I am always fascinated and amused by the antics of Grey Fantails when they seem to be trying to distract an interloper straying too close to their nest. But I was positively thrilled the other day to have two Rufous Fantails doing a similar thing: dancing with their beautiful tails fully splayed and singing manically on a branch just two metres from me. This went on for a minute or more. I always savour even a glimpse of a RF so this was a real treat.
Location: bushland behind Broulee
From: Mark Clayton [
Sent: Wednesday, 31 December 2014 5:01 PM
To: 'Ace Frawley'; 'Cog line'
Subject: RE: [canberrabirds] Species that have swooped me
I have had a Magpie-lark land on the top of my head and then slide down my face, drawing blood. Admittedly I was in a tree banding the birds nestlings. Willie Wagtails are always pretty good at putting up fierce resistance near their nest as are Grey Fantails. Indeed most black and white birds are good at defending their nests. Mist netting species can have its hazards as I have been attached removing a young White-winged Chough from a net – several of the adults actually hit me. There are probably a few others that I will think of at some later stage.
Mark
From: Ace Frawley
Sent: Wednesday, 31 December 2014 4:45 PM
To: Cog line
Subject: [canberrabirds] Species that have swooped me
I was swooped by a Noisy Friarbird today as I paused to watch it feeding its young in the nest. This is the first time I've been swooped by this species, which got me thinking of all those which have. I'm sure others will have more, but for me, so far, this is the list of birds that I can remember swooping me:
I would be interested in hearing what encounters others have had.
