Lived Experience Forum

[Adge]

Nice one @Former-Member It's a Yellow Indian-Ringneck Parrot.

Apparently they're quite noisy.

Lovely.

Adge

[Shaz51]

thank you @Former-Member 

Hello @Adge , @Clawde , @Historylover , @Owlunar 

[Owlunar]

Hi @Shaz51 @Adge @Clawde @Historylover 

I love the spring - and one thing that is really brilliant is the Dawn Creation - I look forward to it every year and it does start not long after the Winter Solstice in June but get better toward the Equinox in September and I love waking up to hear them - 

Around here have a lot of magpies - it seems there is a large family of them around here - they all take over a large liquidamber across the road from here and orkle-arkle - often - especially first thing in the morning

I do miss the sparrows though - I am not sure when they disappeared - I check the internet and the population started to deteriorate in the 90s - and I didn't notice - how sad is that

They are an introduced species - but they had a place here

This is a great thread here and I think I should put it on my look-up list each day - the pictures people post are really wonderful

Thanks everyone

Dec

[Jayy1]

Hi everyone, is anybody else participating in the Aussie Bird Count? 

[Former-Member]

Hi @Adge  while getting a load from my storage unit yesterday ,I heard them first but then saw fairy wren family, like the picture, and a Willly Wagtail. Must pay attention to the plant life as i hear them every time I'm there, they must really like that spot, well away from traffic and disturbance too I guess... I really love the little birds. The little wrens just bounce around... so cute. Think someone here once referred to them as 'popcorn birds' which pretty much discribes them.  🐦🐦🐦🐦 really made my day and made me think of you 🐦

How's your feather babies this week? 

 Hi @Owlunar   @Jayy1   @Clawde  @Owlunar  🐥🦉🐥🦉🐥🦉🐥

[Historylover]

Hello @Owlunar  Haven't heard much from you of late - but then, I haven't been around much either.  Just keeping a low profile at the moment and keeping out of trouble.  I hadn't realized sparrows were an introduced species.  I guess that is why they seem to be worldwide?  Were they supposed to control another pest?  Insects?

Unfortunately I don't know a parakeet from a lorikeet from a parrot etc. but I did see one of those gorgeous green 'birds' - normally in pairs - here in recent days.  Unfortunately I heard it but when I opened the door I frightened it away.  I had intended to take a photograph for identification from knowledgeable Adge.  I'll keep my eyes peeled for a return visit.

Still waiting for the shops to open to get my binoculars to do some stargazing - and perhaps some birdwatching too.  I am in Melbourne's suburbs but there is quite a bit of green area around me and birds are quite prolific.  Those green 'birds' they have at Currumbin Bird Sanctuary on  the Gold Coast are prolific here.  Some folk locally feed them.  Sadly myna birds are prolific too.  I had a nest of them on my bathroom window sill quite a few years ago.  I had to watch the process through and had to be careful not to frighten them.  

Some of those bird photographs are exquisite. 

[Owlunar]

Hi @Historylover 

I had a bit of a hunt around the internet to find out a bit about sparrows - they originated in Southern Europe and Britain and have spread around the world since the C19th but their populations have declined and in some places disappeared. Some people think that some component of unleaded petrol might have contribute to their disappearance. I can't do anything about it and I am sorry for the loss

Apparently they were introduced to Australia for nostalgic reasons. I have to admit I liked them but took them for granted - it is a wake-up call - David Attenborough is warning us about loss of species to extinction - now it is happening to something ordinary I loved and this hurts

Using binoculars for star-gazing is a good idea - I have a pair - I use them less than I used to before I knew what I was looking forward - they give us a wider view than a telescope - it makes it easier to find things when we are learning.

I haven't been on-line as much as I usually am - I have a damaged shoulder that is causing me a lot of pain - I had a procedure in July that helped a lot and hopefully I can have this done again soon. Having one shoulder down makes typing harder but I manage

I can't tell one parrot from another either - I don't know much about different species of birds apart from the info David Attenborough gives us - I really appreciate this great naturalist

It's great to catch up again

Dec

[Historylover]

Nice to hear from you @Owlunar.  Re: unleaded petrol - it's amazing the hidden effects of so much of what we do has on other life forms, isn't it?  I really miss butterflies myself.  Running after them as a child is a happy memory.

I  am so pleased to hear about Prince William's project for the preservation of our wildlife.  I hope it meets with great success. It is a wonderful initiative for everyone to get on board with - especially for big businesses.

I've been doing a bit of thinking about William and Harry since our last conversation.  It really is such a pity that their relationship has broken down. They both have good intentions. Sounds like a lot of rivalry. 

Sorry to hear about your painful shoulder.  I'm very lucky not to have physical afflictions at the moment.  Other than your shoulder - I hope you are keeping well.

Do you have a telescope?  There have been a few interesting things going on astronomically speaking recently, I understand.  I didn't read about it in great detail as it's frustrating when you can't get to see it for yourself.

Have you downloaded Stellarium?

[Owlunar]

Hi @Historylover 

Yes - it's good to catch up - and okay to take time out - I notice there are people who are in a great deal and no doubt they build up a backbone for the sujects discussed and the social side of things and this is great

Then there are others who come in less frequently and add what they have to offer - and that's great too - the forums are open to anyone and everyone - very inclusive

Since you mentioned butterflies I have taken notice of them and I have seen them around - in pairs - which means they are mating - we have a lot of lawn on this block and at this time of year we also have a lot of cape-weed daisies and I have seen the butterflies there. Of course there are moths as well - and I think I have a picture of a very unusual moth - I was using my computer and I saw a reflection on the screen from the window behind me and there it was - and I took a photo - let's see if I can get it up - yes - I have - great - but for some reason it has to stay glued to the bottom of the text

I have been thinking about the Royal Family - I always do actually - it's a great and long-lasting soap opera for our enjoyment - I don't really like or dislike anyone - I have read a lot of history since Victoria on - and it seems there is always one person pushing the boundaries, the envelops - even the air - conventions, it's love or duty - not good choices - I am glad I am of the common folk actually

Victoria was a problem herself and displeased with her heir - Edward V11 - and his first son - Prince Albert Victor - known as Eddie - died after he was engaged to Mary of Teck but he was a flake - always in trouble - then Victoria gets his fiance engaged to George V - quaint idea - she wasn't going to waste her hard work in finding a good strong princess for her grandson. And George V was father to Edward V111 and the story goes on and I love the story - I don't know the people - and in all honesty I don't know the stories but I sure love it

But I think possibly that those who give up their lives for duty might resent those who take their own path. I have been a victim of such inequalities myself - I had to make my own unpopular choices for my own reasons and I chose not to share my reasons with my family and got squeezed out and left the scene and my family and lived my own life and I am better for it. But it's a hard choice and a hard road - so when I think of William and Harry having fractures in their relationship - I get it - it's hard for both of them and the Royal Family has been having these issues for so long. Again - I am glad I'm a commoner - of the lower middle classes and happy here

My shoulder - yes - I swerved to avoid a collision when a fast car ran a red light 34 years ago - I have already had two operations on it and a shoulder specialist is not in a hurry to do a reversed shoulder replacement so my pain specialist does radio-frequency neuropathy - this puts the nerve to sleep - I had a lot of relief in July and I need it done again. I have just washed my hair - this causes a lot of pain - and now I realise that I have done enough for now and it's time to take one of my strange tablets - a very different kind of pain-killer - it's still very new and only pain specialists can prescribe it. It works well for the pain but when I have one I need to remain in my chair for a couple of hours

I don't have a telescope - I really don't have anywhere to mount it - it would be great - when this lock-down is over I am planning to go to the observatory - it would have been a great time to go last winter - we had very clear skies and I took pictures of Jupiter and Saturn crossing the sky together - this last happened 25 years ago - it would be great to see Jupiter's moons and Saturn's rings at the same time - thinking of what to do when the lockdown is over has kept me sane - I am looking forward to going to Cairns again - I so love that city

I looked up Stelllarium - I am hoping my computer has enough drive to down-load it - I have to stop typing now so this would be a great time to try - it looks exciting - thanks for mentioning it

All the best - I hope you are the best you can be

Dec

[Historylover]

@Owlunar  I have just done a bird count as ABC radio has been talking about it quite a bit so I thought I would look into it.  It's rather difficult - even impossible, I would say - for a novice.  They provide an identification list of pictures but I have to go inside out of the sunshine to see it properly - and I'm still not certain.  And we are supposed not to count those which fly away then return as extras.  Of course it is impossible to be certain.  

My favourite and elusive pair of 'parrots' were on the roof when I went out.  I went inside to ready my mobile's camera and, of course, they were gone when I went out again.  At least I know they are still about.  I'll just have to keep my eyes peeled more often.  

I'm looking forward to seeing your moth.  I guess it has to be approved first.

You've certainly learned a lot about the royals.  I don't know how they stand it myself.  Such a total lack of privacy with people always looking at you.  I remember George's first day of school.  As he and William approached he seemed to be trying to hide behind his father's held hand to avoid just a little bit of scrutiny.  Poor child.  I know he'll 'get used to it' - or perhaps learn to adjust.  At least there are many benefits too.

I'd love to go to the observatory too, but I don't go out at night so I'll have to make do with my upcoming binoculars for some time.  There's so much to learn beforehand anyway and I am only just beginning.

I am a member of U3A for German language classes which had to stop for lockdown, however yesterday I attended my first zoom class.  I thought I'd do a class in 'basics and beyond for computers' as I have had to teach myself to date and my knowledge only extends as far as it has had to and I wanted to learn more.  I don't use computer 'language' either so I'll hear it spoken which will put it all in a better perspective.  I'll do a more advanced class when this one is done I think.  There is so much to learn - but, to be honest, I think a lot of it is beyond the necessities and seems to involve having to create a need to make use of many functions.    

I  was rather daunted at downloading zoom etc. by myself as if anything goes wrong I have to find how to fix it by myself.  Today I'll be doing my first class on Android mobiles for beginners.  Again - having had to teach myself, I have only advanced as far as I have dared.  I am so scared to do anything I can't undo!

I am off down the park to do another bird count.  I'll see if I can perfect my methodology.

Stay well!

P.S. Your moth picture just loaded.  Magnificent!