Organic Consumers Association of Australia’s Post

The Golden-breasted Starling (Lamprotornis regius) is a species of starling found in parts of sub-Saharan Africa. It is known for its striking and vibrant plumage, featuring a golden or yellow breast and a glossy, iridescent blue or purple body. Here are some key characteristics and facts about the Golden-breasted Starling: Appearance: As the name suggests, the most distinctive feature of this starling is its golden or yellow breast feathers. The rest of its body has glossy, metallic blue or purple feathers, depending on the angle of light. Its eyes are bright yellow, and the bill is black. Range: The Golden-breasted Starling is native to several countries in sub-Saharan Africa, including Angola, Burundi, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia. Habitat: These starlings are typically found in a variety of habitats, including woodlands, savannas, and open countryside. They are often seen in small groups or flocks and are known for their acrobatic flight and musical calls. Behavior: Golden-breasted Starlings are omnivorous birds. They primarily feed on fruits, seeds, and insects. Their diet may vary depending on the seasonal availability of food. Breeding: During the breeding season, these starlings build cup-shaped nests in tree cavities or other suitable locations. The female lays a clutch of eggs, and both parents take turns incubating them and caring for the chicks. IUCN Status: The Golden-breasted Starling is classified as a species of Least Concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). However, like many other bird species, they may face threats such as habitat loss and fragmentation, which could impact their populations in specific regions. As with any species, it's essential to continue monitoring and protecting the Golden-breasted Starling's natural habitats to ensure their survival in the wild. Conservation efforts and research can help us better understand and preserve these beautiful birds

The red-winged starling (Onychognathus morio) The red-winged starling is territorial, aggressive and intolerant when nesting, and will attack other species, including domestic animals and humans. When not breeding, red-winged starlings are highly gregarious and will associate with other members of their species in large flocks. This starling is a cliff nester, breeding on rocky cliffs, outcrops and gorges. The red-winged starling builds a lined nest of grass and twigs, and with a mud base, on a natural or structural ledge. It lays two to four, usually three, blue eggs, spotted with red-brown. The female incubates the eggs for 13–14 days, with another 22–28 days to fledge. This starling is commonly double-brooded. It may be parasitised by the great spotted cuckoo. The life span of a starling typically ranges anywhere from 2 to 3 years. There are some cases where starlings are kept in captivity and live up to 20 years. The pearl of Africa *************************** Great Nest Image Safaris gives you on-the-ground, at-your-side, 24/7 support, so you can travel with confidence, knowing that your safety and comfort comes first. 📍Visit our Offices in Entebbe for more information. 🔺𝐌𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐃𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐓𝐎𝐃𝐀𝐘! 🟢WhatsApp: ⁨0772 699342⁩ 📧 𝐄𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐥: info@greatnestimagesafaris.com 🌎 𝐖𝐞𝐛𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐞: https://lnkd.in/eV3nefeE 📧 𝐄𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐥: info@africanwildernesstours.com 🌎 𝐖𝐞𝐛𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐞: https://lnkd.in/d4UVNdY ☎️ 𝐏𝐡𝐨𝐧𝐞: +256755658818 📧 𝐄𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐥: info@entebbeairporttaxiservices.com 🌎 𝐖𝐞𝐛𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐞: https://lnkd.in/eHftX6_b #why_wait_go_to_uganda #african_wilderness_tours #great_nest_image_safaris #TeamGreatNestImageSafaris #TeamAfricanWildernessTours **************************************** #travelwithus #VisitUganda #UgandaThePearlOfAfrica #birdwatching #red_winged_starling #Travelwithus #Enjoying_Africas_Beauty

Making Friends with Molluscs. 🐌 Slugs and snails, often seen as the arch-nemesis of green thumbs everywhere, actually deserve a second look. 👀 With around 150 species in the UK, only a handful of these slimy critters are garden party crashers. The rest? They're your backyard's unsung heroes! Instead of waging war, why not embrace these little garden helpers? You'll not only be greener, but also join the ranks of those who see the sluggish side of life in a whole new light. Think of them as nature's tidy-up team. 🧹 These molluscs munch on decaying plants, fungi and dung, recycling nutrients back into the soil. They're also known for their window cleaning skills, scrubbing algae off greenhouse glass and leaving their signature shiny trails! Plus, they're a top menu item for favourite garden guests like frogs, song thrushes, ground beetles, and hedgehogs. 🦔 By being slug and snail supporters, gardeners become champions of a diverse wildlife community. 🐸 And let's not forget those territorial leopard slugs, playing bouncer to other slugs, keeping your plants nibble-free. It's time to give slugs and snails the credit they deserve! 👏 Go Wild about Gardens this spring and apply for our Wildlife Gardening Award. Gardening for wildlife doesn’t need to be complicated and there are many simple ways of inviting wildlife in. Visit the webpage for more ideas and to apply for your award. 👇 https://lnkd.in/efYpWYVj #wildlifegardening #wildaboutgardens #slugsandsnails

Big Garden Birdwatch This weekend is the RSPB big garden birdwatch, from the 27th - 29th Jan, It's something everyone can get involved with, you can watch birds from the comfort of your own home, or go to a local park or wildlife reserve, it does not really matter where you go, you don't even have to be a regular or expert bird watcher. If you choose to sign up on the RSPB website make sure you submit your results even if its one bird or none, it all helps build up a picture of how our garden birds a fairing in nature. If you have a camera even a camera phone, its a great opportunity to ty to photograph birds especially if you have feeders near a window. You can even make your own bird feeder, the easiest one to do is using an apple and push bird seeds into it, put a piece of string through the middle and tie a stick to the bottom to make a perch and hang it from a tree, fence or anything you can hang it from in the garden. this is a picture of one I made, I used an old bootlace instead of string. It is important to feed the birds this time of year, the best foods are those high in protein and calories, such as fat balls with insects, meal worms, high energy bird seed. These will help to keep them energized and fit and healthy. if you don't like the idea of all the mess bird seed can make in your garden you can get no mess mixes, where food has already been shelled, but I do find at Egrove the Squirrels and Badgers will hoover up anything the birds drop https://lnkd.in/e3tZuCBt?

Despite the cold weather, this month is the perfect time to begin making your garden more wildlife-friendly, but you don't have to go outside to start! Now is the time to plan your simple actions for wildlife in 2024, such as encouraging wildflowers to grow for bees and planting native shrubs for birds. You could also plan to build a pond, which provides a home to amphibians who eat slugs and snails. Our top tips for wildlife gardening 👇 https://ow.ly/ZF9L50Qn0co