We have been lucky to have a small family group of PH Rosellas visit our neighbourhood each Spring recently. I felt kind of sorry for them when I found them looking for seed in what used to be a vacant block adjacent to nearby bushland. Last Summer it was there as usual and this Summer there was a house and a swimming pool instead ... I wonder what they think of that.
Then this morning, I was confused to hear a strange chattering coming from the Spangled drongos that have moved in next to our pool fence ( in the favourite tree of the catbirds). On further investigation I realised that they had a little mate talking to them .... I think he was a bit lost and it was obvious that he was a juvenile by the fact that he let me get closer to him than the adult birds ever would.
he was very interested in the clattery noise that the Drongos were making on the branch below. They come out every evening at dusk so it is very hard to get a shot of them.
And are usually accompanied by this catbird lately, but I can't get it to come close like they did last Summer. tried fill flash as it was nearly dark and this angle was the best I could achieve!!!
Wow, what a great bunch of birds to see and awesome photos of them, birdie!
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I was up at my parents place near Maleny last weekend and the drongos were very much out and about around the place. They are so distinctive with their fish tail and shiny black colouring. I've also seen a few round locally here in Bris.
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Have you had any luck with visitors to your nesting box yet?
I've seen a couple of the Pale Headed Rosellas around here regularly but they don't seem to need the box I've put up. Hopefully because there are enough good hollows in the local bushland to support them.
Cheers
Tim
Brisbane
Well done Birdie, the second PHR shot is very nice. Gorgeous birds. Are they as shy as Easterns?
The pale-headed rosella is a lovely looking bird - not as gaudy as our eastern. We also have a lot of building around here, so many birds lose their nesting or foraging areas. I like the photos of the spangled drongoes as well
HI Timmo, and thanks.... no I haven't done anything with my nesting box at all. We are just not a handyman family and the palm trees aren't suitable for it. I have yet to sight the catbird's nest and I have been here 3 years watching them!
Akos, that PHR was pretty young and I think I heard him chattering with the Drongos again this morning. maybe he is feeling a bit lost and unsure of himself? Does that happen? He wasn't with the mature birds that I saw on the same day so he could be one of their offspring. Yes they are very shy birds and we don't see them often except for Spring and summer. They would be competing with rainbows for nesting hollows I guess.
Sunshine Coast Queensland