July, 1921 
The Queensland Naturalist. 
> 
The Sacred Kingfisher was a very friendly chap, and 
used to fly out to the boat and come under the awning 
to have a look at me. He also enjoyed perching on the 
bobstay and twanging it with his bill — I think the 
vibration he caused must have tickled his toes nicely. 
Watching a flock of Herons rise one day, I noticed 
that the foot of one of the birds was firmly enclosed in 
£ bivalve. Needless to say, the Heron did not “trim’" 
itself, but flew off with its legs hanging down, and carried 
the bivalve out of sight. 
At night many hundreds of birds — Crows. Herons. 
Ibis, and Cormorants — roosted in big mangrove trees 
about 50 yards from the shore, and the commotion and 
noise as they got ready to roost beggared description. 
The “Shags’* always waited along the edge of the water 
until the other birds settled; then they took up positions 
on the outer branches of the trees, their breasts 
looking like big white flowers in the dusk. We routed 
the birds out occasionally, just for the joy of seeing them 
all circling in the air and hearing their protesting cries as 
they got back to bed. 
The White-cheeked Honeyeaters (Meliornis sericea) 
were flocking on the Southern end of Stradbroke Island 
in February, and were as common and noisy as Sparrows. 
In March they had all gone, and a little grey Honeyeaiter* 
with a dusky head, and a bright song had taken their 
place. 
I think this has been a wonderful season for birds, 
and they have seemed much tamer than usual. Who can 
believe it is the middle of winter while they hear and see 
every day (as I do in my little backyard) Rufous 
Whistlers, White-naped Honey-eaters (“skits” the boys 
call them.' W'hite-shafted Fly-catchers, Wagtails, and 
Pee wees? 
And Java Doves are building at the extremest tip 
of the silky oak. Much chance they have of rearing their 
brood at that altitude unless they put a decent “floor” 
to their nests! 
A pair of Little Cuckoo Shrikes are pulling and 
eating the dead leaves from the fig tree — and all day long 
“the little birds do sing!” 
Probably Stigrnatops otndarix. — Eds. 
