I'm really enjoying spying the new kids on the block this spring. Here are some of my favourite Fledgling/Brancher & Juvenile spots for the week. Hope you enjoy!
Welcome Swallows
Juvenile Pink Robin - Male
Juvenile Dusky Robin
Juvenile Crescent Honeyeater - Male
Fledgling Golden Whistler
Fledgling New Holland Honeyeater
Fan-tailed Cuckoo Fledgling with host parent, Tasmanian Thornbill
Wow, the size difference between the cuckoo and wren is just incredible. I assumed host species would be of a similar size.
The amount of work for the wren to keep that guy fed must be phenomenal.
Cheers
Tim
Brisbane
It's amazing isn't it timmo? It's actually a little Tas Thornbill feeding the Cuckoo, so another 3-4cm smaller again than your average SFW, really makes the Cuckoo look like a big baby now hey
.
The first day I saw this Cuckoo being fed, there was a flurry of little birds feeding him - mainly a family of SFW's but also Thornbills (posted some pics in ID). Unfortunately I didn't get any good shots of both species feeding him that day, so went back the next day and found him again, which was very easy with the noise they make, a constant "pipping".
This time 'round, just a couple or few Tas Thornbills feeding the big boned little fella
. I wondered the exact same thing as you, about the feeding trips. I wonder now though, Tas Thornbills have 3-4 babies on average, so would feeding 3-4 little chicks = 1 bigger chick? I don't know, but would be interesting to find out for sure.
West Coast Tasmania
Annie, thats incredible that that little bird would be feeding such a big baby. The photography is just brilliant, I'm blown away.
I've learnt so much in such a short time since joining BIB and still no nothing.
Cheers.
As usual absolutely magnificent set and like others just blown away by that feeding shot
Dont take life too seriously, it never ends well
Thanks guys. I know what you mean Dennis, I still know half of nothing
. Just for interests sake, the ID is in for the Cuckoo (thanks again Brandon [Ihewman] 
) It is a Fan-tailed Cuckoo.
West Coast Tasmania
WOW, excellent shots, Annie
.
I have an FTC being looked after by WB Scrubwren. No pics yet though
Shorty......Canon gear
Canberra
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rawshorty/
Great pictures Annie!!
Goodness me Annie! Like everyone else I am blown away by that cuckoo shot - amazing that tiny little 9g birds can sustain a baby that has to be pushing 30g...
I also love the welcome swallow babies- I find young welcome swallows look almost cartoonish/animated, its something about the colouring I think.
My bird book has a picture of a little grey fantail feeding an enormous cuckoo in it. Seems like an obvious thing which might make a male bird wonder about fidelity of their mate. (Heh)
I still think it is strange that they tolerate the cuckoo babies.
And in great timing - here is a link to a news piece about cooperative breeders and their role in protecting nests from cuckoos that I just got notified about
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/higher-education/why-maiden-aunts-exist-in-the-bird-world/story-e6frgcjx-1226787138105
Great pictures Annie ... The thornbill better not get too close to that huge mouth!
Interesting article Holly, particularly the last bit about the cuckoo parents staying around to wreak revenge on any host parents that tip the cuckoo eggs out.
I have seen Currawongs vigorously chasing away adult channel billed cuckoos, so they obviously know they are up to no good. But then they will raise a baby bird that looks just like ones they chase away!
Oh those babies are so wonderful, outstanding as always Annie.
Kerry - Perth, Western Australia.
Thanks everyone. That article is very interesting indeed - Mafia bullies of the bird world
. I really like Cuckoos, but have to confess that I mentally humanise the situation a little, briefly, and do feel a pang for the host parents and of course their (lost) babies. Same with the local Harriers who frequent the paddock or two behind us to steal the Lapwing chicks to feed to their own brood - but, I do love the Harriers too, so.... the way of the Natural World & all doing what they're meant/wired to do.
One last piccie of the Cuckoo & Tas Thornbill. Heavily cropped so quality not too good, but you might just be able to see the tiny rice sized morsel the tired looking little darling is feeding it's big-boned baby
.
West Coast Tasmania