Birds | McCarthy Park

It is great to see so many native birds on our property. Some are common, others a bit less likely to be seen in a suburban block. We have planted so many trees over the years that we are seeing some of these birds more and more often now.

Red-capped parrot

Redcapped parrot

Male Splendid Fairy wren

Female splendid wren

Male splendid wren in the veggie garden

Male Splendid fairy-wren (photo by Lucky Mac Photography)

Female Splendid fairy-wren (photo by Lucky Mac Photography)

Splendid Fairy Wren-Female

Some of the visiting birds have wreaked havoc, like the Heron and Little Bittern, who on separate occasions killed or ate every koi and goldfish from the outdoor ponds as well as piercing the plastic liner! While we are pleased to see native birds, we would actually prefer the heron to leave our fish alone!

White-faced heron

How many fish can I spear?

Equally as wonderful, but also destructive, are the Wedge-tailed Eagles which have caused concern now and then as they look for an easy dinner. This one killed and ate a duck and the rooster before we realised what was causing the deaths and kept the poultry in their pens for a while!

Watching from a safe distance

Eagle in flight

A pair of eagles watching the poultry

We hear the very elusive Fan-tailed cuckoo, but very rarely see it!

Fantailed cuckoo

Crested pigeons

A pair of galahs nested in a hole in this tree for the last two years.

Galah pair getting the nest ready

Galah protecting its nest from the rainbow lorikeets (one in the fork of the tree, one to the right)

Galah family

It is always exciting when the cockatoos come to visit, whether those with white tails or these, the Red-tailed Black Cockatoo. They make a lot of noise, eat the honky-nuts (and make a big mess in the process), and often stay over night.