Nest ID please

["Philip Veerman" <>]

Interesting question and it is hard to suggest what. I wonder if it is from a Ringtail Possum. Sort of fits the description. Is it the right size for that? A stick nest that size suggests a raptor, such as Brown Goshawk. But they don't have a side entrance of course. I'll be off beat and point out that it is sort of common for Diamond Firetails also sometimes Yellow-rumped Thornbills to build their nest within the stick structure of raptors nests. More likely a Little Eagle than a Goshawk though. Diamond Firetails build a nest with a side entrance. So could it be a nest in a nest?

 

Philip

-----Original Message-----
From: Julian Robinson [
Sent: Sunday, 16 September 2012 7:02 PM
To: canberrabirds chatline
Subject: [canberrabirds] Nest ID please

This nest was today in the link between Jerra Grasslands and Callum Brae, about 7m up a redgum(?).  It’s about 30-40cm diameter and has an unusual entrance, very deep and angled not pointing up like a cup, but not a side entrance either, about 45º from vertical.  I think that’s the way it was built i.e. it didn’t slip sideways, though this is possible.  It’s made mostly of coarse grass and small twigs. 

 

Is it a Noisy Miner nest?  If so, is the small entrance typical, and is the angle of the entrance typical?  It doesn’t look like another NM nest I’ve seen which was much less bulky.  Thanks in advance for any illumination.

 

 

 

 

Julian

www.flickr.com/photos/ozjulian/