The Parrots ....

When we first came here, we were happy to discover there was a good size bath in the front paddock with a tap next to it. We were sad to see that it had about six inches of filthy slimey water in it with a dead parrot. DH put on disposable gloves and fished out the poor bird and buried it. Only decent and dignified thing to do. We pulled out the plug, and totally disinfected that bath. Then finally gave it a good rinse with vinegar. The vinegar kills almost any germs left but also disguises the chemical smells from the horses.

My sister suggested putting a rock in the bath so that any future birds could still access the bath, but not drown. The only thing is that they love bathing in it and also leaving their droppings. We have to scrub it out clean every morning. We also scrub the rock so there is no algaeal build up.

These beautiful red king parrots called by one evening on their way somewhere last year. They only have visited the once. We were lucky to get this chappy when he was so close in the tree. They are totally fearless birds. Very beautiful. We have lovely creatures here at Unicorn farm.

Call back next time for some more ....

Bruce the Koala

No trip to Unicorn farm would be complete without a visit to our star creature - Bruce the Koala. He came to live with us the first weekend in October 2006 and as of this morning he is still in the tree.

At night we hear him calling with his dreadful snorting/grunting wails - we think to any females that may be around.

The tree he lives in is a gum tree literally just beside our house.

Bruce is not a pet by any stretch of the imagination. We never even try to touch him, we do not try to tempt him to us or catch him in any way. He is a wild creature and that is how we intend to let him be. The main reason he has chosen this tree above all others is that there are maniacs who ride motor bikes through the bushland where the koalas normally live and disturb them. We have noticed by the callings at night of other koalas that they tend to stay away from the bushland area that should be their home. This is very sad, and totally irresponsible, not just of the idiots who ride their motorbikes, but the conservationists, the land owners and the local government council. None of them will take responsibility, even though the non bikers all agree it is a dreadful state of affairs.

One night, a couple of weeks ago, Bruce was on his way to another gum tree when he was disturbed by my daughter out with her cats. He ran into one of our smaller trees, hoping it was a short cut to the roof into his normal tree. He stopped just here, and my daughter called me to bring the camera. I did, and these are what resulted.

He is about 1 metre from me where I took these photos. I could have reached out and touched him. He was totally unafraid of me. The second photo confirms his gender as being male as he has a large scent gland on his chest and no pouch.

He is a Northern Koala, an almost khaki grey colour, but with a silver face and white around his lower lip. He is about 75cm tall. He has grown considerably since he came to live with us so we estimate he is between 2 and 3 years old. We don't know much about koalas, other than this one has lived in his tree all this time: the tree has all new leaves and shoots growing on it. Alas, it also seems to be a favourite of white ants (termites) and will probably become infected one of these days.

So there you go.

The horses of Unicorn Farm

Welcome to yet another of my blogs. This one is especially for my horses, but may contain pictures of other creatures who live with us at Unicorn Farm.

Here is my mare Blue Bell Babe.

She is by Citidancer (imp Ire) out of Breach of Promise, by Nodouble (imp USA). Bay mare born in 1995.

Here is a head portrait of her.

She is the dam of two foals, a filly, called Zelotti by Secret Savings (imp USA).

She had just run a race in 33 degree celcius heat in this photo and was hot and distressed, poor thing. She looks skinny, but she is not. She is very fine through and in racing fitness

Here is her head picture:

And Blue Bell Babe is also dam of the late great, Eternal Strangers by Lujain (imp USA

This was his three year old winter photo, so he is in his woolies. He looks like a fat pony, but he stood 16.0hh.



Here is a head study: