i have a breeding (i think) pair in my highly mounded potato patch and now it is time to dig my potatoes. however to do so is very likely to destroy the pardalote habitat. any tips about when the "nest" is likely to be abandoned and free to be renovated through potato harvesting would be appreciated!
Don't know too much about the nesting bit, (Morcombe say June til January) should not be very long I would have thought. Unless you need the spuds right away, they will be fine in the ground a bit longer, unless the soli is likely to become waterlogged (thinking far north with the wet coming). I am still digging spuds planted October last year, they are beginning to sprout again, but for the moment are still fine to eat. We find our potatoes keep better in the ground, and only dig enough for a week or to at a time, but then I have plenty of ground to rotate my crops through.
Dale Huonville, Tasmania
I would think that when the adults stop bringing food to the nest the youngsters will have flown the mound.