Off with the Birds - Silvereye

Finally I am getting around to a project I have been meaning to start for ages. It's taken the boredom of this enforced isolation and a very a painful back from too much gardening to get me motivated.

Australia has an abundance of beautiful birds, most of which are only found in this island which separated from the rest of the world eons ago. I would like to share with you some of those birds which live in my part of Australia and which give me so much joy.

Today's offering is the Silvereye - Zosterops lateralis.  This pretty little bird is familiar and widespread with 9 generally similar Australian races.  They inhabit Eucalypt woodlands, coastal heaths, mallee, mangroves, parks and gardens all along the eastern and southern coast and Tasmania. Most of the southern varieties move northwards for winter. They are useful in the garden as they eat unwelcome insects as well as fruit and nectar. Their nest is a small tightly woven cup of fine grasses, hair and fine bark fibre bound with spider webs. They usually have 2- 4 pale blue eggs in a clutch. and can breed several times in good seasons.

The Silvereyes we get here are Race pinarochrous. Other races may have more olive plumage, white and yellow areas.

As you can see from my photos, they are friendly, gregarious fellows who love the birdbath.

 Silvereyes are not exclusive to Australia, they are also native to New Zealand and the South-west Pacific Islands.



Liz Needle  -  Linking with "Our World Tuesday" and " Wild Bird Wednesday".