Rails in the Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney
No Comments »14th October, 2007; Category: Birds, Botanic Gardens, New South Wales, Parks and Gardens, Sydney
Buff-banded Rail, Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney
Most people would never have heard of a bird called a rail, let alone know what a Buff-banded Rail looked like. This species, however, is a resident species of bird present in the Royal Botanic Gardens in the heart of Sydney. Regular visitors to the gardens would certainly be aware of this bird, even if they don’t know its name.
Buff-banded Rails are widespread in Australia in suitable habitat. They generally are not present in the drier inland regions. The field guide I use most often says they are commonly found in “well-vegetated gardens.” Botanic gardens certainly fit that requirement.
I have not seen this species all that many times so it was a delight to see this one, and it was a bonus to get a good photo. Normally I have found them to be rather secretive. I tried to photograph this species last year during a visit to the Royal Botanic Gardens in Sydney. On that occasion the batteries in my camera went flat just minutes before seeing the bird. Aaaaaaah! Lesson learned – I always carry spare batteries since that day!
Going Batty – in the Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney
No Comments »13th October, 2007; Category: Animals, Botanic Gardens, New South Wales, Parks and Gardens, Sydney
Grey-headed Flying Foxes
Our holidays in New South Wales
September 2007
Grey-headed Flying Foxes, a species of fruit bat, have formed a large colony in the heart of the Royal Botanic Gardens in the heart of Sydney.
I must say that the presence of these bats adds a certain interesting aspect to the wildlife of the gardens. The truth of the matter, however, is far different. This colony has caused enormous problems for the gardeners trying to protect the heritage trees of the Botanic Gardens. These trees were planted in the early days of settlement and make a very valuable and quite rare collection of plants. The Flying Foxes, by their sheer numbers, have been destroying these trees. Consequently, attempts are being made to discourage the bats from roosting there.
Grey-headed Flying Foxes
Flying foxes are large bats, weighing up to 1 kg, with a wing span which may exceed one metre. They sleep during the day and feed on pollen, nectar and fruit at night. In the wild they are important pollinators and seed dispersers of native trees. Seeds are discarded in the faeces or fall where the fruit is being eaten. These seeds germinate when conditions are suitable and ensure that dispersal occurs in a wide area. (Quoted from the Botanic Gardens Trust website).
For more information about the Flying Foxes and the struggle to protect the trees click here.
Grey-headed Flying Foxes
How to see the Royal Botanic Gardens the easy way
No Comments »12th October, 2007; Category: Botanic Gardens, Holidays, New South Wales, Parks and Gardens, Sydney
Trackless Train tours, Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney
Our holiday in New South Wales
September 2007
The Royal Botanic Gardens in the heart of Sydney are quite extensive. These beautiful gardens are an excellent place to visit for a relaxing walk or picnic while in Sydney. The gardens cover about 30 hectares and for those who tire easily there is a great service. You can take a tour through the gardens on the trackless train (see photo above). These run every twenty minutes from the Opera House and cover a large part of the gardens. It stops several times along the way. There is a charge for this service.
Guided walks, however, are free. These are conducted daily (currently 10:30am). The restaurant and cafe is an excellent place to buy food and drinks and recover from all that walking. The Gardens Shop has an excellent range of plant related items for sale.
For more information, go to the website of the gardens by clicking here.
Photo Gallery Update
No Comments »11th October, 2007; Category: Photos
Have you visited our Photo Gallery recently?
This morning the gallery passed the 800,000 views mark.
If you have never visited the gallery – or haven’t been there for a while, go and have a look. Our family has posted over 1230 photos in a wide range of categories – birds, animals, scenery (Australia and overseas), flowers, travel and culture, architecture – go and have a look. There’s something for most people.
Most of the photos are mine but both my wife and son have contributed many too.
Links:
Sydney Opera House
Keep a watch on your lunch
Noisy Miner
Our holiday in New South Wales
September 2007
Soon after arriving in the Royal Botanic Gardens in Sydney we found a comfortable shaded seat. We quite often take our lunch with us rather than buying food. This is because we can rarely predict where we will be for meals. It gives us a flexibility that suits us.
On this occasion we had made some sandwiches and brought along some fresh fruit to have for lunch. While we were eating this Noisy Miner, one of the honeyeater family of Australian birds, decided that our lunch looked tasty. He came quite close but when we weren’t forthcoming with a handout he went to the person sitting on the next seat who was more obliging. The bird then flew directly to some nearby bushes. I suspect it had a nest there with some little ones in it.