Search This Blog

Sunday 11 March 2012

BIRDS IN MY SCHOOL

I don't think I have posted on the birds of my school before. This is something I should have done long ago, so without waiting any longer, here it is.
Essendon North Primary School, also known as E.N.P.S, is a school in north Essendon. It is not very diverse in birds. However, 13 birds occur as residents, with more occuring as vagrants. The resident birds are-
LITTLE RAVEN
AUSTRALIAN MAGPIE
SPOTTED DOVE
CRESTED PIGEON
RAINBOW LORIKEET
MUSK LORIKEET
HOUSE SPARROW
WELCOME SWALLOW
NOISY MINER
RED WATTLEBIRD
WHITE-PLUMED HONEYEATER
COMMON BLACKBIRD
WILLIE WAGTAIL
Vagrants include-
SILVER GULL
PACIFIC BLACK DUCK (possibly)
FERAL PIGEON
COMMON MYNA (though birds are often seen just outside the school along Keilor Road, they usually don't come in the school)
COMMON STARLING
SULPHUR-CRESTED COCKATOO
By far the commonest bird in the school is this, the crested pigeon. Almost every day birds can be seen perching on top of the school library. Crested pigeons are native to Australia. They eat small seeds and other vegetation.
A crested pigeon feeds near the school oval
On the school oval, the second-commonest bird is the Australian Magpie. 3 species of honeyeater can be found in the school, all in the Embankment- the white-plumed honeyeater, red wattlebird and noisy miner.
The Embankment is the most bird-rich area of the school. Of the 13 resident birds in E.N.P.S, 7 can be seen in the Embankment. The Embankment is a cliff-like area, with a few eucalyptus trees. These trees attract honeyeaters and lorikeets. The grass near the Embankment attracts crested pigeons. Little ravens can be seen flying overhead, but usually don't land in the Embankment area.
The school can be divided into two birding areas- the Rocky Ground and the Oval.
The Oval consists of the school oval and area around it. The Embankment is part of the Oval. 9 of the resident birds in E.N.P.S can be found in the Oval. It is the most productive area.
The Rocky Ground consists of the more rocky, hard area- Everything other than the Oval area. It is less productive than the Oval. 6 of the resident birds in E.N.P.S inhabit the Rocky Ground.

The most interesting bird in the school is the musk lorikeet. This nectar-drinking species can be found in both areas, but is most often seen in the Rocky Ground. It is often seen drinking nectar from the eucalyptus trees in the teacher's carpark, along with red wattlebirds and occasionally rainbow lorikeets.
A musk lorikeet
Well, that is pretty much it for the birds in my school.

No comments:

Post a Comment