It is with great sorrow that we report the passing in Maleny late in September of former Paluma resident, Andy Bishop.
Andy and Ann Bishop were popular long-time residents having come to Paluma from Mt Isa in 1989 to take ownership of the renowned Ivy Cottage Tea Rooms. People came from far and wide to experience the warm hospitality of Ann and Andy, sample the Devonshire teas and see at close hand the many birds that flocked to the cottage gardens. One distinguished guest was David Attenborough.
The Bishops sold Ivy Cottage in 1998 and Andy took up the position of groundsman at Paluma Environmental School where he worked until retirement.
During his time here Andy built as their residence the unusually designed house at No. 13 Mount Spec Road. Always involved in community activities, Andy rode every year until 2017 in the Paluma Push cycle race. Andy and Ann were keen tap dancers and regularly attended aqua-aerobics. They moved from Paluma to Maleny in 2016 to be closer to extended family. They continued to live life to the fullest, frequently travelling around Australia and abroad and relishing their retirement and their life together.
Our deepest sympathy and caring thoughts go to Ann in her devastating loss.
Ann & Andy Bishop almost 20 years ago at the commencement of the construction of their home at 13 Mount Spec Road.
Some very exciting events are scheduled at Paluma in the coming weeks during October and early November. Mark up your calendars with the following social events:-
Saturday 26 October – Paluma Dinner Under the Stars at the High Ropes Course. Come along for one of the newest and most enjoyable social events of the year and enjoy some good food and good company under the starry Paluma night sky. Starts at 6 PM. For more information see the Event listing on this website.
Sunday 27 October – Paluma Dam Good Trail Run. For more information see the flyer on this website or contact: info@outerlimitsadventure.com.au
Saturday 2 November6.30 PM – This year the PDCA will host a new Social Event with an International Night at the Community Hall. The night will include Music From Around the World. Come along dressed in your favourite International costume or theme. Celebrate the nations of the world and multiculturalism Paluma-style. Bring along an internationally-inspired dish to share.
Our coastal neighbours at Rollingstone have advised of some upcoming events during October including their Car Boot Sale on Saturday 26 October and the inaugural Rollingstone Art Community Exhibition on 26 and 27 October. See the Flyers below for further information.
Pickwick Group and Acorshe Pty Ltd require a cleaner Monday and Friday for the following sites in Paluma:-
Public toilets in the Village Green
Townsville City Council office and toilets
2 toilet blocks at Paluma Dam camping
2 Ranger Office areas
3 BBQ areas – monthly
All equipment and chemicals will be supplied. Employed under the Cleaning Services Award 2010 as a casual $26.03 per hour + allowances – 5 hours per service. It will be an immediate start.
If you are interested or would like more information please contact Helen Ivey on 0417 649 907.
While Michele has described the efforts of our local Satin Bowerbirds in attracting a love interest, in the surrounding forest another Bowerbird, the Golden Bowerbird (Prionodura newtoniana), is also busy constructing bowers that are the largest of the all the Australian bowerbirds, and they are made by the smallest species. Despite its diminutive size, the Golden Bowerbird creates twin towers of twigs that can be up to 3m tall. It decorates them with lichen and pale cream flowers and places a horizontal stick between the base of the towers to serve as a display perch.
Golden Bowerbird at his bower
The bower. The perch is the small stick just visible near the bottom. Note that this picture was taken a week after the previous shot and the lichen ornamentation has been shifted by the male.
The male often perches in a nearby tree looking out for females or other marauding males
It takes a fair bit of work to make these bowers and it turns out that other males (including young males still experimenting at bower-building) are prone to stealing material and ornaments from other bowers to build their own. Immature males sometimes build small bowers close to a more established structure in the hope that they can distract a female over to its more humble edifice while the dominant male is away foraging or stealing from other bowers. If a mature bower-owning bird dies, his bower is usually taken over by another bird in matter of days. One recent study used game theory to determine at what point the pay-off from raiding other birds bowers exceeded the risk of abandoning a bower to other marauding males (distance between bowers was a key factor). The competition and intrigue is worthy of a Game of Thrones plot-line.
An immature male Golden Bowerbird discretely approaching the bower
Immature male at the bower just before being attacked by the resident male
Last week, while photographing one of our local birds, I observed a small dull bird flitting ever closer to the bower through some dense foliage. I thought it might be a female, but I was able to get a shot of it as it took off from a branch just behind the bower and this clearly showed the yellow tinges to the wing that are diagnostic of an immature male. This immature male then went straight to the perch between the two towers of the bower and began inspecting the ornamentation. In a flash the mature male bower owner dived down and the two birds tumbled off into the ground foliage behind the bower in a flurry of feathers and screeches that lasted several seconds before the birds flew off in different directions. The younger bird was not seen again, but I can’t help but feel it is out there somewhere awaiting another chance to steal the throne and the females.
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A small single towered bower made by an immature male less that 15m from the established bower
Don Battersby is our local bird-whisperer -actually it’s more of a shout, but the birds certainly come flocking to his call. When I told him about my observations he regaled me with a complete history of this particular bower, which has occupied at least 4 different positions over the last decade or so, having been abandoned due to damage by tree-falls or in response to over-enthusiastic bird photographers. He was also kind enough to show me a small satellite bower near the site where I had witnessed the altercation. This might well have been built by the immature male that I had seen.
Don knows where virtually all the bowers, and some of the nests are. He is exceptionally generous with his time and is known nationally and internationally amongst “birdos” as the person to visit if you want to get good views and photographs of our rainforest birds. Thanks Don!
This large python spotted on the Range Road this evening (12/9) by Len Cook at about 6.30 pm. Len reports that the snake was about 2.5 metres in length. A timely reminder to Paluma residents and visitors to watch out for snakes basking on or crossing the road now that the weather is warming up.
In recent weeks the Satin Bower Birds of Paluma have been busy with the breeding season and courtship rituals. Male birds have been chortling and calling in the canopy and busily working on their remarkable bowers to attract a female mate.
This year I am lucky enough to have a bower in my own garden. (And I am going to brag about it!).
My bower was constructed over a period of about two weeks and not long after it took form, the blue trinkets and treasures started to appear. A quick inventory last Sunday noted the following:- 2 x bottle tops, plastic straw, surveyors tape, 4 x pen lids, lolly packets, cellophane, half a peg, electrical cable ties and plastic cord. All the items are of a similar shade of bright blue. None of the items observed in the bower have been collected from nature.
While the hard work and ingenuity of these birds in constructing their bower and decorating it with a variety of blue treasures is to be truly admired, it is very disconcerting to see that every item in this bower is made from plastic.
Is this a remarkable adaptation of the satin bower bird to the modern world, or a sad indictment of the intrusive impact of humans in every facet of the natural world?…….I can’t decide.
Just a reminder about two upcoming events at Paluma during October!
The Paluma Sunday Market and Sausage Sizzle will be held at the Community Hall over the long weekend on 6 October from 9 AM to 1 PM. Come along to browse the wares on sale and to enjoy the delicious sausage sizzle.
If you are interested in having a stall at the market or you can volunteer to assist at the sausage sizzle, please contact one of the PDCA members. Volunteers and helpers always welcome!
The stars will be out and shining at the Paluma Dinner Under the Stars to be held on Saturday 26 October at the High Ropes Course. Come along at 6 PM to enjoy a meal with your Paluma friends, neighbours and extended family under the dazzling Paluma night sky. Last year the weather was perfect with a balmy clear night. Let’s hope the mountain mist doesn’t roll in before dinner and drinks are enjoyed by all.
