Tuesday, October 31, 2017

End of an Era OR

A New Beginning.
I have lived here for about 14 years and I am finally going to get a new house next door and a new family moving in. I have met the new people and they seem very nice.
The early morning peace and quiet were disturbed by a rattle and a rumble and when I went outside to investigate next door was very busy. Before any work could be done on the land there were two large pine trees to get rid of. This area is surrounded by pine plantations. The pines are not a native species and they spread wherever the seeds blow! The only ones that have really enjoyed these trees are the birds. They have nested in them and roosted in them.  They were not pleased and - being parrots - they expressed their displeasure at the top of their voices - especially that night and the next morning!
There were two fellows with big chain saws, a big truck to take away all the rubbish  and one of those machines that take in branches and stuff on one side and spit it out as chips on the other.
They started by cleaning up all the small stuff that had grown up close to the tree and then cutting down the lower branches.
They next made a good sized scarf cut on one side of the trunk and on the opposite side began hammering in several metal wedges. They had very big heavy sledge hammers which they used very efficiently. I could not see details as I was very safely on the other side of my fence. A few cracking noises and the tree was down!
That left the branches to be cut and chipped and all that is left is the trunk and a big stump -  all of which will need to be taken away at some later date.
These bottle brush flowers - callistemons - are now the highest trees on that side. There was a high breeze blowing and bush birds don't sit nice and still the way shorebirds do! I have a lot of learning to do before I can achieve the photos I want! Please be patient as I learn!!!
Rainbow Lorikeets
White-cheeked Honeyeater

For more scenery  from around the world visit Our World Tuesday http://ourworldtuesdaymeme.blogspot.com.au/

and for more birds visit Wild Bird Wednesday http://paying-ready-attention-gallery.blogspot.com.au/

12 comments:

  1. Oh no! I hope it's not too stressful for you while this is going on.

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  2. There will be a lot of competition for new roosting sites in your neighbourhood.

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  3. It's going to be noisy for a while. Lovely bird shots!

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  4. I have lived here over 40 yrs and seen 5 lots of new neighbours next door. All but one have been great but it's always a bit of a worry when new people move in.

    Next month I am having the large leylandi at the bottom of my garden dismantled. I say dismantled as there is no room to fell it in one go. The firm expect it will take 2.5 to three days as it is over 60 ft high. Cost - a bit over £2000! It's mainly a roost for Wood Pigeons so I will be pleased to see them have to find somewhere else to live.

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  5. Hope they make a nice garden when they finish the house.

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  6. The noise is almost worth it once the job is finished isn't it?

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  7. I love seeing your amazing yard birds! Can't even imagine seeing those colorful birds every day! Very interesting documentation of the tree work -- don't envy you the noise, but since those are non-native trees it is ultimately a good thing.

    Congrats on the new home! That sounds exciting.

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  8. lol, I can understand why the birds was dipleased, I would have been too. :)

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  9. I don't like to see trees cut, but sometimes it is necessary. The birds will find new places to live, though they may continue to make a fuss about their old tree
    I hope you are having a great week!

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  10. Good luck with your new neighbours. I hope they are nature lovers like you. It will be interesting to see how the birdlife changes now that huge tree is down and the extra space available. It could be that you will see new and different species. It often works that way in my experience.

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  11. hope the new next doors work out! Bush birds never sit still! And you can't sneak up on them in a kayak! Welcome to my world!!!

    Cheers - Stewart M - Melbourne

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  12. Its always sad to see trees come down.At least they weren't natives.

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