“However, with the increase in higher density housing, smaller lots of land and larger homes the traditional Australian backyard is disappearing with fewer trees and shrubs being available for birds and other small animals.”

Gould is urging people to think of birds by making sure that they leave a bowl of water in the garden in a safe spot off the ground for birds to get a drink. Ms Colborne said, with the lack of rainfall and excessive temperatures forecast to continue bird life in Australia will continue its migration to the city areas.

The appreciation of Australia’s bird life has never been more important as many of our birds are facing extinction and unfortunately in the past one hundred years we have already lost many species. Teaching children to appreciate bird life in their own gardens is part of developing a life long environmental skill and understanding that is vital given the impact of climate change on the next generation. Australia is home to between 600,000 and 700,000 species, many of which are found nowhere else in the world. About 84% of plants, 83% of mammals, and 45% of birds are endemic – that is, they are only found in Australia.”

The Department of Environment and Water list twenty three birds as extinct, and another forty which are endangered.

Ms Colborne said that with climate change, tree clearing, the removal of habitat in the cities with denser development and the drought, birds and other unique Australian fauna are under increasing threat.

Gould’s Top Tips for Bird Watching

What scares birds?
Three things will frighten birds unnecessarily.
* Pointing with an outstretched arm will often frighten birds close-by.
* Sudden movement eg. a child swinging a bat, throwing a ball or play fighting will frighten birds because they see fast dangerous looking movement.
* Sudden loud sounds unsettle birds, but talking in an even pitched tone will cause little disturbance.

Locating birds:
To find birds, look for movement and locate where sound is coming from. The brightest parrot is invisible in a green tree when it remains motionless. Look for movement in the air, on the ground and among plants. You may also find some birds resting on structures like power lines, roofs etc. Look in the direction of bird calls. Remember not to point with an outstretched arm.

How close can you get?
Most birds will allow you to get reasonably close before they fly away or run off. You can get closer by moving slowly, approaching from the side and not walking directly towards the bird. How close you get may depend on the environment. So parks and your own garden, where birds are used to people are good places to begin bird watching. During duck shooting season, waterbirds may be nervous, and may not let you get within 200 metres of them. But in a park, the same duck may come up and take food from you.

Feeding Birds:
The best way to feed birds is to provide them with appropriate trees, shrubs, grasses and mulch. Many birds appreciate a shallow bird bath. Directly feeding feral birds can potentially cause problems for the survival of some of our native birds.

What do birds do?
There are many interesting books describing the intriguing life of birds. You may like to read some of these books. However you can look through a window into your garden, or go outside and discover first hand the amazing life of birds.

Greg outside his custom-built hide
deep in the heart of Southern Tanzania (2007)

This man has put his health at risk by “sitting in the water for two hours at a time absolutely motionless and waiting for anything to come and drink in front of me! The water is warm but after two hours my vibration reduction technology is working overtime as I am pretty numb and cold. But that is not the worst! A huge troop of baboons spend most of the day at the waterhole and being baboons, they do a substantial amount of their business in the water, so it does not smell all that pleasant and neither do I after soaking in it for two hours!  There are also these mean little midges that feed at surface level and have been chomping on my arms. This has resulted in a very persistent and itchy rash.  The water-snails are also crawling onto my arms and seeking refuge under my watch-strap! The worst though are water-beetles who every now and again give me an excruciating pinch and I have to grin and bear it, sitting motionless so as not to scare off any potential subjects! “ That particular photo shoot resulted in Greg contracting bilharzia and parasites from the baboons!

Wild Lion
“These lion were, and for good reason, shy and skittish. In order to capture them on film, I waited patiently until a particularly hot period infuriated the thirst of the cats. Lying in the water for two months, I contracted bilharzia and parasites from baboons. This image offers partial solace to the feeling that I was born a century too late.”

Red-cheeked Cordon-bleu
“Living in the wild bush country of Southern Tanzania, an ancient grinding stone left by early inhabitants makes for a perfect birdbath. At first, the birds are wild and shy but as time progresses, friendships form. The tiny, yet immaculate Red-cheeked Cordon-bleus allow me to approach within a few feet.”

Portrait of a Predator
“Leopards are for me the most beautiful cats on the African continent. I usually shy away from shooting straight portraits but the golden yellow eyes of my subject complimented by the yellow brown African grass in the background, lead me to include this one in my collection.”

Zebra and Dust
“Ensconced in my hole in the ground, the equatorial sun beating down and Tsetse flies gorging on my flesh, sitting motionless became an extreme test of photographic passion. Ultimately, one brave zebra stuck his head through the dust for a sip of water. The rapid fire of my F100s shutter had never sounded so sweet.“

Leopard Yawn
“The winter sky in South Africa’s lowveld region is brilliantly blue! This leopard was positioned in the fork of a Marula Tree with her golden coat juxtaposed superbly against the blue sky. I had the psychology of colour on my side with the potential makings of a half decent photo: superb light, a clean background and an exquisite subject! All that was missing was a striking pose or gesture on the leopard’s part. Half an hour later, she obliged.”


Thunderstorm
“It was late afternoon on the great plains of Africa and a storm brewed furiously in the east. I watched in awe as a solitary Kongoni wandered across the plains. The cloud formation was like nothing I had seen before, and using a lone tree, I tried to create a sense of balance. Minutes later the storm hit and I became hopelessly disorientated not knowing where my camp was and only getting back in the dark.


Nomads of Massai-land
“In the months prior to this frame, the lioness and cubs had stubbornly refused to drink in the daylight hours. I had waited in my hide until dusk for them on numerous occasions, and twice, upon walking back to camp, I met all eight on foot. I never carried a rifle and both meetings were rather surreal, with the cubs tentatively inquisitive, running forward with ears pricked while mom kept a beady eye on my every movement. I like to think that through such experiences, I gain a greater understanding of my own niche in the ecosystem. Some say my years of bush living have made me blasé?’


Predator of the Night
“I like to portray my subjects in their own environment and also to relate my work to characteristics of their behaviour. Leopards are the ‘proverbial stalkers of the night’ and to portray this, I switched my flash off and used a spotlight from the side. The high ISO performance of today’s modern cameras, allow us to shoot scenes previously impossible to capture! (A special thanks to Outdoorphoto for sponsoring me camera equipment for this project)”

Calabash & Hand
“Traditionally the Maasai only ate blood, water and meat. Once the calabash is full, a stick is used to stir and coagulate the blood. The brilliantly red and highly oxygenated fluid cascades over the edges, staining the calabash and making for a graphic close-up shot.”

Visit the Website of Greg du Toit

I’m not sure how far I would go for my photography and whether I would be willing to take risks like this.  How far would you go as a photographer to get stunning shots.  Would you be willing to endanger your health and even put your life at risk for that potentially award-winning shot?

Below are sample items from the ebook and I learned some good tips  from this 20 page book

Here’s what you’ll learn in this free 20-page eBook:

#1 – How to identify wildflowers

#2 – The secret to getting perfect light

#3 – What to do if you can’t wait for perfect light

#4 – (NEW) How to get a proper exposure

#5 – How to position your camera

#6 – How to get sharper photos

#7 – (NEW) How to get a perfect background

#8 – (NEW) How to battle the wind

#9 – (NEW) How to compose landscapes with wildflowers

#10 – (NEW) How to get butterflies in your photos

#11 – Why it’s important to leave no trace

#12 – How to sharpen your photos in Photoshop

#13 – (NEW) How to darken a background in Photoshop

So, what are you waiting for?

Download the FREE eBook now!

The eBook is in Adobe PDF format (which you can view with Adobe’s free reader).

Here are some of his brilliant photographs

The Cover of Paul Nicklen’s latest Book

A young polar bear leaps between ice ?oes in the Barents Sea, Norway by Paul Nicklen

A kittiwake soars in front of a large iceberg in Svalbard, Norway by Paul Nicklen

Paul Nicklen on assignment

Looking towards an uncertain future, a huge polar male bear triggers a camera trap, taking his own picture at the Leifdefjorden, Spitsbergen, Norway by Paul Nicklen

A gentoo penguin chick peeks, checking for patrolling leopard seals before tempting fate at Port Lockroy, Antarctic Peninsula by Paul Nicklen

Paul Nicklen on assignment in the icy waters

A large bull walrus returns to the shores of Prins Karl Forland after diving and feeding on clams in Svalbard, Norway by Paul Nicklen

In the Arctic spring, meltwater channels drain towards and down a seal hole, returning to the sea by Paul Nicklen

A leopard seal delivers a penguin to Paul by Paul Nicklen

I have always thought that it must be a wonderful opportunity to work on location and do a wildlife photo shoot but looking at these shots of Paul himself in the icy waters, in the freezing cold makes it seem very much like hard work and well outside our comfort zone at times. This will be a wonderful book I’m sure and you can take a sneak preview of it here.

Butterfly Illustration from DryIcons (paid commercial version also available)

Grungy Flowers from DryIcons (paid commercial version also available)

Feather Pen by free graphics art

Attribution Creative Commons

Lilac Wine by manahan on deviantART

Giraffe by Valentina Crespo on DeviantART

Tulip by disable54

Creative Commons – Attribution 3 License

Happy Dolphins by Free Vector Stock

Under Creative Commons Attribution License: This license lets you distribute, remix, tweak, and build upon this work, even commercially, as long as you credit the author for the original creation.

Vector Design 3 by Karen Bak (no license)

Foliage Vectors by Bittbox (no license)

Vector Flowers by Bittbox (No License)

Long-tailed Tits by mbrailer

Love is in the Air – muskrats by Jessika D

Photographer unknown

Photographer unknown

“You’re gonna need a bigger bird” by Petra Z

“One day this will all be yours Simba” – photographer unknown

Smokie, Scottish Fold by Michele H

Photo by Katie L

It Fits I Assure You by Jessica L

Premier Edition – View Sampler here Issue 2 – View Sampler here

Issue 3                                                                                             Issue 4

These eZines contain regular features including:

• artist interviews where they showcase their work
• recommended books and videos
• hand-picked blogs and websites
• garden guests diary
• free downloads (wallpapers, software, ebooks, vectors, Photoshop brushes, icons, clip art etc)
• recommended software for artists and photographers
• time management (strategies and software to help you become more focused, organised and productive)
• exhibitions and competitions
• animals in the news
• wildlife and environment issues and awareness
• wildlife and environmentally friendly products

$2.00 will go to WWF for every sale of the DVD

In the various editions there is invaluable and trusted information by professionals on:

• how to set up a website for newbies
• shopping cart reviews for selling your work on your website
• step-by-step tutorial on airbrushing a Tiger onto Denim
• step-by-step tutorial on how to produce a Magical Forest Scene with Fairies and gorgeous lighting effects using Adobe Photoshop
• how to use Focus Stacking to create pin sharp Photos
• step-by-step painting of Elephants using oil paints
• how to create nature journals
• step-by-step pencil pastel drawing of a cat
• learn all about Silk Painting including the materials and equipment you will need to begin
• step-by-step tutorial on how to turn rocks into gorgeous, painted lady beetles
• step-by-step tutorial on how to create a cute Vector illustration of a Tiger using Adobe Illustrator

Issue 5                                                                          Learn how to airbrush a gorgeous tiger in Issue 2

Make a difference now by helping the natural environment and wildlife we love so much.

The eZines only cost $5.00  and $1.00 per will be donated to WWF Organisation.

Merlo at around 8 weeks

After receiving Myriam’s question in the comments below, I thought it might be helpful to describe in more detail how we finally got the two cats to live in harmony to the point where we are now one happy family.

I am no expert on this and it took my husband and I several months to feel relaxed enough to have the two cats together in the same room!  We were very nervous about the older cat harming the kitten, more so because  ragdolls cannot fight or defend themselves like other cats. We did it very gradually and it was easier because the older cat likes being out doors so we could separate them if need be. It will take a little while and they need to establish a pecking order where the existing cat needs to feel like he/she is the boss as it’s territory has just been invaded!

Finally, the two cats can be together without the fur flying!

What we didn’t do which is worth mentioning at this point is that as soon as you bring the new cat home in a basket, keep the new cat in the basket and put it in a room for a while where the existing cat can choose, of its own accord, to investigate the new feline on its own terms and not feel threatened.  Also, the new cat will be safe from harm inside the basket.  Make a lot of fuss of the existing cat with talking, patting and soothing behaviour. Maybe even give the existing cat some food, treats or a favourite toy to play with to make him/her still feel loved and important despite the new feline guest!

As you can see, he is full of mischief and Ginger, the older cat doesn’t want to know about it.  Merlo is particularly obsessed with Ginger’s rather large, fluffy tail.

In the first few weeks it is probably a good idea to keep the cats separated and provide a safe, warm and comforting environment for the new cat where he/she has a hidey hole if need be where it can feel secure away from the existing cat.  If you don’t have a separate room and are short on space, an alternative is to use something like a baby gate to secure an area of the house for the new cat.  It is equally important to make just as much of a fuss of the new arrival as well as it will be feeling a bit nervous about the other cat.  Kittens, in my experience do not have as much fear of older cats and just want a play mate!  Every day for a little while though, put the new cat in its basket  in a shared area with the existing cat and go through the procedure mentioned above. This stage is all about getting the existing cat used to the presence of the newcomer safely.  I have been told that male cats tolerate female cats better than a fellow male and I would agree with this as Domino, our previous female cat, who passed away, got on famously with Ginger.

We were also advised to plug in “Feliway” which is a product that contains the synthetic version of the naturally occurring facial pheromones of cats. This creates a calming environment for the cats and can reduce stress, aggression and urine spraying in the house. (I personally am not convinced it is that effective and it is not cheap) but some people and most vets swear by it. Check out this link about feliway. You buy the plug in part which goes into any electrical socket and the separate refills which contain the liquid.  If you have a large house you may need more than one and the electrical point should ideally be free of  barriers such as shelves and tables and in an area free of draughts to be most effective.

The next step is to introduce the two cats with the new one out of its basket, under your supervision, gradually.  This, is probably the most difficult stage which requires a lot of patience, persistence and your ability to allow the two cats to have a bit of a confrontation until they sort it out.  By this, I mean that the existing cat may snarl a bit and take a swipe or two at the new cat but as long as there is no imminent danger whilst you are supervising, let it go for as long as you can as they absolutely need to go through this stage. I was worse than my husband during this part of the introduction and I could barely stand to be in the same room at times but even although there was a lot of noise, hissing and pawing, at no stage did Ginger, the older cat, inflict harm on Merlo.  Obviously, your existing cat may be more aggressive but just intervene when you think it is getting nasty and a good, harmless weapon to have on you at this precarious stage of the feline relationship is a water spray bottle which you can spray on the cats to separate them if need be, safely.

This stage is the longest and can be the most difficult but please trust me by persevering as they will sort it out  in time under your observation at all times.  If, at this point in reading this guide you are getting desperate like I was and full of disbelief,  let me share with you a bit more about what  my husband and I went through at this difficult stage.

We would never have believed that we would see our two cats sitting side by side like this – a great feeling!

I love cats and have never had a kitten as demanding and difficult as Merlo – could it be because he is a pure bred ragdoll who is not so easily integrated and adaptable as moggies?  I can honestly say that he is the most selfish, noisy, challenging, disruptive, destructive, annoying and unloving cat I have ever owned.  The only reason I purchased a ragdoll cat was because, apart from their drop dead gorgeous looks, I was led to believe that they were very docile and loving.  I desperately wanted to love this kitten yet the negative behaviour far outweighed anything else he was displaying and I began looking for ways to sell him to a new owner which broke my heart. My husband and I were so close after about six months of sleepless nights, to finding a new home for Merlo which would not only allow us to get our lives back on track but also Ginger, our other cat, who was completely avoiding coming inside.  I can only tell  you that we were at the end of our tether and completely distraught at this stage. I remember having to drive to work after yet, another sleep deprived night of Merlo being troublesome and me barely being able to stay awake at the wheel during my 50 minute drive to the Gold Coast from Redlands. Yet, neither of us could bring ourselves to actually take that step because we both felt so strongly that although Merlo was not what we had expected, he was ours and he deserved our love and a safe and happy environment to grow up.

At the lowest point in all of this I took Merlo to the vet, again when he was about 9 weeks of age and told my veterinarian, through tired sobs that we could no longer cope and were considering adopting him out to a loving home.  Our vet was an angel that day and she suggested that not only was Merlo displaying a young kitten’s playfulness but also as he was not desexed at this stage, he was displaying a primal urge to find females to mate with and we were dealing with a double dose of teenage unrest during the night.  She immediately had him desexed and we went from there.

About one to two months later, we noticed that Merlo has calmed down a lot and stopped demanding my attention every half hour by scratching my legs to shreds. Ginger must have sensed this as well and he wanted to come into the house again so Ginger actually forced us to continue to help him be around Merlo and he seemed to be more tolerant of the kitten and almost, at times, indicated that he was enjoying playing with the youngster.  Ginger came in more and more and eventually Merlo got bored with trying to annoy the older cat and the two of them ended up doing their own thing. One final strategy we adopted was that Ginger loved to chill out on our ironing board which was also safe by its height from the young, adventurous kitten who couldn’t climb or jump up there.  This proved to be Ginger’s safe haven and it was  a Godsend for us.  He was happy to be around the kitten most of the time in the end but when he had enough of the chasing, he jumped on the ironing board and was left alone.

Drop dead gorgeous on my study table

It is only now that I am thankful for our persistence and not giving up as Merlo has become a beautiful, quiet, settled and much more loving cat now that he has outgrown the kitten stage.  He does not shred my legs or pin board any more and comes up for lots  more cuddles and kisses.  He is independent and amuses himself.  He no longer terrorises Ginger to the point where he does not want to come inside. He sleeps until he hears us stir in the mornings and only then jumps on the bed for a scratch under his chin.

Life is good now with our feline companions and my husband and I cannot image not having Merlo in our lives.  Hang on in there if you can and it will get better if you have time to persevere.  We will be celebrating Merlo’s Ist Birthday on the 20 March 2010 and it will indeed be a joyous and loving occasion.

The adult birds are more attractive though with a vivid blue patch around the eye instead of the yellowish-green shown here in this younger bird. The juveniles also have dark brown head feathers rather than black.

Here he is with the pair of noisy miners and it was raining all day today so the birds look rather wet and fluffed up.  Seeing these two species of birds together reveals that they show some similarities around the beak shape and eye area.

I always know when the blue-faced honeyeaters (Entomyzon cyanotis) are around because of their rather shrill call which is a kind of loud yoik and they are quite lively and aggressive around other birds.  They don’t stay still for long and even in these shots there is movement.  Everything about them, in my experience, is quick, restless and aggressive movement – not shy and retiring at all!

As I don’t yet have a decent photograph of an adult bird, I have borrowed an image to show you how attractive the adult birds are with the gorgeous blue colouring around their eyes.

Picture courtesy of: Middle Tennessee Cage Bird Club

Here is some info on this unique plant from Gardening Central

The bat plant plant looks remarkably like the face of a bat. It even has whiskers and a tail. The bat plant is considered to be an exotic plant and will grow the best in warm, subtropical or tropical temperatures. It is usually grown as a house plant but could be grown outside in locations that are always warm. Don’t get discouraged if it doesn’t flower for quite a long time as it generally takes up to three years to produce its first flower, and several more years before it is a large, fully blooming plant. The end product, however, is more than worth the wait.

It has many, many flowers which form the head of the bat–these can be very dark purplish or truly black. The top of the flowers are covered with leaves, which are black.  The plant grows to be around three feet in height. The whiskers grow out of the flower base and hang down the sides. They can be as much as twelve inches long. The bat plant is very difficult to grow and is not a plant that is good for beginning gardeners. Even under tropical temperatures, the flowers are hard to bloom.

The bat flowers and leaves are a little eerie because they really do look like a bat. It is a plant that is bound to get an enormous amount of attention when it is in bloom. Everyone who visits will want to know where you got it and probably want to grow one of their own. The bat plant is hard to find but well worth the effort if you live in a warm climate.