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What price were you quoted for a native bee hive? I may be able to find one cheaper. But, just plant the bee attracting plants, they will come to you. So far , apart from my Italian honey bees, I have found at least three native varieties in my veggie garden, including one blue banded one, which is pretty spectacular. However most are like little black flies, they do a great job.Quote:
Originally Posted by 1950landy
It would seam the average hive with bees in Brisbane is $500. I can build the hive my self , I have the drawings . My wife bought me a book on Stingless Bees , she also bought a bee shelter which is a small house full of different size bamboo. We had native bees around last year but there are none this year I think it has been too dry, we have not had any rain so to speak since early March. Not even our Lavender is flowering this year so don't think it is good time to introduce them. I may just build the hive for something to do & see what happens.
Native bees will survive just fine in suburbia....they also store way more honey and pollen than they need.Quote:
Originally Posted by 1950landy
Yes they are expensive to buy, just be weary of the cheaper ones on offer, seems to be more and more chasing a quick earn by splitting and selling hives that are week and eventually die. The cheap and nasties don’t come with a guarantee.
That's about the going price. Considering the honey you can harvest is negligible, they are really only for the real enthusiasts. You can get good results by planting bee attracting plants, and by practising organic gardening. Some info here; [ the bees they talk about are the European honey bee. ]Quote:
Originally Posted by 1950landy
Bee friendly planting | Organic Gardener Magazine Australia
Looks like a Butcher Bird, we have a couple that come in every morning, I feed them and a family of magpies a bit of meat. Seems to keep them in the one area as they nest elswhere. I figure if I feed them a bit I might save couple of other baby birds as we have a lot of wrens and finches around here.
Thanks for the warning, Gav. Our couple of mulberry trees are fruiting for the 1st time and we have a couple of cuckoo shrikes here.Quote:
Originally Posted by Gav 110
I always assumed that they were carnivorous only. Time to net the trees.
[QUOTE=1950landy;3027864
I was thinking of buying a Native Bee hive until I saw the cost. .[/QUOTE]
Ask you local treelopper blokes to save you one. Pay with a box of beer. While you're waiting for it to turn up, study up on their requirements etc
Don.
The cuckoo shrike does not have a strong hooked bill, although the silver backed butcher bird has been described as a shrike like bird. Reading thru my field guide to birds of Aus., I was surprised to find five different butcher bird's ranging in colour from black [ fully brown /light cinnamon when juvenile], to pied, black backed ,grey, and silver backed.Quote:
Originally Posted by Gav 110
silver backed butcherbird - Bing images
They definitely eat the berries, I’ve seen them attacking others that have come in to steal the fruitQuote:
Originally Posted by Saitch
We don’t worry about netting, there is enough fruit for everyone off my trees (5+ metres high, double that in width) the bob tails clean up the ones that drop, guinea fowl help out a bit as well
Thanks bobQuote:
Originally Posted by bob10
From the photos it looked like a cuckooshrike
cuckoo shrike - Bing images
After looking at your link and reassessing the photos I think you are right
The ones at my farm are definitely the black faced cuckoo shrikes
All these bloody native birds look alike
I have Willy wag tails, fan tails and blue breasted fairy wrens that all look similar from far and all seem to come in when the lawnmower starts
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