Changing dynamics
Icy mornings, Wedge-tailed eagles, and nesting
Across the days and the seasons this year, I’ve noticed a range of animals appearing in different places around me. My own nest remains in one place all year round. Although I can look at a weather app to get a detailed, numerical understanding of some of the local conditions, the location of plants and animals can tell me more about the changes in my immediate environment.
Here are some of the animal activities I’ve seen recently:
A pair of Wedge-tailed eagles (Aquila audax), and possibly with one juvenile, have been coming and going. They are the largest eagles in Australia with a wingspan of over two metres. Their presence is met with some aerial charging by crows and magpies. The eagles have perched in the uppermost bare branches of two trees normally occupied by the Black-shouldered Kites.
Though it looks far away through the lens of a camera, this was one of a pair of Wedge-tailed eagles (Aquila audax) flying quite low above me. Eastern Grey Kangaroos (Macropus gianteus) moving into the first areas of dawn sunshine on sub-zero mornings. They look to be spending these coldest nights on higher ground; well-placed to catch the early sunlight.
Crimson Rosellas (Platycercus elegans) and Red-browed Finches (Neochmia temporalis) eating grass seeds.
Frogs calling at night.
A magpie pulling twigs from dead branches behind the house; carrying one at time back to tree by the creek. Once they have babies in the nest, that will be one tree for me to avoid walking past. Australian magpies (Gymnorhina tibicen) are famous for flying towards any creature that comes too close to their nest.
Among the plants, I’ve seen:
Rocks at ground level with patches of lichens and moss; appearing to have fewer patches than last winter, possibly due to much lower rainfall this season.
Grasses starting to grow with slightly more daylight hours and some higher day-time temperatures.
Fruiting spurs on some fruit trees
Rocks with various lichens and mosses While it is thrilling to see eagles, I’m trying to remain appreciative of any parts of my environment that might seem dull by comparison. Winter itself, can feel very slow and staid, without many visible changes. As I spend more years here, I want to keep giving the same quality of attention to a lichen, and paths of sunlight, as to a bird. Each element contributes to the year-round health of this ecosystem.
