Birds and fern

Although it is a beautiful day a sad note comes in the form of a lorikeet, found lying on the road this morning. Rather than leave it there to be run over my friend picked it up and brought it here. It has no obvious injury (not that I am an expert) and may just be stunned, so I have put it out of the way of dogs and cat and will see how it goes.

I have seen a surprising number of dead birds on the roads recently - all different sorts. Most surprising was a dead kookaburra. I think I saw more dead birds last month that I have done in the previous year - mostly on the road between here and Toronto. Birds are usually so good at getting out of the way, but I guess if they are swooping across low after insects they just get flattened along with the bug they are chasing. I was told recently that one reason for keeping the grass cut low by the road side is to minimise bird kill - I always thought it was to minimise fire risk from those smokers who toss their lit butts out the window.

My tree fern is uncurling yet another leaf today - I love the way they look when they are like this - all delicate and tender like a baby.

UPDATE: The lorikeet, after about an hour of not doing very much and looking somewhat subdued and pathetic, stood up properly inside the box where I had placed it for safe keeping, hopped up to the edge, sat there for a few moments, looked at me with his red-violet eye and then flew off.