Black Birds

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The black birds - Mr Black with a yellow beak and Mrs Brown - have the undignified fancy name of 'turdus'. They are not turd like at all.

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As birds go, they are one of the plainer species that call our place home but there are quite a few of them and they have a delightful morning song. You know it's a nice day outside when you are woken by their happy tune.

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Over the years we have lived here their population has grown and they have become quite familiar. I think they consider the deck and balustrade their property and make free with the dog's food and water. The conveniently placed diosma right next to the step serves as their quick get away spot. Several times a day they will land on the balustrade and hop along it. If the coast is clear they hop their way to the dog's bowl, partake and fly away. They have a bouncy hopping motion on the ground and prefer to investigate the garden that way.

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One slightly less cute thing that they do on the deck is to rummage through the huge pot that houses a beautiful camelia. As the flowers drop I put them into the pot to put their organic goodness back into the soil. Along come the black birds and they peg the flowers out as they pick through the pots to find treats. So I pick them up off the deck and return them to the pot. Along come the blackbirds......

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They are industrious in the garden too. They pick over any newly turned over soil and frolic in the sprinklers. It is not unusual to see six or more of them working over the garden at the same time.

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We have had a few nests built in our garden. Unfortunately they don't always make great choices. They seem to have no concept of health and safety issues. (They obviously haven't been to any interminable sessions on work safe practices!)

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One year they made their nest in the said diosma, completely open to anyone walking up the steps. We cat proofed the area for the duration and hoped for the best. The babies were growing nicely and then one day - visiting currawongs - empty nest. A bit sad.

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This year they have chosen the newly reorganised shed. All the electrical cords and equipment has been neatly stored on hooks along one wall. Clean one day, perfect base for a nest the next. Their nests are not exactly neat and well deserve the name 'turdus'. Mum now sits on the nest as we tip toe in and out of our own shed. She has a bowl of dog food and one of water to make her sojourn in our shed more comfortable. Let's hope the currawongs or kookaburras don't find her there!

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I'm guessing there are also nests in more sensible places and am looking forward to the next generation hopping along the balustrade and checking out the dog food.