, nor the magpies, to start something she did not either want, nor intend to finish or even carry on, especially when we did leave it was in the winter time when extra food would have been extremely scarce, making it hard on the magpies too.
What about you? How much thought do you give to the future or long-term results of things that you can start now, but often will not be able to finish? Do you start on the anyway, without any thought to the consequences that will follow? Just something to think on for now. b

Earlier Experiences With Magpies.

I grew up on a small farm on the outskirts of Melbourne and so grew up with magpies always being around. And especially watching out for the males in Breeding Season, “swooping” on you. Mostly this was a bluff and they usually miss, although when they do hit they leave a bloody reminder of their ever-present danger. So much so, that many people wear helmets if they have to go regularly near a magpie nesting area. That or a big stick and continually turning to check your back. I can’t actually remember any of us Kids being actually attacked, but all of us had been swooped more than once then.
Despite being aggressive during mating/nesting the birds do have a beautiful song and can become quiet if fed, so they were never seen as a real problem or a problem to chase away.
In fact many times a baby magpie would be found having fallen out of its nest and abandoned by its parents, and Mum would take it in and feed it on porridge. Thus they became quite tame and followed us kids everywhere. That actually became the problem, as they were quite tame and following everywhere, they had a habit of getting stepped on or a cat or dog would get them. I can’t remember how many actually survived to adulthood, but mum always named each bird. However for some reason that escapes me now, they were all called George.
All this just explains my sense of comfort with magpies, and that no matter how hostile some may be a mutual living arrangement between us can be accommodated.
So, who around you that you are more naturally enemies than friends, whether human or animal, can you get along with, with a bit of cooperation and accommodation from you? And will you try? More to come later on magpies...

The Australian Magpie.

The Australian Magpie is a largish, black and white bird, but the plumage pattern varies across its range. Its nape, upper tail and shoulder are white in males, grey in females. I’m not an expert on “Maggies”, but according to an article from the Web, across most of Australia, the remainder of the Maggies body is black, but in the south-east, centre, extreme south-west and Tasmania, the back and rump are entirely white. The eye of adult birds is chestnut brown.
Although I have only heard them referred to, as Magpies or “Maggies” apparently there is an uncommon alternative name for them as the “Flute Bird”, which refers to its loud musical flute-like song, often performed as a duet or by groups.
Another article described this song as “a beautiful "Warbling Carol" (carolling) which is heard across Australia every day in the bush, on farms and in Urban backyards They call for partners, and also to warn other birds this is their territory The notes become shorter when distressed, and a young magpies "begging for food" call is most insistent.”
They are common and conspicuous birds, found wherever there is a combination of trees and adjacent open areas, including parks and playing fields. They are absent only from the densest forests and arid deserts. Groups of up to 24 birds live year round in territories that are actively defended by all members of the group. The group depends on this territory for all their feeding, roosting and nesting requirements.
The Magpie walks along the ground searching for insects and their larvae. Birds will also take handouts from humans and will often venture into open houses to beg for food.
Although the “Music “ from these birds is beautiful and they can become tamish, they are also quite aggressive at breeding season, and especially males who fiercely defend their nest and territories by basically dive bombing any perceived threat whether in the air on the ground including humans, sometimes resulting in a jab to the back of the head, or at the very least a huge fright. They prefer to wait until the quarry is not looking, so often the first you know of it is when wings are beating beside your ears.
Now you can get fuller and more complete information on our magpies by checking out the Web for yourself. All the above is for, is to try and set the scene a little for you if you have no idea of what a Maggie is, so that I can tell a few stories of our own backyard and magpies, in subsequent blogs.

Kevin Mason: 48 Years at Healesville Sanctuary.

On May 30^th, the Healesville Sanctuary, celebrated its 74^th anniversary of caring for and preserving Australian native animals. Quite a proud achievement I think, but what also impressed me, even more was that one of its employees, the above Kevin Mason, has been working there for 48 years. He started off working on a dairy farm across the road before starting at the Sanctuary (because his then Girlfriend/later wife, was working there) and started as an animal keeper. From there, he went onto be a head keeper and then on to be a Special Projects Curator, and is currently the Customer Relations Manager. Not bad for a young 68 year old is it?

Despite his humble beginnings and lack of specific qualifications, Kevin succeeded at his job and was the first Keeper to ever breed a Lyrebird in captivity. Of his humble beginnings, Kevin recently said the following “To be a keeper these days you need a degree, but it’s just paper experience. People like me have learned through fieldwork and hands-on experience. Today’s keepers learn from our experiences.”

As one who left school at the end of Year 9 (&not year 12 like most today, before even then going on to University,) I know what it is like to struggle to find work without the necessary “Piece of Paper”. Now I cannot boast quite the same successful Resume as Kevin, but I do know what it is like to learn the hard way and to succeed from the bottom up.

So if you are out there wanting to improve your position in life, but don’t have the necessary piece of Paper, that everyone seems to demand these days, don’t let that put you off if you have the desire to do something. Like Kevin, go out and start at the Bottom and work your way up to the Top, anyway you can.

Kevin got his qualifications on the job and for one employer. I worked for many employers before I found what I wanted to do and then went back to School, (even if it was a Bible College) at age 35 (With a wife and 3 Kids) and did a University Level Bachelors degree in Theology, in just three years. Admittedly the pass rate each year was not high, but it improved with every year, and I graduated from it in the minimum time, and the Degree allowed me to go and work overseas for 12 years.

So again, if you have a goal and desire, don’t let your lack of qualifications put you off, but do work on it and do what you have to do to succeed. Learn from the experiences of others who have gone before you. Start at the bottom and stick at it. If both Kevin and I can do it in different fields, just think what some one like you can do in your field, if you really put your mind to it. What say you now?

Healesville Sanctuary 74th Birthday.

Yesterday (May 30^th) was the 74^th anniversary of the opening of the Healesville (Australian native animal) Sanctuary. Now, I don’t know how many people turned up there yesterday but when it opened in 1934, just six children and three adults turned up for the opening. Now of course it gets around 350,000 visitors a year from all around the world.

Now I haven’t done the exact maths, but that is over 900 a day on average, which is quite an improvement on that first day’s humble beginnings, isn’t it? Which just goes to show what can happen when you give things ago and are prepared to work on it for the long haul isn’t it.

Now the Healesville sanctuary is famous for its work with The Platypus, but it was also the first place to breed Lyrebirds in Captivity too, so it fulfills an important role in our society.

Maybe even you can too, if you are prepared to start something new, even if from humble beginnings, but also with a noble goal in mind.

So what about it? Is there something that you know you can do and maybe even should do, but are afraid to take that first step or may even have taken that first step but have been discouraged by the initial poor reception? Well stick at it.

The Healesville Sanctuary is successful now but it hasn’t always been so, and it has often had to struggle just to survive particularly in its early years. But it has and now it flourishes, all because it persevered in its aims and goal. Perhaps you too can replicate its success if you too give it ago and hang on in there during the tough “teething” days? Who knows? What say you?

Real Horse Power

Read a story recently of an Ambulance in America on the way to Hospital in a hurry with a very sick lady in it when it slipped into a ditch on an icy road. No problem as a Big four wheel drive immediately pulled up and hooked on the front and just sat there spinning his wheels as he too was unable to get a grip on the ice.

Then something almost unimaginable happened. An Amish man in his two-horse buggy pulled up, hitched his cart to the Ambulance and swiftly preceded to lead the Ambulance out of the ditch and back onto the road. Something the bigger more powerful 4X4 was unable to do. Why? How?

Well apparently the Amish man explained that his horses had been fitted with specially sharpened shoes that would allow them to grip on the icy roads. Now while I am not a mechanic or mechanically minded, I suspect that chains on a 2 wheel drive would probably also allowed a normal car to pull that Ambulance out over the 4X4 with his conventional tyres.

My point here is not to emphasize horses over mechanical or 2 wheels over 4, simply to point out having the biggest and best equipment available to you is not much help if it is not set up for specific conditions.

Under most conditions that 4 x4 would have been the one for the job, but on that occasion its tyres let it down. What about you are your tyres letting you down too? Most people use all round tyres all the year round, as they rarely need anything else under their normal usage. Others use dry weather tyre for summer and we weather tyres for winter conditions, and even other tyres for sandy travelling. Using the right tyres under the right conditions is a wise thing but using the wrong tyres for specific and sustained wrong usage is both foolish and potentially quite dangerous.

Again what about you as you travel through your life journey? Are you using the right tyres under the right conditions or is it time for you to change tyres right now and get your traction back and start heading back in the direction you wish to travel? What say you?

Adopt A Pet As A Companion.

Recently received an e-mail about a once active retired man who became withdrawn and grumpy to all, until his daughter got him an old dog for a companion. An act that changed both their lives and bought life back into the old man again.

It really is quite amazing what difference an animal can make in a person’s life. My parents always had at least one dog, occasionally 2, and usually anything between two to 6 cats on their smallholding (house and shed cats, that each knew their own places.). In their latter years, when the last cat and dog died fairly close to one another it was decided by them not to replace either because of their own age.

Then dad was real sick and hospitalized and not expected to survive, and it was suggested by one sister about getting a cat for company for Mum. Anyway Dad did come home again and was semi- mobile, but mostly chair bound for a while, and the cat idea was lost along the way.

A little while later I was with Dad at the Podiatrist and they were talking and quite out of the blue Dad said that his dog had died, cat too. The podiatrist had gotten the idea that it had just happened, as I would have too, if I had not known that it happened a good 6 months earlier.

Anyway shortly after that, my first born came home from work asking if I knew anyone who wanted a cat as one of her workmates had one but their Granddaughter had been diagnosed as allergic to cats and either their cat went or they would not get to see their granddaughter at their place again.

So remembering how Dad was missing the cat and dog, and my sister’s original enquiry about getting a cat, I rang my little sister with the idea and she put it to Mum, who said, “YES PLEASE’.

So we went and picked up the cat, (Oscar) and took him up to Mum’s. Apart from being well loved he was also quite independent and a little flighty, particularly around men. Well Dad took one look at it and said, “What did you go and bring that B****y thing here for. Followed by a few other mild objections about not needing to have another cat around. (Spoken in jest, but meant nonetheless.)

Well that attitude didn’t last very long. Within a week He was boasting about how the cat would always come up and around him as Dad was mostly stuck in his chair. In fact Oscar became so attached to Dad that Mum was a little miffed for a while, as Oscar was meant to be her cat. But Oscar and Dad had other ideas.

Oscar adapted to and adopted both Dad and Mum but was still a bit flighty of other people and especially my brother who lived with them. You walked in, and Oscar walked out rather quickly!

Well Dad and Mum have both passed on now and Oscar is still living at home with my brother, which I must admit was a bit of a surprise to me, as he has always been a dog lover and never a cat lover.

Well, saw them both the other day and brother says the cat is a changed cat and nothing like the Oscar of Old. Well, me thinks that it is brother who has changed too, with both Dad and Mum gone and him alone there, with just the cat. Who would have picked it? Not me!

So the moral of the story is if you are lonely, get yourself a pet to care for and to give you some attention in turn. You don’t have to get a pup or a kitten and go through all the training and destructive years, but you can get an older animal to adopt and maybe even save their lives too. No matter what age you are, you can adopt a pet. Even an ageing one too! One with personality, if not looks. Try a lost dog or cat’s home, or adopt a friend's but get one for both the sake of yourself and the pet. And all will benefit from this new relationship. What say you?

Arakan Forest Turtles.

Recently I wrote about red eared slider Turtles and how they were in the process of becoming as major a pest in Victoria, as they are already in other parts of Australia. There, the emphasis was on how easily they and bad habits multiply without any effort on our part.

Today I wish to talk about Arakan Forest Turtles. Another species that I also have to admit that I had never heard of until I read about them in the paper. It appears that not only has the Atlanta Zoo (USA) not only hatched another lot, but that they are the only place in the world to successfully breed this species which is on list of the world’s most critically endangered species.

Ironic isn’t it, that even within the one family there will be one sub-species in danger of taking over the world, while at the same time there will be one, or more sub-species, on the verge of extinction?

A bit like our lives really, isn’t it? It always seem that the good things are always on the edge of extinction and need working on to keep them alive and surviving, while the not so good, run rampant, doesn’t it?

It seems that there are always things that we either desire or need, but that take a lot of extra effort to obtain and/or keep, doesn’t it? And we need to be constantly on the alert to maintaining these things in a healthy breeding condition. Of course often trying to do it by ourselves is not enough and like in the case of the Arakan Forest Turtle, outside and specific specialist help is needed.

What about you today? Are you more like the red –eared slider turtle or the Arakan Forest Turtle?

If you feel that you are a bit like the Arakan Turtle and in danger of going under, then you too, might need some outside, specialist help. However, are you prepared to seek and then accept this help, or will you continue on unassisted into oblivion? Over to you: Walter

Red-Eared Slider Turtles.

Red-Eared Slider Turtles. 5/5/2007
Until recently I had never heard of Red-Eared Slider Turtles, but apparently they are a major problem up in Queensland although they are a prohibited import. Despite that, they have been illegally imported and since first being discovered in Queensland 8 years ago have now been found in 5 of our 6 states plus the Australian Capital territory.
Despite that, it has just made the Melbourne papers. Why? Because someone has released some into at least one small recreational lake in outer Melbourne. These apparently have already started breeding and they are afraid that they will escape into other waterways and cause extensive damage to native species of water life.
That these turtles are a major environmental disaster was highlighted in a follow up item that said special dogs have been trained up in Queensland to locate these turtles and they are trying to bring one down here until they can train some of our own.
These Slider Turtles sound like some of the bad habits in our lives don’t they? A bit like smoking or drinking to excess! They all seem fun and harmless and certainly very attractive at first, but like the Slider Turtles, they soon take over and dominate our lives don’t they?
I may seem like I am talking about smoking and drinking only, but I am sure there are many other habits in our lives, that although not as obvious as them, are dominating and taking over our lives, aren’t there? I guess the real question is not so much what it is, as you already know that, but the real question is, what are you going to do about it?
So far the authorities have tried traps for the turtles and have even flown down an expert from Queensland to help guide and direct their efforts. They are even now, as stated above talking about bringing in specialist help in the form of trained dogs to help.
What are you doing to help eradicate your problem habits? Are you still trying to do it by yourself, but are starting to realize that you may need outside, specialist help? If so, don’t be embarrassed to seek and even demand the needed help, because delaying the inevitable is not a good choice. It will only get worse unless you do something about it and get help now. What say you? Walter

Squirrels or Possums, Both can be problems, but each has its own value.

One of my American friends recently asked if we had Squirrels over here. I explained no but we did have Possums. She then went on to describe the antics of the Squirrels in her yard, which I quote here:

“We have just plain squirrel. I have probably 8-10 in my yard. I have a lot of trees and they play all day long. They build their nests in the trees real high up. They are eating all the time. They can become a nuisance, but are so cute. We keep holes filled that go to our attics because they are bad about chewing things. They jump from one tree to the other if they are close enough, and they can run like lightening. The latest thing bad I've heard about them is that they get into cars that sit out and chew on the wires. I keep mine in a garage. They eat acorns off my oak trees and bird seed. I have put out several bird feeders and they somehow figure out how to get into them for the food, or they get up there and shake it so they can have a feast on the ground. I paid a little extra to get a squirrel proof bird feeder. It was fixed so that when the squirrel stood on the rail, it swung around and threw the squirrel off. Well, not my squirrels. They figured out how to stand and eat anyway. They are very smart. They chase each other all over the yard. Well, so much for that.

I think yours (Sugar Gliders) look a lot like our bats. Our bats have webbed bodies. Our bats sleep all day and come out at dusk and eat our mosquitoes, but they never get them all.

PS: a lot of people eat our squirrels. I did as a kid.”

In reading the above I was struck by the similarity of behaviour between their squirrels and our possums, despite our Possums being Nocturnal animals.

It seems that no matter what part of the world that one lives in, one has problems with Animal life. In South Africa, we had problems with moles in the ground, here with Possums and In America, and I presume England, with Squirrels.

Another interesting thing is that all these animals have a purpose and beauty of their own but when they come into contact with humans can become a problem.

Also, although I’m not sure of Moles but I know both Squirrels and Possums, in days of old were used both for their pelts and their Meat in hard times, even though Possums are now a protected species here in Victoria. Because of this, a few people make a living out of catching and relocating troublesome Possums to another area.

All the above reminds me of life in general. Where ever you live and what ever you do, there will always be problems to either live with or overcome. They may not be exactly the same everywhere (Squirrels or Possums) but the end results are very similar, and can be destructive if not brought under control. (Destructive to property, even Human life and sometimes unhelpful competition to other animals or humans.)

Sometimes you have to bring in outside help to help you; sometimes you can do this yourself; at other times you can even turn your expertise in a certain trouble area into both a help to others and an occupation for yourself. (Possum Relocaters.)

So in bringing this to a conclusion, how do you see the Squirrels/possums in your Life? Something to be controlled yet enjoyed like with my American friend, whilst still enjoying her Birds?

Or something simply to be eradicated and removed permanently?

Or even worse, something that dominates and controls your life simply because you will do nothing to control it? Again over to You: Walter