A visit from one of the original locals

 

Since moving to Boronia I’ve noticed there is a surprisingly lot of wildlife hanging around this place. In the last few years, we have encountered an Eagle, numerous birds including owls, Butcherbirds, Rosellas, countess  Galahs, White Sulfur crested and the occasional black-crested Cockatoo, bats or Flying Foxes, rabbits, the unwanted fox and neighbours dog and been said goodnight to and rudely awaken by Kookaburras on a regular basis. Oh and let’s never forget a billion Possums, or does it just feel like it.

But recently I was pleasantly surprised by another visitor to the backyard that I never expected to see.

Whilst up ignoring every Health and Safety rule that is heavily enforced at my work by standing on a ladder and cleaning my gutters I heard a loud rustling behind me, I thought it was a neighbour raking leaves when I realized it was more behind me than on the other side of the fence I turned and saw a black and white mass moving through the garden.

An Echidna was merrily walking through my garden fossicking for food. I have no idea where he came from because I had been outside for some time in various parts of the yard and all of a sudden this little creature was in the middle of my garden as if he’d fallen from the sky.

Who knows,  these fellows are as unique as aliens being the only other marsupial besides the Platypus to lay eggs. Mind you if I found a Platypus in the garden I’d be writing this article for The Age.

My new mate didn’t seem to mind when I excitedly yelled for the family to come and have a look at what I’d found and as we all gathered a good distance behind our new friend not to startle him and just enjoy the way he ambled out the garden and lawn sussing out the territory. It got a bit tense when he entered the rabbit run but they seemed to have an understanding, they stared at each other and the Echidna - who by this stage I had christened FLUFFY - took off. through some long foliage under the fence and into the neighbours not to be seen again.

Knowing that animals like Echidnas are still poking around gives me a sense of well being that we still haven’t gone totally concrete encased despite all the units popping up all around the streets, and hope he comes back for another visit.

Originally published in the BBCN Issue 200 May 2012