New Zealand Garden Diary: It's Spring and the Birds are Busy

The birds are very busy in Lyttelton at the moment. I saw a pair of kingfishers on a fence by the Bridle Path this week, the grey warblers are singing their little hearts out and the skies are a superhighway of sparrows.⁠

Click to see options for using the image

Click to see options for using the image

Blackbirds are one of the many non-native species introduced to New Zealand by (homesick? crazy?) Brits a hundred or so years ago. They do very well here and they drive me crazy as they mess up garden beds and disturb seedlings looking for earthworms, etc. But I guess they have got just as much right to be here as me.

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New Zealand Garden Diary: The South Island Robin

New Zealand South Island Robin: Click to see options for using the image

New Zealand South Island Robin: Click to see options for using the image

The South Island Robin is one of my favourite birds. You don't see it very often in Lyttelton, because there are too many predators (cats, dogs, rats and stoats) and not enough bush to hide in. I have seen them quite often when out tramping in native forest, but it was a delight to encounter one at my friend’s place on the West Coast.

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New Zealand Garden Diary: Growing Sunflower Seeds to Feed Birds

Growing your own bird seed (Click to see options for using the image)

Growing your own bird seed (Click to see options for using the image)

When the weather gets colder, I will be buying seedy fat balls from the Lyttelton farmers market to hang out on the bird table I made. I also put out seeds, grains and water. But in the meantime I am happy to let the birds fatten up on the sunflower seeds from the heads I saved. I think next year I will grow a lot more sunflowers as I love the look of them and I love watching the birds.

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New Zealand Garden Diary: Happy Trees, Including Fred the Fig

Growing figs, feijoas and olives in New Zealand

Fred the Fig is doing well - Click to see options for using the image

Fred the Fig is doing well - Click to see options for using the image

A long, hot summer with regular watering and use of mulch has meant happy trees up in the back section. I can’t believe Fred the Fig and Fiona the Feijoa each produced two fruits in the first year. I’ve cleared the weeds and put on more mulch (the ground is already wet from rain). Hopefully we’ll get more next year.

No olives on Olive yet, but lots of growth

No olives on Olive yet, but lots of growth

Fiona the feijoa

Fiona the feijoa

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