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?
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