the TURBO CHOOK - Tasmania's Native Hen (on the protected list)

A lot of native hens live across our property with a small family that hang around the studio. They are a protected species and known colloquially as Turbo Chooks. They run extremely fast when they get going and are known to be very good mothers. They build nests to lay eggs in and they also build nursery nests where they tend to the chicks. There are always more than 1 'mother', looking after the chicks which they keep close day and night until they are grown.

The chicks are pure black from tip to beak until they become of age which is when they take on the colouring of the native hen. They are described as large, heavy-bodied, flightless birds; adults measure between 43 and 51cms (17-20 inches) in length. They have large yellow bills, red eyes, brown heads and black wings. They are slate grey on their underparts and their tails are long and narrow. They are very powerful in their leges which are grey in colour and they have a yellow beak.

This little group of 3 adults and 2 chicks live around the studio so i am able to film them without getting too close.

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THE CHALLENGE OF THE GAZEBO

Once they got going it didn't take them long notwithstanding it took a long time sitting in the shade discussing what to do and what not to do. And what problems could there be before even unpacking the box. Short video as I head down, from the back of the house, on the bike to the block where they are putting up the Gazebo - this on top of the deck they put together a couple of weeks ago. looking good. Followed by some candid shots during the setup.

A BUSHFIND & clearing out the Cypress hedge

In the middle of a cleared thicket of cypress we found this cute fellow who is begging to be repainted. Any ideas ? One of the first jobs we tackled was to cut back a row of cypress that had overgrown the driveway up to the house. They can be seen on the left of the picture in the image below. A huge job that went quicker than i anticipated - man with a truck and a mulcher and 3 days later it was cleared. Now to plant it out.

LUNCH on a brilliant Tassie Summer Day + #Snowcone

A late lunch after spending some time in the garden, the vegetable patch and a full morning for me in the studio. Roast pork, potatoes, homity pie and lettuce and tomatoes. The plastic bag on the table is to take down to #Snowcone after we finish ours. She gets the outer leaves of vegetables out of the patch and tomatoe tops, potato skins and other kitchen scraps. #Snowcone is quite the feature on our youtube channel. She is such a sweet natured dairy cow, now in retirement; my first experience with such a thing, at close quarters. When we feed her hay and pellets and I take down kitchen scrap snacks every couple of days to her, she is surrounded by turbo chook s and Walter our one-eyed wallaby. A couple of videos of #Snowcone below. Happy with these plants recently planted in various placements on the front block. I am now getting confused with my norths and souths so, I know which is the eastern block but this one out front is being called the front block...

Regent Park Tasmania - lifestyle of artist in country Tasmania

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