Agmates

Eve Parry of Frankland River in Western Australia (Location) writes:

In my last article I wrote about the Australian native birds that frequent our garden at our home ‘Goondiwindi’.

Jim and I (pictured above) have identified and photographed over 35 species that we have seen in our one and a half acre patch of Australian paradise. This week we talk about the smaller birds and what it takes to attract these beaties.

Photo # 1 - Taking a bath

Smaller birds need other elements to attract them to the garden beds close to the house; water is important for drinking and bathing, especially during the summer months.

Photo # 2 - Feasting On Nectar. A New Holland Honey Eater

They will visit nectar-laden flowers all day.

Photo #3. Three, Two, One. Lift Off! A New Holland Honey Eater setting flight.

If you leave your camera trained on just one bird, the unexpected may happen.

Photo # 4 - A Male & Female Western Rosella.

Even the shy Western Rosella’s have learnt there is nothing to fear from the people who live here.

Photo # 5 - Mirror Mirror, a Port Lincoln Parrot.

Four and a half years ago, we had our garden open to the public in an effort to help raise funds for the building of a new community centre in Frankland River.

For extra interest, I made up a file with information about each bird species we had seen in our garden and we were amazed when the count went to over 35. Since then we have had even more species visit, though, many have been very difficult to photograph.

Photo # 6 - Well Hello There Beautiful, Muir’s Corellas.

The Muir’s Corella ‘Cacatua pastinator’ is confined to the far south-west of Western Australia near Lake Muir but each year as their numbers grow they take over more and more farm land during the summer months.

This population, which once numbered only 100 is now thought to contain around 10,000 individuals, so it may soon be removed from the rare and endangered list.

I love these cheeky birds but I am afraid they are not popular with the farming population; I guess if I were having my crops ruined, I wouldn’t find their antics cute either.

Photo # 7 - Morning Warm Up

However, from a photographers point of view, I can’t help but be delighted as I watch them do their morning warm up on the power lines near my home.

Photo # 8- Red Tailed, Black Cockatoo

Another rare and endangered bird that visits the tall trees at our front gate are a small group of Red Tailed, Black Cockatoos. The male birds have lustrous black plumage with eye-catching, bright red tail panels. The slightly smaller females are brownish-black with stunning yellow-orange tail stripes

Photo # 9 - Little Pied Cormorant.

Water birds abound along the beautiful Frankland River and that is where I will leave you this week.

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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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Western Australian Eve Parry writes:

Until relatively recent times, if you mentioned that you lived in Frankland River, you were more than likely to get a blank look and to be asked ‘Where’s that’.

However, as the vineyards prospered, the Olive Grove established, and the gravel road that led to coastal towns was sealed, Frankland River could no longer keep its secrets.

Photo # 1 - Canola & Clouds
The Frankland River valley is stunningly beautiful and never more so than during the canola season.

Photo # 2 - Approaching Storm
The fields of gold are even more brilliant as the storm clouds approach.
There are several reasons why travellers choose to stay awhile in Frankland River before continuing their journey.

Photo # 3 - Entrance to a vineyard
Many come to sample the award winning wines in one of Australia’s fastest growing wine regions.

Photo # 4 - Rows of vines
Merv and Judy Lange are pioneers of the wine industry in the Frankland River district and they planted their first vines in 1971.

Photo # 5 - Winter Vines
During the winter months, the vines take on an unclothed, delicate appearance.

Photo # 6 - Summer Vines
As we have similar climatic conditions to those found in Bordeaux, France, its not surprising that the vineyards do so well.

Photo # 7 - Olive Grove
Because we also have a climate similar to the olive growing region of Tuscany, the Frankland River Olive Company planted over 100,000 olive trees during 1999, covering an area of 415 ha.

Photo # 8 - Vineyard Entrance-
As the days heat up the land takes on her sunburned appearance, but that is no reason for the tourist to put away the camera.

Photo # 9 - Winter paddock
At the end of summer, the welcome winter rains top up the farm dams and the paddocks become lush and green once more.

Photo # 10 - Clouds reflection.
The small lakes that in summer were dry holes, once again are mirrors of the surrounding landscapes.

Photo # 11 - The Frankland River
The Frankland River passes through some picturesque scenery and is popular for recreational activities. I believe that there are Marron (freshwater lobsters) found in numerous pools along the river, attracting many fishing enthusiasts to the region.

More and more people are coming to the area to enjoy the native flora that flourishes in the South West of our State - but that would be another story.

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Eve Parry from Frankland Western Australia writes:

While many retirees are looking for a ‘sea-change’, Jim and I were looking for a ‘tree change’ and Frankland River (Location) suited us perfectly. For many years we had been heading south for our annual holidays so we knew how beautiful the area was.

Photo # 1 -Stirling Range

The Stirling Range was a favourite holiday destination, not only for the mountainous landscape, but because of the 125 different species of orchids that grow there; Jim is a native orchid enthusiast.

Photo # 2 - Queen Of Sheba Thelymitra variegata Photo by Jim Parry

One of our favourite orchids found in the Stirling Range is the Queen Of Sheba, which is expected be added to the endangered list.

Photo # 3 - Storm Arriving. Seen from our back veranda

So on finding a one and a half acre block of land, in a pretty valley overlooking farmland. Just eighty kilometres from the Stirling Range, and a bush block at the end of the street, is it any wonder that we made an instant decision to build a house and retire to Frankland River.

When we first discovered Frankland River 16 years ago it was a sleepy little town, seemingly left behind in a time warp. We thought it was a delightful change after the hustle and bustle of today’s city living.

Photo # 4 - A foggy morning in Frankland River

We are surrounded by breathtaking scenes that can change almost hourly

Photo # 5 - Foggy Morning in Frankland. Used this photo in making the “Morning Has Broken” in WA Video. Click Here to see it.

Photo # 6 - Ferngrove Vineyard Frankland River

Although Frankland River’s primary producers were cattle and sheep, it is mainly due to the growth of the wine and olive industries, that Frankland’s population has grown and to meet the needs of the people we now have a modern community centre, with library, telecentre, doctors surgery, offices and crèche.

Photo # 7 - Community Centre

Beside the general store, we have a row of new shops that include a hairdresser, café and shop that sells craft & art supplies and clothes.

Photo # 8 - General Store proprietor Eddie Fox & local farmer Ron Watkins.

Photo # 9 - Frankland River Village Shops

It is a beautiful place and a great community. Until next weeks Eve’s Australia, bye for now.

Eve Parry.

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Evelyn Parry from Fankland Western Australia writes:

Hello Agmate’s. I’m Eve Parry the producer of the Video of the day “Morning has Broken in Western Australia” as featured on Agmates last week.

My husband Jim & I live in a small rural community called Frankland River in Rural Western Australia Location map . We are city folks who have chosen to retire to the country. I am a keen amateur photographer and over the coming weeks we’d like to show you just how beautiful our part of rural Australia is.

Photo – King George Sound at Albany (Click on all Photos to see larger view). Here there is always something to watch or photograph. Small boats that take the tourists out to watch the whales cavorting in King George Sound.

Originally we are from Shropshire, England. We spent 27 years, living in a suburb of Perth. We retired 10 years ago and moved to the small country town of Frankland River, Western Australia.

Photo – Albany Jetty – Princess Royal Harbour. From here you can look across the water to the Albany port where large ships take on their cargo, like wheat and other grain.

When we moved here Frankland River had one shop, a garage and the doctor came once every two weeks. Aging meant that parts of the body started to break down and we senior citizens had different bits that needed regular attention.

Albany, a 1½ hour drive, is the nearest major town for shopping and to get ears and eyes tested, teeth filled, and corns removed. X-rays on various parts were done at Albany hospital, and the heart specialist helped regulate our high blood pressure.

Photo – Waiting for a handout - The fishermen always attract the birds and the pelicans have become one of my favourite subjects.

Retiring to a small rural community was so different to our life in the city that we really wondered for a while if we had done the right thing.

When Jim was newly retired and although there was much for him to do, he found being retired difficult to come to terms with.

Our children had left home several years ago, and living in Perth I was used to having many hours during the day when I could visit family & friends, dabble in several hobbies and shop almost daily in the large shopping centres.

To complicate things further my parents who were in their eighties, weren’t keen to stay in Perth so it was decided that they would come to live with us. You can imagine how hard it was for everyone to deal with all these changes.

Photo - Albany Jetty – My favourite place to eat lunch. -Today though we are busy and happy and I always carry a camera; you never know what will be around the next corner. A picnic lunch allows us to have a break in many of Albany’s beauty spots and my favourite is the town jetty.

Photo – Albany Jetty – Princess Royal Harbour
One of the most memorable days in Albany was a lunch break at the Jetty. The day was so calm, the water in the harbour was almost like a mill pond.

Photo – The cloud pictures

The clouds hung low and the reflections were stunning.

Photo – QE2 Last round-the-world voyage.
On another day while in Albany shopping I was fortunate to see the Queen Elizabeth 2 (QE2) docked in Albany on her last round-the-world voyage.

Next week I’ll tell you a bit more about our life in Franklin River and some shots of just how beautiful it is. Cheers for now - Eve.

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Agmates Editor Steve Truman writes

Brazilian owned JBS is on the verge of being the largest beef processor on 3 major cattle producing continents. This is world domination of the export beef market on a grand scale never seen before.

JBS S.A. advised it has received approval from the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission to purchase multi-species processor Tasman Group. JBS paid $150 million for the Tasman Group with the sale expected to now be finalized on the 2nd of May.

Tasman will become a subsidiary of Greeley, Colo.-based JBS-Swift & Co., already the owner of four beef processing plants and four cattle feedlots in Australia (formerly AMH).

Tasman operates six slaughter facilities and one cattle feedlot.

1. Brooklyn VIC - the largest Multi- Species Plant is the Southern Hemisphere.
2. Cobram VIC - Capacity of 3,000 lamb and sheep a day.
3. Yarrawonga VIC- Capacity 330 cattle aday
4. Longford TAS - Capacity 450 beef & 1,500 Sheep, Lamb & Veal a day.
5. King Island TAS - Capacity 180 Cattle a day
6. Davenport TAS - 150 Cattle & 2,500 Sheep, Lamb & Veal a day.
7. Yambinya feedlot NSW - Licensed to Feed 25,000 cattle & 45,000 Lambs. 7,000 acres of country and 5,000 megalitres of irrigation water. Extensive cropping area.

The newly structured Australian assets will have more than 5,000 employees and a capacity to slaughter some 25,000 animals per day.

JBS purchased Swifts last July 2007 for $US1.4 billion ($A1.7 billion) which owned AMH with has abattoirs in Townsville, Rockhampton and Dinmore near Brisbane and at Beef City on the Darling Downs, where it also has a major feedlot that complements similar fattening operations at Mungindi in Queensland and Caroona and Prime City in New South Wales.

With a market capitalisation in Brazil of $US3.2 billion, JBS is South America’s largest beef processor and one of the world’s largest exporters with 23 plants in Brazil and six in Argentina.

JBS is currently awaiting U.S. Department of Justice approval for acquisitions of U.S. beef processors National Beef Packing Co. and Smithfield Beef Group.

If approved, JBS-Swift, currently the third-largest U.S. beef processor in terms of slaughter capacity, would become the USA’s largest beef processor and control some 30 percent of its entire slaughter capacity.

That will mean JBS will be the largest beef processor on three continents - North America, South America and Australia.

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What do you think will be the consequences for beef producers in North America, South America and Australia of JBS’s domination of the worlds export beef production?

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