One of our "bird books" will frequently be found on our patio table or on a table inside the house, when we are seeking to identify a bird who has visited our garden or a bird we have seen in the bush.
In the Garden
We know when a "living rainbow" is about to alight on our garden, for the visiting Rainbow Lorikeets make quite a din, often arriving in a large group! These 30 cm long birds can live up to 20 years in the wild. While they are considered pests, damaging fruit crops, they are quite a glorious work of art with their colourful feathers of green, blue, purple, red, orange and yellow. This Rainbow Lorikeet is enjoying the nectar from a native garden species.In the Bushland
With 900 species of gum trees in Australia, it is not surprising that I never tire of admiring these gloriously tall trees, or that Aboriginal people have learned to use the bark, wood, leaves and gum in a variety of ways. The eucalyptus oil in the leaves is used worldwide for a range of applications. I wash my clothes in a eucalyptus detergent, and our winter combustion fire which keeps us warm, often burns a dead branch from a gum tree in the bush.
May we appreciate the gifts that nature brings our way.
