FEAST FOR WILD BIRDS

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 28008, 30 June 1956, Page 11

FEAST FOR WILD BIRDS

HUNDREDS ATTRACTED TO DAILY BANQUET [Specially written by DUDLEY OSBORNE] SYDNEY, June 25. About afternoon teatime every day. somewhere about 1000 wild birds drop from the skies for a daily meal provided for them in a backyard at Currumbin. near the New South Wales - Queensland border. The spectacle of these hundreds ol brightly coloured birds, usually afraid of contact with humans, eating like the tamest domestic canaries from outstretched hands draws hundreds of people many of whom drive long distances to join the bird-feeders. The whole thing started more or less by accident, and. like uncle Tom's Topsv. just “growed." Now it is one of the most popular tourist attractions on that part of the coast. Every week-end up to 2000 people crowd round the wood-fenced enclosure. The birds —rosellas lorrikeets, stand on people's heads, line up on their arms, chatter up and down their shoulders. “Lot's of people tell me Ive got a real money-spinner here and why don't I exploit it.’’ the originator ol the feathered soup kitchen, a 44-vear-old former New Zealand huekeeper. Alex Griffiths, told me last V “Thev work out 2000 people a week-end at a shilling or two a head and then tell me I'm crazy for not charging. Everything's commercialised nowadays. But how can you commercialise on a lot of wild birds. There is. however, a collecting box provided at the exit in which people may drop a contribution as they go out if they feel disposed. . Mr Griffiths is a lean, curly-haired bachelor, who came to Currumbin nearly nine years ago to start a beefarm.* Selling honey and cut flowers to people living in the surrounding districts provided his livelihood. News Goes Round Becoming interested in the wild life around his home, he started feeding a few birds every day when he returned home from his daily sales round. As the news of easy meals circulated among the feathered folk, more and more birds started to come. ’Then a few friends dropped in occasionally to help me feed the birds,” Mr Griffiths told me. “And strangers who said they'd heard about it used to come and ask if they could watch.” Before long, crowds were beating a track to the Griffiths back garden. They’re Punctual I joined the couple of hundred of cars parked outside the Griffiths house. “It’s about time,” Mr Griffiths told me. looking at his watch. There was a tremendous chattering from the surrounding trees as the lorrikeets gathered. Mr Griffiths doled out a mush of bread soaked in honey and water from a bucket as I gave out tin plates to the eager hands of the children. x “Here!” “Here!” and Mister! “Please. Mister.” the youngsters called, keen to get a bowl and a fill. When the bowls ran out. Mr Griffiths put a dollop into open fists. Usuallv the birds were fairly punctual arriving almost exactly at 4.30 p.m. Mr Griffiths said. Could they tell the time by some natural phenomenon. I asked? “I think it's probably much the same instinct that tells a man when its getting round 1 o’clock," he said. “They get hungry. “Though I've noticed they re usually a bit early when the day is dull, and a few minutes late when it's very bright and sunny. Might be that they tell the time by the sun. lose track when it's obscured, and stay hungry longer when the day is hot.” The banquet went on for about 20 minutes, birds crisscrossing from side to side in a hectic rush. The bucket was quickly emptied, refilled and reemptied again. The birds are naturally nomadic, normally wandering away north when the tree's were in flower. Mr Griffiths told me. But about 1000 of them secure in their daily feed, have now forsaken their wandering habits and had settled down to a suburban existence all the year round at Currumbin —Associated" Newspapers Feature Services.