Sunbird Update

[arthur]

Update on 'my' Sunbirds . .

They nested and young disappeared (Nov/ Dec)

I usually pull the old nest down to let them start all over, but hadn't got round to it, when they started to show a new interest; eventually laying a fresh clutch without any renovation at all

Young hatched, and everything seemed to be going to plan . .

You may have noticed that we've had a little bit of rain up here. With the wet nest, and the breeze, yesterday morning I found the nesting chamber with two chicks on the patio floor, and a very agitated hen Sunny flitting here and there

Only thing that came to mind was to use a cable tie to reunite the chamber with the stem of the nest

Thought that she would certainly desert after all the disruption . . But she checked out my handiwork; and as of now she is still feeding the kids

She is certainly a devoted parent, as with the weather nectar bearing flowers are few and far between

latest sunbird.jpg

[Storz]

Love the zip tie what a great idea, I have done that (minus zip tie) with the rufous whistlers here a couple of times the nest have ended up on the ground with young put the nest and young back up in the tree in a better spot and they have fledged will be interesting to see if the same thing happens with you sunbird. Keep us posted. With regard to the rain send us a bit we have had only 2ml in the last two months

[Tiaris]

The nest slightly resembles our local Yellow-throated Scrubwrens' nests which trail down over creeks looking like a tangle of old flood debris snagged on the end of a branch.

Do you feed the Sunbirds at all Arthur, or are they naturally confiding around peoples' homes, etc.?

[arthur]

We don't feed them as such, but do have quite a few flowering shrubs and flowering garden plants that they avail themselves of

Have thought of nectar feeders for them but another one of those things that I haven't got around to . . would be handy for them at times like this when extended rain periods make nectar a bit light on . . but with a number of honeyeater species also living here the Sunnies might run second

They are naturally confiding, and common nesting sites are patios, verandahs, sheds, outbuildings . . that nest is less than two foot from our main entry door, and the hen never flushes at night, and very seldom during daylight, after a few days of incubation




We too, have a resident pair of Rufous Whistlers which breed every year . . but I have never found a nest

[Storz]

We don't feed them as such, but do have quite a few flowering shrubs and flowering garden plants that they avail themselves of

Have thought of nectar feeders for them but another one of those things that I haven't got around to . . would be handy for them at times like this when extended rain periods make nectar a bit light on . . but with a number of honeyeater species also living here the Sunnies might run second

They are naturally confiding, and common nesting sites are patios, verandahs, sheds, outbuildings . . that nest is less than two foot from our main entry door, and the hen never flushes at night, and very seldom during daylight, after a few days of incubation




We too, have a resident pair of Rufous Whistlers which breed every year . . but I have never found a nest

Now you know what to look for

IMG_6631.jpg

[finchbreeder]

Glad to hear your Sunnies are sticking it out Arthur. And hope the rain settles down a little.
LML

[arthur]

Thanks FB . .

Worst of it is further up

[finchbreeder]

Daughter is in Brissie and she says the same thing.
LML

[arthur]

R.I.P. Sunbirds . .

Mum feeding up to sundown last night . . This morning no activity . . Inspected the nest at about 10 am and as suspected, empty

Since the rain, we've found 4 little carpet snakes +/- 300mm around the place . . one was in the act of swallowing a large gecko

Carpet snakes, especially small ones can scale (pardon the pun) brick/ block walls by using the joints . .

So I am laying the blame in that direction


It's a tough life, if you are a Sunbird in this 'neck of the woods'

[finchbreeder]

Oh !@#$ Really disapointed to hear that. But I guess they all got to eat and live. I'm just a little in favour of birds over scally critters. Though I supplement the diet of a young blue tounge in my yard with offerings of soft fruit.
LML