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Re Magpie-larks nesting in exotic trees: A few years ago I climbed a
farm windmill and stood on the maintenance platform lubricating the gears
of the blades. All the while I was buzzed by an agro Magpie-lark. While I love
birds, on a narrow footing, nine metres above the ground, this little
piebald Stuka was difficult to tolerate. At one point I
considered squirting him with the grease gun. But no, I did not do
that.
As I descended to terra firma (the more firma, the less terra), I looked up
and saw the reason for the bird's angst. A nest was ensconced in the steel
members of the windmill tower, right beneath the maintenance platform. So, it
had great protection from above. And, the mill was near a nice, muddy dam
in a stubble paddock. So, the birds would have had plenty of mud and straw at
hand (at bill) to build with.
A week later, I returned to see if there were young in the nest but, when I
put foot on the base of the tower, Mr and Mrs M-lark became so agitated I
withdrew and left them in peace.
John Layton
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