Just a quick post about the backyard birds - since we asked the Cockatoos to move on (with limited success) the King Parrots have been more numerous. The fact that it's the middle of winter may be one explanation for the increase in numbers but I'd like to think it's because they like us - feeding them.
When we came back from our week away they greeted us with tapping claws (Where have you been? Why haven't you been feeding us?) so I put out an extra tray of food to make up for our absence.
I love watching the Bower birds, Wattle birds, Crimson Rosellas, Sparrows and occasional Currawong from the kitchen window in the morning .
That and the mountain air always helps to dispell the city malaise.