Magpie Lark nesting in deciduous tree

[calyptorhynchus <>]

Thanks to everyone who replied. It seems that MLs can nest, and nest successfully, in exposed spots.

Alas our MLs seem to have ceased building operations. I think the local source of wet mud might have dried up.

John L

On Thu, 10 Sep 2020 at 09:08, calyptorhynchus <> wrote:

Here in suburban Canberra we have Magpie Larks nesting in a deciduous tree in our backyard. 

The nest is nearing completion, but at the moment the tree has not yet put out leaves (probably will have done so in a couple of weeks).

In previous years they (or other ML pairs) have nested in tall Eucalypts nearby, this is the first year they have nested here.

My question is, why built in a tree that is as yet a bare tree. Surely they can't know it's going to leaf in a few weeks and so the shade and protection might be better than a native tree; at the moment there is no shade and no protection. Magpies often nest in deciduous trees, but Magpies are more formidable than MLs and can fight off more predators. Has anyone ever seen MLs nesting a dead native tree?

--

John Leonard
Canberra

--

John Leonard
Canberra
Australia
www.jleonard.net

‘There is kinship between people and all animals. Such is the Law.’ Kimberley lawmen (from Yorro Yorro)

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