Nesting pardalotes

[Joan Lipscombe <>]

Hi, and many thanks to everyone who provided comments on my request for suggestions about how to help nesting pardalotes.  There were lots of useful ideas which I have passed onto my friend who raised the issues with me

Joan Lipscombe

On 10 May 2017 at 16:09, Julian Robinson <> wrote:

Having watched thornbills successfully nest in the old Mugga Lane zoo by building their nests inside a chicken-wire enclosure, and similar to Philip’s idea, I’d suggest the easiest solution for the cats (but not the ants) would be to use chicken wire, probably about the size recommended by Nick – 26mm. 

 

Boxes, sleepers etc with small holes are not safe unless the area around — the ‘perch and enter’ zone — is also protected.

 

Some friends made very simple successful nest boxes used by Striated Pardalotes, which should work for Spotteds, by hanging a piece of PVC pipe horizontally, out of reach but under cover.  The pipe was about 8cm diameter, closed at one end with a perch sticking out at the front.  The pardalotes furnished the interior.  Covering the opening with said chicken-wire could secure against avian predators.

 

Julian

www.flickr.com/photos/ozjulian/

 

 

From: [mailto:m("grapevine.com.au","rodsgardening");" target="_blank">rodsgardening@grapevine.com.au]
Sent: Tuesday, 9 May 2017 10:03 AM
To: calyptorhynchus .; Canberra Birds
Subject: Re: [canberrabirds] Nesting pardalotes

 

A mate of mine had pardalotes nesting in his garden a few years back. He had railway sleepers as garden edging and the birds used a spike hole in one of the sleepers as a nest entrance. Unfortunately it wasn't cat proof and at least one of the birds fell victim to the felines. There has been no sign of any nesting attempts since. Cheers Rod

 

Sent from my HTC on the Telstra Mobile network

 

----- Reply message -----
From: "calyptorhynchus ." <>
To: "Canberra Birds" <m("canberrabirds.org.au","canberrabirds");" target="_blank">org.au>
Subject: Nesting pardalotes
Date: Mon, May 8, 2017 16:38

 

I've put a variety of containers around the place for many years but had no

Pardalotes nesting (that we know of). They do come every July-August and

investigate every unsuitable and vulnerable nook (but never look at my

containers) for a few days.

John Leonard

On 8 May 2017 at 16:34, John Harris <m("biblesociety.org.au","john.harris");" target="_blank">au> wrote:

> The answer is to provide raised nesting ‘boxes’ . Pardalotes do nest in

> banks in the wild and may be attracted to compost heaps but they also nest

> in small tree hollows. In my daughter’s place in Palmerston they nest every

> year in a hanging flower pot. It has an attached saucer and they get in

> through the space between the saucer and the pot and have burrowed into the

> soil. They will nest in brick wall cavities  etc etc if there is a little

> hole.

> They like a small tunnel entrance leading to a well insulated space

> (especially in cold Canberra).

> It should not be hard to make a nesting box which provides that. You don’t

> need to be a professional. They need a bit of a tunnel as small as 3 cm

> diameter leading to a nest area half full of dry grass, bark strips etc for

> insulation, especially in Canberra. I think you could even make one out of

> a covered  plastic flower pot with a cut off scrap of 30mm PVC pipe. If I

> were doing it, I would fix it in a tree or even high on the outer edge of a

> verandah and face the hole away from prevailing wind and bright light at

> night. I have thought of doing it but haven’t got around to it. Besides, my

> daughter’s hanging basket works just fine. Cheers

> John

> 

> 

> 

> From: "David McDonald (personal)" <>

> Date: Monday, 8 May 2017 at 4:04 PM

> To: chatline <m("canberrabirds.org.au","canberrabirds");" target="_blank">org.au>

> Subject: Re: [canberrabirds] Nesting pardalotes

> 

> BLA has specs for nest boxes, incl http://www.birdsinbackyards.

> net/sites/www.birdsinbackyards.net/files/page/attachments/Spotted%

> 20Pardalote_0.pdf - a 30 mm entrance hole is what they recommend -

> regards - David

> 

> On 8/05/2017 1:51 PM, Joan Lipscombe wrote:

> 

> A friend has sought advice about how he can protect his Spotted Pardalotes

> from predators when nesting in his garden.  One nest in his compost heap

> was predated by a cat, another, in a pile of soil, was attacked by ants.

> He wondered if an nesting box buried in his compost heap with just the

> entrance showing would work. It might help withe the cats, but presumably

> not the ants.  Does anyone know what size opening would be right for the

> pardalotes ( I presume it would have to be a certain size to attract

> them).  Any thoughts, suggestions appreciated.

> 

> Joan

> 

> 

> 

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-- 

John Leonard

Canberra

Australia

www.jleonard.net

I want to be with the 9,999 other things.