aussiebirder

The early winter months down here are very quiet in our local parks, having fewer bird species and almost no current wildflowers to feed the many nectar eaters. However, our insectivorous birds including the Superb Fairy-wren, Grey Fantail, Eastern Yellow Robin, Golden Whistler, White-browed Scrubwren, Brown and Striated Thornbills and the Magpies, continue to thrive during this period.

Several of the Parrot family including Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Rainbow Lorikeet, Eastern Crimson Rosella and recently Long-billed Corella are also late nesters in our local Nature Reserve, the seed pods and cones from last summer continue to offer feed for these species. Yes we are very surprised that a pair of Long-billed Corella have returned to the major nesting tree (angophora costata or Sydney Red Gum) as we thought the Sulphurs had driven the flock away last week.

While we have many birds that nest during our winter months, especially rainforest birds, many of our small passerines nest during spring and summer, though occasionally one species, the Superb-fairy wren, may nest three times a year. I was delighted when visiting the spot that originally inspired the first page of my first book What Birds Teach Us to experience an extraordinary moment when a breeding male, non breeding male and a female all appeared together at the one time.

Notice the male always maintains its bright blue tail. The facial features are quite different in the two sexes. Click on photos to enlarge them.

I am often asked by people not familiar with our Fairy-wrens: “My Blue Wrens I see in my garden have disappeared, do you know why ?” After explaining about breeding plumage they have a light bulb moment and realise they are still their but are incognito until the next Spring. You can explore my first pages of my first bird by clicking the image below, it will open on a new tab. I used the Splendid Fairy-wren from Western Australia as it was the only time back then that I could get male and female together, of course I have photographs now, ten years later, of them together. Many bird species transform to and from breeding plumage during each year, the Fairy-wrens included.

It is always an exciting find to see the male morphing from eclipse to breeding or visa versa as you can see here. It does take several weeks to change over. The females will then be attracted to him and make themselves available for breeding. The birds have the ability to see UV light and can see colour and embodiments around the male which are not visible to our human eyes.

A couple of days later we took a couple of friends after coffee to see the Powerful Owl hidden among the Mangroves while viewing the nesting hole from a distance. If you did not know where to look you would never find it. If she is in the nest they will have 30 days to wait, and the male will have to hunt each night for them both and later the chicks and bring food, preferably a possum or other small mammal or large bird. They always extract the entrails of the animal which can sometimes be seen left lying on the track.

Lastly, one of the signs of winter is the appearance of Noisy Friarbirds which come in from the west of our state to feed on any blossom or fruit that may remain. Their raucous call is similar to the grating metal sound of the Red Wattlebird, both honeyeaters are aggressive toward one another and will try to drive the other away, which is what we witnessed when taking these photos. Notice the first photo with its tubular retractable straw-like nectar sucking tongue has not been retracted.

Enjoy your week and hopefully it is not as wet as it has been here with unseasonable rainfall which is not the best for birding. We are thankful to God for a few sunny days to get out and about.

LOVE is the life lesson taught by the Fairy-wren in the pages of my first book What Birds Teach Us. It shares how the very visible male in bright blue breeding plumage places his own life on the line to draw away any perceived threatening creatures, while his female partner and youngsters escape to safety. He later joins them after cunningly eluding his predators. Sometimes in the case of raptors and other bird eating birds, he gives his life for them. The qualities of courage and sacrifice for those we love and care about, and even for those who we do not know, but need our assistance when in danger, are examined in the text of my book. The source of such courage and faith is God himself through Jesus who conquered the fear of death through his own courageous death and resurrection on our behalf.

LOVE is both courageous, sacrificial and intentional. It puts the needs and safety of others before its own needs. Jesus taught this sought of love and demonstrated this quality of God’s agape (unconditional love) when he offered himself to die in our place on the horrific Roman Cross as a our penalty bearer, taking the blame and shame for the sin and sins of all who would put their faith and trust in him. That’s how much God loves you and me. God’s Holy Spirit empowers those who place their faith in Jesus, as his Spirit is given as a gift to encourage and enable them to love courageously like our Lord Jesus did here on earth.

After all, everything God wants us to know and receive is grounded and sourced through his Love, His unconditional, totally free, all embracing, all forgiving, all redeeming Love.

<<< Back To Top of Page >>>

Adv. Dip. in Counselling and Family Therapy.

Member of Birdlife Australia

To introduce people to our unique Australian birds,

And learn from them how to live a healthy and happy life.

NOTE: All photos, videos and music used on this website are photographed, composed, performed  by the site owner and remains his copyrighted property, unless otherwise stated. The use of any material that is not original material of the site owner is duly acknowledged as such. © W. A. Hewson 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025.