Eve Parry of Frankland River WA (Location) writes:
“Why did you name your place after a town in Queensland?” Jim & I are sometimes asked.
“We didn’t! Goondiwindi is an Aboriginal word meaning ‘the resting place of birds’” was our answer. Ten years ago, this was usually followed by a puzzled frown. Today it is quite obvious why we gave it this name.
Photo # 1 - Part of our one and a half acre garden
What was once a sheep paddock has now been transformed into a bird’s paradise. Our garden is rarely still or silent.
Now people say “Aren’t you lucky to have so many different birds in your garden” To this we smile and answer, “You need a little more than luck to attract so many birds to a garden”.
Photo # 2 - Eucalyptus caeisia Silver Princess
While some gardeners still favour European plants, our garden is overflowing with Australian native trees and shrubs; the flowers on wattles, eucalyptus, banksias, bottlebrushes, and grevilleas, persuade the birds that here they will be able to feast all day long.
Photo # 3 - Coming In For A Landing.
Grevillea ‘Superb’, flowers for most of the year and entices both insects and birds to come close to the house.
Photo # 4 - Get Of My Branch
The Australian Magpie (left) and the Port Lincoln Parrot. Being aware of bird’s habits can help you make your garden a safer place for them.
We noticed that before coming down to feed, they often perched on a high spot to survey the area, so we planted dead branches in strategic spots and soon the birds were using them as lookout spots. This can lead to squabbles when birds of a different species land on a branch at the same time.
Photo # 5 - “Don’t you turn your back on us”
Although the Magpies are the thugs of the bird world, they are our favourite visitors and entertain us frequently with their antisocial behaviour among themselves and other bird species.
Photo # 5 - Now! Get him.
Placing a bird table and birdbath near the house allows me to photograph the birds from inside the house.
Photo # 6 - Tea For Two
Only the larger birds, galahs, ringneck parrots, and magpies come to feed from the bird table
Photo # 7 - Give Us A Kiss Sweetheart
As spring approaches there is much mirth as we watch the birds “doing what comes naturally”.
Video #1: Birds in Our Garden
We have counted over 35 different species of Bird in our garden. Here’s a video we made of a few of them.
Please note that Agmates is not responsible for any content beyond the video we’ve selected. In other words, after you watch the video if you click on further links that come up to other YouTube Videos you do so at your own risk.
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Join Eve online to discuss her garden or Australian birds by leaving a comment.
Related Posts
- Eve’s Australia #5 - Native Australian Birds Small & Beautiful
- Eve’s Australia - Retiring to the Country
- Eve’s Australia # 2 - Why Frankland River?
- The Dance of Australian Politics.
- Eve’s Australia # 3 – Frankland River Gives Up Its Secrets
Tags: Australia
An idyllic look at your garden. You are an excellent photographer Eve, I wish I had your talent.
Hello Margaret, thank you so much for your very kind comments and I’m glad you are enjoying my photographs. The Agmates News, gives me a reason for looking around my area to find subjects that might be of interest to the readers.
Eve
Eve — I’ve already told you how great your photos & commentaries are. Now I want to compliment you & Jim on your great observation & documentation of what goes on in your yard. That all takes a lot of time!!
Thank you Marijane, I appreciate your comments very much. The bird life, insects and lizards that have found our garden give us a great deal of pleasure.
Eve
G’day Eve,
I think you under estimate what you have done and are doing. I love your articles / photos as they just show the natural beauty that surrounds most of us, yet we don’t take the time to appreciate it.
Most country people have great gardens. The colour, the bird life the fascinating diversity of nature is all there, but we mostly miss it.
Your ‘Eve’s Australia’ just constantly reminds me what a beautiful country we live in. Well done and keep up the great work. You are an inspiration.
Hi Steve,
I’m blushing. Thank you so much for your compliments.
We sure do live in the best place on earth and I am very proud to be one of Australia’s adopted daughters.
Don’t blush, just keep snapping away Eve.You have a real talent so use it for our benefit. Your posts are an inspiration and I just love using them to ‘brag’to my OS friends. We do have the most amazing bird life, clear air, picturesque country and plants and we don’t appreciate that. Keep them coming please. I get totally focused on all the “problems” and it is a lovely respite to dwell on your photograghs. Thank you for creating an escape for me. Jen
Hello Jenny, thank you very much for your wonderful comments. It’s heart-warming to know that the hobby that I love can give pleasure to others.
Eve