Manly twitters
I came across this little story in the Sydney Morning Herald for 8 January 1885:
"On Saturday last, Captain [Francis] Wagstaff of the ship La Hogue, liberated a number of English birds, which he brought out with him last voyage at Burnt Bridge Creek, Manly. They were mostly chaffinches, green linnets and yellow-hammers, all insect-eating birds. Captain Wagstaff writes “I chose near the creek so that they would know where to find water. The little creatures were no sooner out of the cage than they flew to the water and immediately took a good bath after their long voyage from England. We watched them for some time and they seemed perfectly at home in this their new country. This creek lies about two miles from Manly, quite in the bush; and I hope they will not get shot by some of the boys we have about Manly and neighbourhood.”"
I wonder if they survived in their new environment. Does anyone know if these species can still be found locally?
Labels: Burnt Bridge Creek, song-birds
posted by Manly Library | 9:22 PM
1 Comments:
My ancestor Simeon John Fletcher was the sailmaker on the "La Hogue" from 1857 to 1873. He was the first to bring song birds out to Australia on this ship and is recorded in the ship's paper that was published on board:
THE {WEEKLY WEAKLY} ECHO.
(Published aboard the "La Hogue" 18-Jun-1870 - 24-Aug-1870)
27-Jul-1870
We regret to announce a series of lamentable catastrophes which have befallen a considerable number of our musical friends-the birds. Although we kept clear of the canary Isles, we have had the misfortune to fall foul of numerous Canary Ills. There are few of our number in any way connected with this interesting family, but are, at present moment, lamenting the untimely death of one of their belongings.
From Mrs. Long, who has lost one songster, as well as from our enterprising sailmaker, who has lost ninety, the sound of woe is to be heard. And woh! Is what we say, too, when we calculate the extent of the disaster. We are informed that one gentleman lost, in a single day, as many as ten canaries, which had come into his possession only twenty-four hours before. The nature of the fatal malady is, we believe, cancer in the throat, brought on either by cold, or smell of paint. The parrots are, we are thankful to say, convalescent. The blackbirds are remarkably well. Miss Maggie Pie has also recovered from the effects of her friend J.'s sad demise, and has resumed her ordinary occupations in the abstractions department.
THE {WEEKLY WEAKLY} ECHO.
(Published aboard the "La Hogue" 18-Jun-1870 - 24-Aug-1870)
17-Aug-1870
Sad Catastrophe
Our readers will remember that we recorded in a late issue the lamentable mortality which had prevailed in the Bird Family. We regret the painful duty which has devolved upon us, as Public Journalists, viz.: To announce that the fatal disease, which had apparently abated some weeks since, after carrying off no less than ninety-one of one hundred and eight Canary pupils, in the Training-school of Mr. Fletcher, our well known sailmaker, has since re-appeared, and left but one survivor to mourn the loss of his departed fellow-melodists. A sympathizing community will, we feel sure, condole with our unfortunate fellow-citizen, and, if they are unable to do more, at all events, wish him better luck next time.
After immigrating to Sydney, S.J.Fletcher set up one of the first bird importing businesses in the old George-street Markets and, I believe, assisted the NSW Zoological Society in bringing our songsters to 'enliven our bush homes'
Ryan Dudley
ryan_dudley@yahoo.com.au
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