Let the birds sing …

LET THE BIRDS SING

For decades I’ve taken great delight in photographing many of the different species of birds on our property. To see the same parents return to nest and rear young each year is always thrilling, especially, when the first squeaks and squawks can be heard from the nest – the babies have hatched. Yes, there are the inevitable failures and a couple of unpreventable tragedies but the successes far outweigh the dramas.

I’ve always been aware that Australia’s unique native flora and fauna are threatened through illegal wildlife exports. I also read how illegal imports are a means of transportation for the introduction of diseases into Australia.

It’s a disturbing thought that our magnificent birds are being captured at an alarming rate. With this in mind I decided to include a reminder of illegal exports in my latest children’s book Danika and Yatimah in a Race for Rain.

In the story there is a galah called Kevin who lost his leg after being trapped in a net. Just as Yatimah is based on our 35 year old foundation mare Simeon Sarah, Kevin in the story is based on a real life galah we called Kevin who comes for seed every so often. During one of these visits some years ago we noticed he only had one leg. Our Kevin is a little scruffy and he tends to sit down to rest his leg but he manages to cope with his handicap.

I felt a reminder and a few hard facts directed to all the wonderful, conscientious children out there will make them realise that Australia’s most loved birds such as major Mitchell’s, gang-gangs, black cockatoos, birds of prey and even the darling little finches, are in trouble. I read Australia’s beautiful birds are used for novelties and in the manufacture of ornaments. Pet shops, zoos and circuses around the world buy live animals (not just birds). Specialist collectors and aviculturists also make known they desire live wildlife.