Wildlife at Home

I am always amazed at how beautiful nature can be, and how we stupidly take it for granted.

Early colonists to these shores were adamant to recreate English surroundings in the Australian environment. True, this has made for some very pretty landscaping. But when I grew up in Melbourne we had to take day trips out to the "bush" to see native fauna. Parrots were something one saw after leaving town.

Little did I realise as a youngster that parrots and kangaroos actually lived where I am now, but moved when their homes were destroyed. By the early 80's, a new approach took hold for private gardens, focussed on bringing back native flora. The amazing knock-on effect was to make town a more hospitable place for indigenous wildlife.

I love seeing the beautiful bottlebrush tree outside my bedroom window, and last week I was pleasantly surprised to hear the screeching of parrots. Only a few feet away, a family of lorikeets flitted amongst the blooms having a grand old feast. I sat watching by the open window and even managed to get a few shots for you.

Beautiful, aren't they.