June 



1956 



] 



Wismakt. Birds Galore 



25 



It was an unusual treat for any nature I<iver to sit quietly on the 

 verandah and be entertained by Mine Host and his adopted family. 

 fiusfly scraping away at a piece of stale cheese, he invariably called 

 softlv "Come on lenny". Obedientlv the Blue Wren family popped 

 out from between the slats of the verandah railing t<> pick up cruml>> 

 almost off the toes of his buot>. Yellow Rubins in their usual 

 deliberate manner sat and eyed the proceedings solemnly before 

 breaking their fast while the more sombre coloured Grey Thrushes 

 literally ate out of his hands, and back-stage was a galaxy erf 

 delicately tinted honeyeat^rs busily sipping their watery rations or 

 peeking away at bread ami sugar to their hearts' content. 



The Scrub- \V mi's Xest in the Workroom 



To return home together late in the day after having been absent 

 since early morning was something to remember. Food provided 

 first tiling had not been replenished, tins were empty and the baker 

 had forgotten to call. What a grand welcome we received! Even- 

 bird was doing" its best to emulate Little Tommy Tucker. But thev 

 did not sing, they simply yelled for their supper. While food was 

 being prepared a cloud of feathered youngsters clung to the wire- 

 door, and no collection of babies in a nursery at feeding-time could 

 possibly have created more noise — weight for weight. 



All this to me was an object lesson in what love of nature mixed 

 with kindness plus a wee bit of patience could do to overcome the 

 natural timiditv of our native birds. 



