G’day, new here

[Harpy]

@Harpy

We get them here a bit also, used to have a small flock of red tails, they don't come so much now as the few stands of pines have been felled. Not many, maybe 30 or 40 trees at most but a lot of food for cockies. The greenies came up with the idea to wipe out all the pines because not native, however, they never see the big picture, and take no account of the fact that the pines replace other food sources that have been clearfelled by people.

So true, people just cut em down and don’t replace then with anything else.
I got pine trees lining the fence line on my 3 acreas
The pollen is horrendous
What’s left of the pine cones i use for the fire in winter , easy to get it going with. The excess I bag up and sell , my kids got the money back in the day , now I split the $ up with my grandkids.

We have about half a dozen pines still, have lost a few to just natural death over the past few years, one from winds, so less food for the birds.

I actually had a massive pine tree die and finally fell over the back fence. Not sure how it will get moved.

 

[Harpy]

I can get 2 meters of them now while filling up their food trays

 

[BlueBells]

@Harpy

If you know anyone reputable, they may be able to cut and remove, it is good firewood, and you may find someone that turns wood.

Latter by far the better option.

Nice pic. When I spend the time to figure how to do it, I'll get some I got of the magpies here before they left, they don't come much anymore at all

 

[Harpy]

@BlueBells
i had removed 4 large pines last year as i just had a large solar system put on roof and them 4 trees shaded all the roof from about 2.30 pm. But I did replace them with 20 Lilly pilly trees.
The wood I organised with the tree Lopper to cut them up in 5m lengths and gave to the local “man shed” so they will make more beautiful toys out of.

 

[sunkacola]

@Harpy

We get them here a bit also, used to have a small flock of red tails, they don't come so much now as the few stands of pines have been felled. Not many, maybe 30 or 40 trees at most but a lot of food for cockies. The greenies came up with the idea to wipe out all the pines because not native, however, they never see the big picture, and take no account of the fact that the pines replace other food sources that have been clearfelled by people.

We have about half a dozen pines still, have lost a few to just natural death over the past few years, one from winds, so less food for the birds.

This happens all too often. I am all for being "green" and doing what really needs to be done about invasive species. But as you say, we have to look at the bigger picture, and not damage, destroy or cause extinction of another species in the process. I also think that people have been meddling with nature so long that they just think they can do whatever they decide is "right" to do right now, and not always for good reasons, not always with forethought.

In some ways, I feel that less meddling overall would really be better. the fact is, this planet was fine without us for hundreds of millions of years. And species came and went, migrated, wiped each other out, thrived and then did not thrive, and the climate changed and it was all part of the planet being a planet with life forms on it. Then along came people and started messing with it. Now we've messed so much that we may have caused it to become unlivable for our species and some others. But even if we die out as a species, the planet will continue just fine without us, once again.

I wish that we human beings had overall taken a different approach to this world, wanted to live with it rather than use it.

 

[BlueBells]

@sunkacola

I was going to reply, but it may aggravate those with opposing views, so I will simply say that, at times I am sad to belong to the most despicable species of all

Of course, as individuals there are very many truly wonderful people out there, for sure, but the history of the species, overall, isn't too good. I'm meaning historically, cave man days already going in the wrong direction.

 

[Harpy]

@sunkacola , well said.
Our forests and natural bushlands should not be aloud to be cut down.
@BlueBells
Sure is a sad world, everybody is entitled to an opinion and accept what each has to say , like what we say or not , some need to eat some cement and harden the heck up.

 

[sunkacola]

Well, there may be opposing views, but I think as long as we are polite and stating only our own opinions it's OK to discuss things like this.

Human beings are my least favorite species, but in general I am just not fond of primates the way I am of other animals. I avoid people for the most part for many reasons.

But while I sometimes feel I "hate people", I don't really and truly. I avoid people, yes. I don't trust people. But I don't completely blame us for what we have done. Yes, the destruction of our own habitat is definitely our own fault.....we are responsible for that. But, when I think about how, as @BlueBells says, as far back as the cave people it already started going in the wrong direction, I am reminded of children and the fact that it is now scientifically proven that human brains do not fully mature until they are about 25 years old. Prior to that, the full functioning of reason, ability to conceive of consequences, and rational methodic process is usually not present, or is not present to the degree it is at maturity.

Then, I consider that most human beings, until very recently like the past hundred years, didn't live very long. Prior to that, most people were reproducing at 13, and dying at 30. Right about when they were getting some sense, they were old and died.

And I think of the species in the same way. A species also has to mature, and ours has not been around for really all that long, let alone with the ability to do what we have done in the past 200 years. Human beings have these huge brains and opposable thumbs and we have been able to invent things. We got extremely far ahead of ourselves. Everyone figured, (for example) if we have invented plastic, we should use it! And sell it! and make money and so on. No one even thought about the consequences.....where does it go? Oh....does it biodegrade? And by the time people like Rachel Carson started sounding the alarm it was already 1960 and pretty much too late because no one really believed it, and no one wanted to give up convenience, and no one who was making money on it wanted to stop making the money. We could have stopped it then, but didn't because not enough people were willing to take it seriously. Or cared enough about the future.

That's immaturity, right there. Like a teenager who is having fun doing something dangerous and doesn't believe that the accident that maims them for life could happen.
There was not the equivalent of an Adult around for the human species, to keep us in check and teach us to think about the consequences of our actions.

I think of the current situation as our destiny. I don't think it could have gone any different way. It could go a different way now, but it's too late, and there are too many people, and politics and greed will prevent there being enough done to save our species from our fate. To me, the good news is that the planet will recover and be fine once we are gone.

Sure wish I could come back in a thousand years and see it.

 

[BlueBells]

@Harpy @sunkacola

Very true, but some cannot see both sides, only their own. I can see many sides, and I come to my own conclusions, and they aren't always "in line" with what the media is feeding us.

I heard the magpies, fleetingly, this morning. They tend to be quiet, I think the crappy neighbours hate them, and they seem to have succeeded in scaring all birds away, even sparrows and starlings !

I just noticed I hadn't pressed "send", so I'll add to it

I am reminded of children and the fact that it is now scientifically proven that human brains do not fully mature until they are about 25 years old.

Interesting. We went against the ex's mothers standard that the boy must take over the farm, just no option there. We said we would let them decide, and would not expect them to decide before 25, as we both felt that, looking around and at our own experience, by that age people are more likely able to make a life decision. We did the right thing, son nowhere a farmer, more office work, and daughter.....not that keen for the job, so the farm went the way small farms do.

 

[Harpy]

@Harpy @sunkacola

Very true, but some cannot see both sides, only their own. I can see many sides, and I come to my own conclusions, and they aren't always "in line" with what the media is feeding us.

I have a sister, she can only see her side and no one else’s, ever her kids as adults now have succumb to what she says is it.
My mum chose to move in with me, she sold up her huge property and built a granny flat her, oh the rath of the S, she still tells me to take mum up to her when she wants to see her. Guess what ? I grew a set and some how always book my appointments or have grandkids here, oops my bad.

I heard the magpies, fleetingly, this morning. They tend to be quiet, I think the crappy neighbours hate them, and they seem to have succeeded in scaring all birds away, even sparrows and starlings !

My magpies are sneaky , they be out of site till I call my kookas for a feed then there comes the half dozen Maggie’s, so I use twice as much meat now ? Funny not matter how little $$ we have I can always feed the birds.
Sorry but I’d scare of those starling too oh and them rotten myna birds

Interesting. We went against the ex's mother’s standard that the boy must take over the farm, just no option there. We said we would let them decide, and would not expect them to decide before 25, as we both felt that, looking around and at our own experience, by that age people are more likely able to make a life decision. We did the right thing, son nowhere a farmer, more office work, and daughter.....not that keen for the job, so the farm went the way small farms do.

When the H father died. We brought out his two brothers shares in this place and I paid it out with my money.
It’s only 3acreas and a40 km drive and you got everything.
Now my son says it’s his, he will buy out his two sisters when the time comes.
Though we’re reasonably close to everything.

 

[BlueBells]

@Harpy

When they were coming in, I had magpies, crows, wattle birds, on rare occasions silver eyes, and a few sparrows, not really any starlings.

Neighbour complained to someone that they objected to me feeding the birds, and in a matter of a few days, the rare occasions the magpies or crows would come, they were skittish, and if the neighbours wire door bangs, instantly gone!

I don't mind the odd sparrow or starling, better than no wildlife at all.

No Indian Mynas yet, but truly, they are one invasive species that should be wiped out. They build in numbers and kill every other bird around, and several years ago, I heard of a person in Sydney where the numbers were so great, they would group and attack cats and smaller dogs. By this time, there were virtually no other birds in the area.

How smart are humans. "" Native to India, Asia and the Middle East, the Indian myna is a medium-sized bird with a yellow bill and brown and black feathers. Indian mynas were first released in Australia in the 1860s to control pests in Victoria's market gardens.""

Right up there with cane toads

So pleased to hear you are standing up to your sister. I hear of that sort of attitude quite a bit. A person was moving, and I allowed her to store a few outdoor things at my place,, and her son would fetch then in the next few weeks.

That's a couple of years ago, she's accusing me of stealing them, and expects me to do a round trip of about five hours to deliver them. The son can get them, I am not delivering, I can't drive that distance most of the time anyway. of course, she says I'm lying. Not my problem!

 

[Harpy]

@Harpy

When they were coming in, I had magpies, crows, wattle birds, on rare occasions silver eyes, and a few sparrows, not really any starlings.

What are wattle birds ? Don’t forget the blue wrens so pretty.

Neighbour complained to someone that they objected to me feeding the birds, and in a matter of a few days, the rare occasions the magpies or crows would come, they were skittish, and if the neighbours wire door bangs, instantly gone!

My friends had neighbors like that, glad mine are far enough away not to scare my birds off.

I don't mind the odd sparrow or starling, better than no wildlife at all.

No Indian Mynas yet, but truly, they are one invasive species that should be wiped out.

I don’t mind sparrows. Used to catch as kids just to hold them for a bit and let em go.
Shopping centres around Newcastle I have seen myna bird traps, my daughter over the rd has a couple but none here thankfully.

They build in numbers and kill every other bird around, and several years ago, I heard of a person in Sydney where the numbers were so great, they would group and attack cats and smaller dogs. By this time, there were virtually no other birds in the area.

Wow never knew the birds did that, now I dislike them all the more.

How smart are humans. "" Native to India, Asia and the Middle East, the Indian myna is a medium-sized bird with a yellow bill and brown and black feathers. Indian mynas were first released in Australia in the 1860s to control pests in Victoria's market gardens.""

Right up there with cane toads

And the rotten fox

So pleased to hear you are standing up to your sister. I hear of that sort of attitude quite a bit. A person was moving, and I allowed her to store a few outdoor things at my place,, and her son would fetch then in the next few weeks.

Funny hey, taken me 60 years to get the courage. Still scared of her

That's a couple of years ago, she's accusing me of stealing them, and expects me to do a round trip of about five hours to deliver them. The son can get them, I am not delivering, I can't drive that distance most of the time anyway. of course, she says I'm lying. Not my problem!

Definitely not your problem,
Some people think there so special, but their not, we’re all the same. Half are nice and the other half are bullies

 

[BlueBells]

@Harpy

Ah but, you know why we have foxes, and rabbits? The early poms wanted to see rabbits in the garden, to feel more at home, and also liked their rabbit pie. Foxes, well, the 'gentry' had to have their fox hunting, didn't they?

Learnt that in history at school, when we were still permitted to learn things.

Wattle birds, You should have them there also, they are related to honey eaters. They have red 'wattles' dangling under their throat. Until recently, I thought the name meant they feed on wattle trees, but , I obviously didn't read enough

It's taken me 60 years to stand up to people, still learning curve, but hey.....I am learning not to be manipulated about my house renos, and that was so hard, I was crumbling and near tears, but I stood up!!!! Got a great builder, he actually 'heard' me. Don't think ex is totally happy that I went my own way on , simple but important thing, bench height.

Depending on how my arms are, too high I would not be using my bench, hence kitchen would look pretty but be unusable.

 

[sunkacola]

Funny not matter how little $$ we have I can always feed the birds.

 

[sunkacola]

We had Maggie-Pies in our yard when I was a kid. When they moved in, our backyard bird neighborhood went down the drain, all the song birds moved out! But we liked the magpies too, so it was OK with us. I've always liked them. Don't see them where I live now, instead there are ravens, who are just as interesting.