There has been a lot of early breeding activity around our house in the last
month. I have 4 consecutive years of records and this year 5 species are way
ahead of previous years by 6-8 weeks. Here is a summary of what has been
happening.
New Holland:
2 nestlings fledged about 4 weeks ago. At the same time I noticed 2
different NHHEs carrying nesting material on our rural property.
HANZAB - All months but mostly July- Dec.
Little Wattlebird:
1 nestling fledged last week. Nest was in a Pittosporum by the house.
HANZAB - Aug. to Apr in SA
Red Wattlebird:
Incubating 2 eggs in a Banksia adjacent to the track leading to the house.
HANZAB - May to Jan in SA
White-br Scrubwren:
Building a nest in an artificial flower arrangement by the front door. They
had one there last year and successfully raised 2 young.
HANZAB - All months but mostly Aug. to Jan.
Galah:
The resident pair appear to be incubating. I did see some leaves being
carried to the hole early last week.
Rainbow Lorikeet:
Early in the week I saw 2 young being fed in a Tasmanian blue gum tree by
the house.
Magpies around here havn't started yet but normally begin building or
refurbishing nests in late June.
So what has prompted this early breeding? Maybe its the weather - we have
had alot of days with mild temperatures with not a lot of rain.
Dean Cutten
Victor Harbor, SA
Australia
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