Amusing bird antics
I subscribe to several birding forums. As a result I receive daily emails from birders all over the world. Some of these are quite amusing. Birds do like having fun, it seems. Here is one classic example.
I reckon I once observed a Red Wattlebird being a show-off (of precision acrobatic flying) and exhibiting a sense of humour.
One day, years ago, I had brought my chooks around to the front yard, then I still had a lawn before my native trees grew, for some fresh grass. My rooster, Mucky, (now a 10yo veteran) is a Silver Spangled Hamburg X (for those of you who know your chooks!). A very handsome, gentle, caring and genteel rooster.
On this occasion a Red Wattlebird flew across the front yard and BETWEEN Mucky’s legs. While the poor rooster was trying to come to terms with what unknown indignity had just befallen him, the wattlebird turned and repeated the process from the opposite direction, leaving a rather confused, shaken and disconcerted rooster in its wake.
And an amazed and amused human bystander I could almost imagine the Red Wattlebird having a chuckle in a nearby bush. Sometimes a bird just wants to have fun!
Thanks to Wendy for this observation.
I’d like to hear from my readers about amusing incidents they have had with birds. I invite you to leave your comments below the photo.
Red Wattlebird
Where do honeyeaters nest?
One of my recent readers asked the question: “Where do honeyeaters nest?” Well – that wasn’t the exact question but I have broadened the question somewhat. Gary was after information about New Holland Honeyeaters especially. He wanted to plant species native to his home state of Western Australia to encourage the honeyeaters in his garden.
My wife and I always applaud and encourage people who want to move from exotic to Australian species. Many of our endemic plant species are well adapted to drought conditions and many parts of Australia are in severe drought at present. If we want attractive gardens we need to consider drought tolerant plants. My wife has written a series of articles on drought tolerant plants on her blog Mallee Native Plant Nursery.
Getting back to Gary’s question, the choice of plants for nesting sites for honeyeaters is really wide. Many honeyeaters, species such as the Red Wattlebirds, will use a range of eucalypt trees for nesting sites. They particularly like the mallee forms but will use smaller bushes as well. Many species enjoy the relative safety of banksia bushes and trees; the dense foliage provides a screen from the eyes of predators. Having a ready supply of nectar from the flowers is an added bonus.
Banksia flower
Honeyeaters also like the dense foliage of the following species: acacias, eremophilas, callistomens, hakeas and melaleucas. Most of these produce an excellent food source for the birds while they are nesting. They also attract insects which also provide a valuable food source. This is also true of many other Australian plants so the choice for gardeners is very wide.
Callistemon flowers
Related articles:
- New Holland Honeyeater nest – with a photo.
- Red Wattlebirds nesting – with photos
- Babies, the Birds and the Bees – with links to many other articles.
Wattlebird rescue
The death rate of young birds can be quite high and most of us would be astounded if we knew the true figures. I have written before about this here.
The fact remains: all baby and young birds run the terrible risk of not surviving the first few days or weeks of their fragile lives. There are many hazards for the young bird. One I did not mention was drowning. A large number of Australian homes have swimming pools or garden ponds. I’d only be guessing here, but I’d say that probably up to ten percent of homes have some sort of water feature in their garden.
Our in ground swimming pool (“The Swamp” as I affectionately call it) is an unintended hazard for young birds still learning to fly. Probably five or six times a year I need to rescue a bird that has not been able to escape from the water. This morning was one of those occasions. The poor bird was very waterlogged. It was probably getting quite exhausted too as it flapped and flapped trying to escape. Fortunately I found it in time.
Over the coming months I must be quite vigilant. We have had many very hot days already, and summer officially only starts on Friday. The birds are attracted to the water on the hot days so a pool is irresistible. We do have three bird baths which we keep topped up but this does not seem enough.
Related article:
- Why do baby birds disappear? An article in response to a reader’s question.
Honeyeaters of Lowan Conservation Park
6 Comments »24th November, 2006; Category: Honeyeaters
Lowan Conservation Park
Lowan Conservation Park is a reserve of remnant mallee scrub in the midst of wheat and sheep farms. It is several hundred hectares in size with a rainfall of probably about 300mm in an average year. It is about 120km east of Adelaide in South Australia.
When the mallee trees are in flower the honeyeaters abound. I have visited when there have been no trees flowering and consequently very few honeyeaters. On other occasions I haven’t know where to point my binoculars first, there are so many birds. On these exciting occasions the birding is simply wonderful. I have observed the following species in or near the park:
- Red Wattlebird – resident and common
- Singing Honeyeater – resident and common
- White Eared Honeyeater – resident and common
- Spiny Cheeked Honeyeater – probably resident
- Brown Headed Honeyeater – resident and common
- Yellow Plumed Honeyeater – probably resident
- Striped Honeyeater – regular visitor spring, summer
- White Fronted Honeyeater – possibly resident
Spiny Cheeked Honeyeater
Other species which could occur when the conditions are right include:
- Purple Gaped Honeyeater
- Yellow Throated Miner
- White Plumed Honeyeater
- New Holland Honeyeater
- Black Honeyeater
- Tawny Crowned Honeyeater
The flight of the baby honeyeater
This week we have had some horrible weather. Hot days over 40 degrees with dust blowing wildly from the parched north of the state suffering the worst drought in living memory. Thankfully it is a little cooler today.
During the hot weather I saw a baby New Holland Honeyeater that appeared to have just emerged from the nest. He was hovering like a little helicopter, not being really sure what this flying business was all about. It must be difficult in good conditions; trying to learn to fly when it is so hot and so windy must be a tremendous challenge.
This little one settled long enough for me to get this photo. I then quickly retreated because Mum and Dad were nearby, fussing around with more food for this hungry youngster.
Related article:
- Why do baby birds disappear? An article I wrote recently in response to a reader’s question about baby birds.
New Holland Honeyeater (baby just out of nest)