aussiebirder

This week I focus on a bird that is endemic to Australia yet I seldom post but is quite unique and remarkable in how it spreads the Mistletoe which is an obligate hemiparasitic plant. Mistletoe grows and hangs from tree branches having been sown from the faeces of the Mistletoebird where the seeds of the fruit have been rubbed onto the tree in the faeces. The bird rubs its bottom on the tree branch while defaecating and in doing so, sows the seeds which flourish there providing food for many nectar eating species of birds when the many nectar rich flowers bloom..

The male bird is shiny black on the back of its head and primaries and has bright colourful redneck and under tail with a distinct black stripe up its chest. The female is very plain grey/brown and white front but has a distinct red under tail also. Click on photos to enlarge them.

Several weeks ago I did a post on the endangered Regent Honeyeater which nests in the Capertee National Park. Click HERE to see post. Mistletoe is one of the main providers of nectar when these birds can not get enough from mature flowering Ironbark trees which humankind has left very few remaining. This bird’s toilet routine blesses many other nectar dependant bird species which otherwise, due to human tree depletion, would go without adequate food.

My eldest grandson spotted a male bird going back and forth from what he termed ‘a sock hanging from a tree’. Good spotting ! as on examination with binoculars it was a classic Mistletoe nest with hungry newborn nestlings inside. The female would come to feed and male would come to remove the poo sacks of the babies which they emit from their rear after feeding. This is how birds keep their nest clean. If you look carefully you will briefly see the male with a white ball in its beak which it appears to eat, but stores in its gullet as it collects several and then immediately flies off to deposit them in the bush.

Here you can see the wide open pink mouths of the babies as the parent attends them.

These amazingly strong nesting socks are all formed by these tiny birds collecting many many yards of spiders web and binding small sticks and grass together. It is amazing to watch how they collect it with their beak and bring it back and sow it into this beautifully formed sock. While out at the Bungle Bungles in the Kimberley region of Far North Western Australia we saw this female Mistletoebird collecting spider web. As you can see this amazing bird survives all over Australia’s mainland including the hot, arid and dry desert areas.

My long awaited Daily Devotional book “Reflect on These Things” has finally had its last proofing and is with the printer due for publishing in the next week, if God so wills it. I will let you know when it is available here online.

The same remarkable Creator who formed all things into being and gave life to each of us, loves us each dearly and extends his hand of love and reconciliation to each of us, having taken away the penalty for our rebellion and ignorance through the gift of eternal life through the death and resurrection of his Son the one true righteous One – the man Jesus Christ.

“There is one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity—the man Christ Jesus.  He gave his life to purchase freedom for everyone.” – 1 Timothy 2 (NLT)

“Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.” – 1 John 5:12 (NIV)

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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, 2026