Geoff Park from ‘Natural Newstead: Observations of flora, fauna and landscape in central Victoria’, Tarrangower Times

The mistletoebird nest

Mistletoebirds are a lovely feature of the local bird fauna. Each year, from spring through summer, I discover several of their beautifully woven and highly engineered nests, made mainly from cobwebs with a few adornments such as spent wattle flowers added in. The adults become vocal during the breeding season, singing from high perches within their chosen territories. Around town they have access to their primary food source, mistletoe fruits, that occur in ripening abundance at this time of year. Curiously, around town they choose to nest in non-native plants and often quite low down. Both parents bring food to the young, with the female doing the bulk of the work. It looks like there is a single nestling in this case, suggesting some sort of calamity. Often there are three in a brood, occasionally as many as four. … and the peg?

Photos: Geoff Park

A few days before these images were taken the nest, including at least one nestling, was discovered on the ground – possibly the result of a very windy evening. The thoughtful ‘caretaker’ carefully re-attached the nest near the original site. The adults happily resumed their duties and so far, so good.

This article appeared in the Tarrangower Times, 10 January 2025.