Pardalotes regularly/annually nest in wire mesh compost bins in my brother's
orchard in Corio, Geelong, Vic. Their nestlings did not manage to fully
fledge this year. John found the last body nearby. While not certain,
Currawongs were the suspected predators.
While not quite the same, I annually and significantly contribute to a brood
of Little Ravens. A pair has nested about a block from my home for years and
I always have a considerable drop-off in eggs (and lots of shells on the
roof) when nesting is on. They may even steal them from under the hens as I
occasionally hear quite a ruckus from the chook yard accompanied by crow
calls. This year they appear to have raised 3 young. Rudely, the young ones,
rather than moving on to feed on the abundant supply of flung Maccas, KFC,
souvlakis etc etc on the streets, regularly turn up to nick more eggs!! Even
peering from a perch 1m or so above my irate Jack Russell valiantly trying
to see them off!
Wendy
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