Mullens in the Morning

Very early morning light makes the bay look beautiful even with the tide out.
The air is especially clear and even common birds look interesting. These pelicans were roosting well out across the flats and I could not get any closer to them. It's nice to see some of them around since many of them are still out west where there are still lots of wet areas.
These Crested Pigeons showed off their plumage colors much better against the sky than they do when they are foraging in the dirt at my house.
These White-breasted Woodswallows were still roosting all tucked up together on a branch. This is the way they prefer to roost rather than to have more room around them.
To finish off the bird photographs I had taken, this Sacred Kingfisher stayed just close enough for me to get it in focus.
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Pigeons and Doves

When I first came here to live there were Crested Pigeons everywhere. Then a couple of years ago I saw the first Spotted Turtle-Doves. These are not native to Australia but were introduced and can replace the native species. I saw fewer and fewer Crested Pigeons while the others were always somewhere around the yard. - Spotted Turtle-DoveLast Friday (in a brief spell of fine weather!) I saw Crested Pigeons roosting on the electricity wires going in to the neighbor's house. I counted 18 in all - sitting in several groups along the wires. This was one group.They watched me come out with my camera and gradually move closer. Some looked at me from one side and some watched from the other - some simply looked bored as if they wished I would leave!At least I now know that their numbers are not decreasing around here - even if they are not in my yard so frequently.
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Pigeons and Doves

Crested Pigeons (or Topknots as they are sometimes called) have been in my yard ever since I moved here. I think they have been nesting in some thick shrubs in my neighbor's yard. They have foraged around the yard and perched up on the electricity wires. I would certainly miss seeing them if they were not here.
A few years ago a new bird started perching and foraging in the same places. It is a Spotted Turtle Dove which was introduced into Australia from the 1860s onward and is expanding its range all the time. In the last few weeks I have been seeing fewer Crested Pigeons and more Spotted Turtle Doves and it even seems that the Doves are taking over the shrubs where the Pigeons formerly nested.
Introduced species always change the balance of the environment. Unfortunately our native species don't seem to compete so well. Of course, all introduced species are more carefully managed now but we are still left with the problems created by earlier introductions which were allowed before it was realized just how delicately balanced the environment is. I hope the Doves don't push the Pigeons out of my yard!
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