About three weeks ago two adult Willie wagtails built a nest and then laid eggs that have still not hatched after 16 days,
One Willie wagtail roosted the eggs wile the over went on look out. But the last two days The Willie wagtail on the nest calls for its mate and gets no answer. Yesterday I went out the front of my house to look for the second bird. I herd the missing one cheaping about 150 metres away from my house.
The two adult Willie wagtails are out of hearing distance and since yesterday I have not heard the missing one.
Also its been 16 days and the eggs have not hatched what should I do regarding these problems?
Please note I am a new member and I apoligise if I post this in the wrong topic.
I'd say you're in the right topic, sebastianmann. And welcome.
Willie Wagtail incubation occurs over 14 - 15 days, according to Michael Morcombe: Field Guide to Australian Birds. Both parents incubate the eggs & that's about right according to my observations of Willie Wagtails which have nested at my place on the s.e. slopes of the Mt Lofty Ranges in SA.
If only one of adult is now incubating the eggs then that may explain why the eggs haven't hatched - yet. So a little patience might be needed. But it is possible that the eggs won't hatch at all. Time will tell.
Why the other adult seems to have abandoned the nest I'm not sure. Willie Wagtails are usually very vigorous in defending their nests against all comers. I haven't heard of them abandoning their nests because of interference from humans (unlike many other bird species) but it's a possibility that in your case one of them has. Has anyone been observing the nest close up?
Perhaps the missing one has been injured or now killed by a cat. Do you have a cat or, even worse, cats in your neighbourhood? If so you need to discourage, eradicate or whatever else you can humanely do to get rid of them if you want to enhance your local wildlife's survivability.
Other than dealing with any local cats, I'd recommend you closely observe what is happening with the nest & its eggs. Even take notes & share them here, at least, as the information will be interesting & could be quite valuable. As a general rule humans, out of the goodness of their hearts, are notorious for intervening in the life of birds when they don't need to. Nature has had plenty of practice at looking after its own & usually only needs a hand when unnatural forces such as cats & chainsaws are at work.
Thank you Woko for replying also the second bird is back after being missing for two days. They where both sitting on the eggs befor and now they are again. so hopefuly the eggs will hatch.
Also here are some pics.
It's good to hear that the bird is back. It must have gone on a bender ;)
soakes
Olinda, Victoria, Australia
I wonder if the "missing" Willie Wagtail returned for at least some of the time you may have been absent from observing the nest, sebastianmann.
I checked very regularly because I can see the nest from my window. Anny way I hope they hatch.
Good news they atleased one has hatched and the overs are hatching, I bought meal worms as a treat for them. So now every once in a wile I give them meal worms and they are health and happy.
Hold the meal worms, Sebastian. It's the parents' job to feed their young. Besides, I think insects are more their bag not meal worms so you could be doing their digestive systems a disservice. Chaos can result when we humans interfere with natural processes.
I checked with some one before I fed the adults. I am not feeding the babby's only adults.
Your concern for the well-being of the adult Willie Wagtails is admirable, Sebastian. However, I suggest the same principle applies. Who better to know what food is appropriate for Willie Wagtails than Willie Wagtails? Preserving or restoring their natural habitat is the most helpful thing you can do for them.
Ok thanks Wokwo also I do take note of what they they and make it slighly esayer for them to get the food they eat.
how do you make it easier for them to get the food they eat?
I don't use pestissides and if I see flys or moths I leave them close to the nest.