This morning I decided to go to Hunter Botanic Gardens but never made it. I stopped on the way at the local pond to see if the grey-crowned babblers were there and stayed there instead.
I didn't know much about them before but learnt a lot by watching them.
I couldn't see them at the usual spots so I walked back to my car. In a casuarina just near my car was a juvenile grey-crowned babbler. It flew clumsily and spent some time on a lawn
Then 2 adults showed up on the nature strip. This is one of them. They look a rich brown in the sunshine but charcoal in the shade
I haven't been able to photograph them before and today one jumped on my car!!!
They flew over to the other side of the road and started collecting the old casuarina needles off the ground
They flew back to the tree the juvenile was in and I realised they were building a nest! The nest is to left centre and a bird with nesting material in its beak is to right centre
This also has a bird with nesting material in its beak at right centre. It shows the white tail tips
I tried to get them flying in and out with nesting material but they were very fast
One landed in a tea tree or small leafed bottlebrush (not sure but it is not flowering now)
It decided to get some sturdier timbers
Twigs were taken as well
They built for a while then foraged for a while. Twice I saw one (most likely the male) pass something to the other
They put their heads down and bulldoze the casuarina needles so they can find things underneath. See how the needles have been pushed up in front of the birds head? It did that
I forgot to say, the second last photo shows the grey stripe on the crown
Great observational story and pics Kim, I have never seen one.
Sunshine Coast Queensland
That's a great sequence, birdgirl!
Very educational and illustrated well.
Thanks for sharing - it's not a bird I know much about other than the name.
Cheers
Tim
Brisbane
Great photos,I like the ones where the bird clings to the branches with those big feet. Thanks, you made me read a bit about the bird, as I have never seen one. They forage on the ground, using those feet. They do have some very interesting nesting habits!? There is some interesting reading on BIBY's Bird Finder!!!! M-L
M-L
These are great Birdgirl and thanks for the story behind the photos. My favourite is the first photo.
Alison
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"the earth is not only for humans, but for all animals and living things."
What a great series of shots, Birdgirl. I like the story that accompanies the shots, too.
Cheers,
George
Melbourne, VIC
Very interesting account of your experience with birds that I have never even seen before and great shots to accompany it. Thanks for sharing all that.
Cheers, Owen.
I love the bulldozing shot! Fantastic!
I've seen a group of Grey-crowned Babblers once. They make such lovely sounds.