Tuesday 25 October 2022

[Man From Ironbark]

I call him digger. He uses that beak to punch down and get things like curl grubs. Scientists have observed them listening. They can locate a curl grub under the ground by hearing it moving, chewing. Once located they spear it and pull it out. I also had a neighbour who liked a drink, he called everyone digger. Digger was a term that was applied to Australians during the first world war. Apparently they were good at digging tunnels and trenches. Probably because many had worked in goldmines or were opal gougers. All the birds hang with me. They know my face. It is a kind face, not a nasty one.