Broome’s Poinciana bushes – 10,000 Birds

Poinciana trees will not be native to Australia, however they develop very properly within the north and are sometimes present in native parks. Most individuals are conversant in their vivid pink colors and their lengthy seed pods, however what’s price noting is that birds like them too! There are a number of Poinciana bushes in Cygnet Park in Broome and the close by roundabouts and road verges. We’re nonetheless ready for rain and the Poinciana bushes provide substantial shade. Additionally they provide a superb alternative for birds to nest. The nest within the header photograph in a Poinciana tree belongs to a Little Friarbird and so they have been breeding lately and there are lots of juvenile birds about.

The Magpie-larks have additionally been breeding lately and in addition utilizing the Poinciana bushes for nesting. They construct their nests out of mud. There’s not mud usually until it rains, however these nests are additionally resilient to moist climate and final for a while within the Poinciana bushes. Magpie-larks accumulate “mud” from our backyard the place the water we offer for the birds overflows.

Magpie-lark nest

They haven’t been capable of water the grass and vegetation at Cygnet Park in latest weeks because of the water tank being changed. This has despatched among the native bushes into stress and they’re flowering, which can be attracting birds. The Hakea macrocarpa is flowering once more and so is the pink flowering gum.

Hakea macrocarpa flower

Pink flowering gum

Because the Poinciana bushes misplaced their leaves we abruptly “misplaced” our household of Tawny Frogmouths. Nevertheless, we knew they weren’t distant and we imagine we might have discovered their nest in a close-by Poinciana tree now it has additionally misplaced its leaves. That they had been there at night time, as a result of we discovered feathers within the morning.

Tawny Frogmouth nest and feather

As you may see, the grass is getting very dry and crispy while we look ahead to rain or the water tank to get replaced, so the reticulation can begin up once more. The small roundabouts within the streets round Cygnet Park are on a special watering system, so we went to verify the Poinciana tree in the course of a close-by roundabout. No shock actually, however we discovered the Tawny Frogmouths! That they had discovered one other Poinciana tree that also had leaves and so they had been nonetheless near the streetlights that provide bugs at night time! We had been more than happy to seek out the Tawny Frogmouth household had not relocated too far!

Tawny Frogmouths in the course of a roundabout

We now have additionally found this week that the Tawny Frogmouth breeding season is much from over with one other nest in one other Poinciana tree near Brolga Park. This Tawny Frogmouth nest is even greater, but in addition near streetlights that entice bugs to feed on at night time.

Tawny Frogmouth nest

One different very giant Poinciana tree in Cygnet Park has supplied a shock this week. There are presently three very hungry and really vocal juvenile Brown Goshawks that roost in it. It appears their requires meals are relentless! Their dad and mom actually do have loads of searching to do, however having bought them to this stage of growth they should be doing one thing proper! They’re all the time collectively in the identical tree, however by no means too shut to one another. Listed below are a number of of the poses from the three birds over the past couple of days.

Juvenile Brown Goshawks

It is vitally clear that regardless of the Poinciana tree not being a local tree in Broome it has advantages to our native birdlife. In fact it’s all the time good to face beneath a shady tree presently of 12 months when the warmth and humidity are difficult! Perhaps we’ll get rain for a Christmas present from nature!