Pardalotes

STRIATED PARDALOTES

Out past Kilmore East is Nanny's Creek Road. It runs between Kilmore East and Sunday Creek. 

 

Half way, is a bridge across Nanny's Creek. No-one is quite sure who Nanny was but, she has creek and a bridge to carry her name. The bridge is a modern concrete affair and underneath are many mud swallow nests. It is rather cold and dark under the bridge and the nests are empty for most of the year.

 

 

 

There are often swallows about this area, flying about, over and under the roadway. There are usually families of pardalotes here also, busy amongst the grass and the wattle trees. For such small birds they are very vocal and the air is always filled with their chattering and calling. 

 

 

 

I was under the bridge today, hoping to see whether or not the swallows were using their old nests for raising this year's chicks. There was no sign of occupancy, but after sitting for quite a while, there was some movement. Not the swallows but pardolotes. In and out of two of the 'blocks of flats' were pardalotes. Carrying pieces of grass, it was obvious they were preparing themselves a place for their coming families.

 

 

Busy as they were, they seemed to have plenty of time for a little play, hanging upside down outside different doorways, taking time to preen themselves and even a little exploring of the various openings. Great fun!

 

 

 

 

 

I wonder will there be some confrontation when the original owners come looking for their old homes over the coming weeks. maybe, but it is good to see that even in the bird world, there is an ability to share and recycle resources. 

 

 

 

 

 

Pardalotes it seems,  are pretty good at making use of all sorts of nooks and crannies for their nesting,