Thornbill Gymnastics

["Osborn, Paul PR" <>]

Yesterday, the local resident male Magpie was in our yard foraging about
when three Yellow-rumped Thornbills flew into the tree nearest to him
and began their hanging upside down routine. They are busy feeding young
at the moment. The gymnastics involved quite a lot of wing fluttering
(whilst upside down) and was accompanied by their pretty descending
trill. The Magpie ignored the thornbills and left when he was ready, at
which point the gymnastics stopped and the thornbills returned to
gathering food for the young. Do Yellow-rumped Thornbills engage in
co-operative breeding, where helpers, as well as the parents, feed the
young?
 
Paul Osborn
Research Scientist
BHP Research - Newcastle Labs
PO Box 188 Wallsend, NSW, 2287
Ph: (02) 49792705
VPN: 8843 2705
Fax: (02) 49792022