NATURE NEWS November 2014
After the thwarted breeding efforts of the White-faced Herons and the Mudlarks nesting at Dugan Dam – success at last.!!!
One young Restless Flycatcher left the nest on Friday 21st November.
The book says they lay 3-4 eggs, but there were only ever 2 little beaks at feeding time – and then there was one!
On one occasion, the laughter of 3 young Kookaburras, sitting in a row, echoed around the dam. Mum and Dad Flycatcher dive bombed them continually carrying on with their alarm call and working in a circular dive action coming from behind right past the Kookaburras head.
At one stage, 2 Willy Wagtails joined in with a slightly different attack method hovering at the side of the Kooka and then giving it a good shove with 2 feet in the back! Repeatedly.
Finally, one by one the Kookaburras retreated – laughing.
Two days later the new fledgling, perched only a metre or so from the nest, looked a bit bewildered and very, very vulnerable.
Now that it has left, it will not return to its nest.
As daylight is fading, the little one looks as if it’s saying, “Look Mum, look at my wings, I can fly!”
To which she replies cautioning,
“Yes but just remember that you can’t steer very well until your tail grows as long as mine!”
Security is – having a parent close by.