Hi Birders,
As most resident coastal birds in NSW commence breeding because of the
lengthening daylight period those people who are suggesting that there is
"early nesting" taking place either have short memories or they are new at
the game. Many Australian Ravens and Australian Magpies in this part of NSW,
not to mention Pardalotes, White-browed Scrub-wrens, Fairy-wrens, Brown
Thornbills, Honeyeaters etc commence nest building at this time every year.
As a matter of fact my local magpies were already sitting on their first
nest at this time last year, they have yet to start this year but presumably
because it is so dry, however the 35 mm of rain received over the weekend
should fix that! Wood Ducks were at nest holes today! Similarly, Shinging
Bronze, Horsfield Bronze-Cuckoos and Fantailed Cuckoos are always active at
this time of the year in coastal areas because their hosts, fairy-wrens,
scrub-wrens and thornbills commence to nest at this time. Because of our
British Heritage we do have a fixation that birds should nest "in spring"
but that is not the Australian way! The reason why new birders may think
that certain birds are nesting early is because in the past they were
unaware of the nesting behaviour of birds such as Thornbills and Scrub-wrens
whose secretive nesting habits make it difficult to find the nest.
Pardalotes are easy to spot nesting by comparison so hence people can say
"they are nesting early".
Alan Morris
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