I had not detected the Hobbies again until just now. Sitting at my computer, I heard them call and went outside. Just in time to see one Hobby flying over the tree (and my house), this enticed the magpie to immediately
fly up to the nest and begin singing. (The magpies appeared to have abandoned the nest for at least several hours after the event of Thursday.) The Hobby continued flying westwards very quickly almost at the limit of my visibility from height and distance.
It was then joined by its partner and they flew together and apart for a few minutes in very fast chasing and following, quite spectacular. Though the direction of travel was coming mostly back towards my location, though I lost them as they became dots in
the sky. I think behind the line of sight from my house from where I was standing on the back step. I don’t know if they were calling then, too far away to pick that.
.
From: Philip Veerman [
Sent: Thursday, 30 September, 2021 4:01 PM
To:
Subject: One nest story
Over the past few days I have watched as the big stick nest in my tree which has had Magpies building at it for a few weeks will be taken over by Ravens who are also building it. Last year the Ravens built it but there was no successful
outcome. Either Magpies, Ravens or Currawongs have built there for the past many years. Yesterday there was a battle between the Magpies & Ravens, for about 10 minutes, with 5 ravens, 2 of which were sitting in the nest for several minutes. I don’t know if
there were eggs in it but I thought they would be unlikely to survive that. Today whilst I was inside at the kitchen sink I heard a loud chittering call. Which I first thought was a Sparrowhawk (as there has been one flying over a couple of times). I went
out to find an Aust Hobby sitting on the nest and shuffling around. Though I could only see its tail and wing ends. Then whilst it was in the nest another Hobby flew some circuits around the tree. That is usual behaviour for them when setting up a nest site.
Then 1 Hobby was perched beside the nest until about an hour later. I don’t know if the other one was still on the nest, there was some more calling. I had to go out and so I don’t know what now. Both Magpies & Ravens were not in attendance within a few minutes
after the Hobbies arrived but the Magpie-larks were agitated by them. It is unexpected as I have not seen the Hobbies around my house since at least a year ago (or something like that). Would be a bit exciting to have them breeding in view of my kitchen window
(though it is way too high to see in). The nearest previous nesting I know of was in the median strip at the corner of Drakeford Drive & Boddington about 5 years ago.
Philip
Kambah
