July – August 2020

There are signs that the season is about to turn. The distinctive calls of Fan-tailed Cuckoos ring through the forest. Pardalotes and Wood Ducks search for nest sites. Large mixed flocks of honeyeaters feed noisily in the canopy. And last week, termites swarmed in flight.

We’re feeling optimistic. Recent rains have saturated the soil and charged local waterways. Burnt tree trunks and shrubs are ever bushier as they continue to sprout new leaves. Yellow-bellied Gliders have been calling during night time forays into nearby trees. The variety of small plants is already extraordinary and more appear each week. We’ve added three more orchid species to the post-fire list, and various other plants are beginning to flower. There are still few insects, but that will change rapidly in the weeks ahead.

The Spotted Pardalotes’ choice of nest sites is quite a surprise. They’ve been clearing out a hollow in a tall eucalypt, about 20m above the ground. This is most unusual. Spotted Pardalotes usually nest in ground-level burrows, digging into earth banks or termite mounds.

Below is a short compilation movie that Paul put together last week as we watched both the male and female excavating deep inside the eucalypt.

Did you hear the Rose Robin calling in the background?