Not all fascinating wildlife arrive at our door injured or orphaned . Besides the often sad phone calls
that come through the WILVOS 5441 6200 Hotline, native animals do just come to visit in their
everyday lives.
This past week it has been a joy to watch two willie wagtails making a nest on a branch inside my
patio. They are the largest of the flycatcher species, and are very relaxed around humans. As I go on
with my day, passing under their nestmaking activities, they are totally unphased by my movements
or the nearby noisy rainbow lorikeets. One has very distinct white eyebrows and sometimes appears
to be frowning! I was able to sit on a chair, take photos and just be amazed by their hard work.
Cobwebs did an amazing job of holding the nest on the branch and are also being used throughout
the construction. What intricate work, little pieces of grass being brought in, and woven or stomped
into the nest with cobwebs and mud. Willie wagtails may make multiple nests before deciding on
the best option. Their other nests may provide material for the chosen nest or ones in the future.
Willie wagtails usually mate for life, if life doesn’t intervene! They might hatch two clutches in a
season but this may extend to four. After 14 days of incubation by both parents, 3 – 5 chicks hatch,
fed by both parents, and then fledge at around two weeks later. The second clutch have been
known to hatch around this time. What busy parents!
I am hoping this nest will be the one in which they deposit their eggs! Maybe it will only be a
‘practice’ one this year, but either way they are fascinating little birds.
Donna Brennan Wildlife Volunteers Assoc Inc (WILVOS) PO Box 4805 SCMC Q 4560 PH 5441 6200
www.wilvos.org.au
Willie wagtails may have multiple nests………..
