FIELDS
OF GOLD
How pleasing to notice the re-emergence of the beautiful everlasting daisy (Helichrysum
Bracteatum) along the Tin Can Bay foreshore and other surrounding areas. During
the summer months the flowers of these paper daisy were quite spectacular. They
are noticeably more prevalent in areas where mowing has ceased and the soil
is sandy. Native to Australia and sometimes known as “straw flowers”
they are often used in dry flower arrangement as they retain their form and
colour. Hopefully these beautiful wildflowers will live up to their name “everlasting”
and continue to thrive as such.
Free
Copy
SScarlet
Honeyeater
The male scarlet honeyeater has a distinctive curved beak and its head, throat
and rump are bright scarlet. The female is an olive brown with only a tint
of scarlet on its chin. It feeds on nectar in tall flowering eucalyptus, melaleucas
on the foreshore and commonly visits gardens to feed on callistemon. Cobwebs,
bark and fibre is used to build a flimsy cup shape nest in thick foliage in
fork of a tree. Sometimes it will hover on fast beating wings to probe a flower
for nectar. They are nomadic and disappear (probably south) from Tin Can Bay
during the summer. Their voice is tinkling and bell-like.
The mistletoe male bird on the other hand has a short thick bill, and the
colour is on the underside of the body - the throat, breast and undertail
is scarlet. The female is mostly grey all over with a touch of scarlet under
the tail. The voice
is sharp and high pitched “swee-swit” with a sharp “wit”
in flight. Its nest is suspended like a babies bootee with a side entrance
and is made from cobweb and mattered plant down and decorated with caterpillar
bits and lichen.
Winter
Edition 2000
A publication of Cooloola Coastcare
c/o PO Box 155, Gympie 4570
Published
with the assistance of Coastcare - a cooperative Commonwealth/State/Local
Government program supporting communities caring for our coast.
page
2
Mistletoe
Bird
These birds also are somewhat nomadic as they follow the flowering mistletoe.
The stomach, (which most birds have) is very unusual as it is a straight tube,
allowing the mistletoe seeds to travel through within 25 minutes - hence rapid
spreading the mistletoe. Has a rapid, irregular flight pattern.
SHORELINES
People have often asked about the tiny red and black bird that they often observed
on the foreshore or in their gardens. Well,
there are two such birds that commonly visit our foreshore, the scarlet honeyeater
and the mistletoe bird. They are very
different birds and close examination is required to distinguish between them
until you are familiar with their habits.
Helichrysum
-
Bracteatum
