Willie Wagtail accident
One of the common bird species around home here in Murray Bridge is the Willie Wagtail. This is a widespread species throughout Australia and is familiar to most people, even those with little interest in birds. We have a resident breeding pair in our garden.
From time to time one of them comes to visit our bird bath. This morning I saw the water splashing in all directions so I raced into the office to grab my digital camera. This is one species that has eluded my camera thus far.
I managed to take about eight photos before disaster struck. The Willie Wagtail upset the bird bath, knocking it and the contents to the ground. I was surprised because I had thought that even bigger birds would not be able to tip it over. It’s perched on the cut down trunk of an old dead mallee tree and has a brick inside it.
The Willie Wagail nonchalantly flew to a nearby branch, gave his feathers a shake, preened for a few seconds and then flew off.
Perhaps I need a bigger brick.
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June 29th, 2006 at 10:14 am
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October 7th, 2006 at 4:37 pm
a couple of willie wagtails have built their nest two meters in front of my kitchen window on top of a plank of wood under the pergola.
once she begins to sit on the nest how long does she take to lay eggs and how long before they hatch, generally speaking.
October 7th, 2006 at 10:46 pm
Hi there Monica. Welcome to my blog. I hope that enjoyed your visit.
Willie Wagtails are high on my list of favourite birds. To have them nesting so close to your window is wonderful and means you will be able to keep a close eye on the nest and the development of the young as they grow. Keep your distance and try not to disturb the nest as this may frighten the adults away. The adults may abandon the eggs or young if you go too close too often.
The usual clutch size is three eggs, though sometimes 2 or 4. It is amazing to see 4 chicks almost ready to fly trying to occupy the tiny nest. It is a wonder they don’t all fall out!
After the laying of the last egg incubation usually takes about 14 days and the young fledge (able to fly) in about another 14 days.
So enjoy the next 28 days.
September 3rd, 2007 at 9:44 am
A pair of Willie Wagtails have built their nest about a meter off the ground in our back yard - what could they have been thinking, as we have a cat which regularly patrol that area? Should I disturb the nest to encourage them to go elsewhere so as to prevent disaster, or do they realy know what they are doing?
September 8th, 2007 at 11:31 am
Hi there Colleen. Thanks for visiting my blog.
It is quite amazing where some birds build their nests. Willie Wagtails quite often make their nest as low as a metre.
In my opinion it would be best to leave the nest alone. Just stand back and enjoy their presence.
I do, however, fear for your cat’s safety. They will harass it endlessly as passes by. Is it possible to keep the cat inside until the baby birds fly off? Another solution might be to put a temporary fence around the nest area to keep the cat away.
I hope it all goes well.
September 22nd, 2007 at 11:19 am
Hi Trevor. For the 2nd year running we have WW nest built in a climbing rose on our verandah post. Our 2 small children have been very excited about the progress the birds have been making to rebuild the nest from last year & prepare it again. Using a mirror, I have seen 3 eggs, and thismorning the birds were acting quite strange and my 7 old daughter wondered if the eggs had hatched (about 14 days from laying according to my calender), so right on cue, I checked thismorning and they are proud parents !!! I mowed the lawn yesterday right under their noses and they really don’t seem to mind me, but not to keen on my husband! It is a wonderful experience for our family, but we think one of our resident doves needs a lesson in nest building, because also 2 years running she has stuck a few twigs together & probably wondered why her eggs keep ending up smashed on the ground with the first big wind.!! Quite sad.
September 28th, 2007 at 2:11 pm
Hi there Karen,
It is exciting to have wild birds nesting so close to one’s house. Only this morning we saw a WW bombing one of our resident Ravens - it was actually landing on its back and giving it a fierce telling off. I haven’t had the time today to search out if the WWs have made nest nearby.
Doves and pigeons make the most incredibly poor excuses for nests. I have actually stood under a Bronzewing Pigeon’s nest and counted the eggs! They just seem to be very lazy and throw together a few sticks and are content with that. How the eggs or babies don’t fall through beats me.