I’m fascinated with avian politics. Not just how same species of birds interact, but how different bird species communicate with one another.
Birds are like us really. They will compromise on some things and not others. When I put fruit out for the birds, I notice that posturing may occur between species and, occasionally, I am surprised to see these birds happily sharing. It is the same with nesting. Territory battles are common.
There is something that I learned recently that I want to share with you...
I've always been aware that when the blackbird makes a "chit chit" alarm sound, there's something outside that I should take a look at.
Recently, I heard several blackbirds making the alarm call, but I also heard waxeyes, warblers and fantails all within close proximity. I entered the bush on my property, but because of the recent storm, there was so much debris, fallen tree branches were everywhere! I couldn't get through. I decided to enter from my neighbour's side. It is quite steep. I made a rather undignified entrance into the bush and lost my footing in all the mess and slid down ungracefully on my rear end and then looked up.
Above me was a sleepy-eyed morepork. This bird was surrounded by three blackbirds, a large number of waxeyes and grey warblers. Of note were the fantails that swooped precariously around its head, as if daring it to move. Perhaps that was the intent. Stir this bird up and chase it away. I felt like Alice in Wonderland. I had never seen anything like it. I was wide-eyed with it all. The sound was deafening. What I found amusing was how unperturbed this morepork was. It would occasionally open one eye as it felt the brush of fantail wings, but really, it seemed oblivious to all the commotion.
Just like Alice in Wonderland, I am somewhat clumsy. The only thing that managed to upset this morepork was the sight of me tumbling down the bank in an avalanche of dried leaves and branches. I looked up in time to see the morepork glide off on widespread wings.
Birds of different species will collaborate when there is a need to do so. Isn't it a beautiful world? (HEIDI PADAIN)
To see some of Heidi’s other photographic work, go to www.flickr.com and type Heidi Padain into the search box, or, you can contact Heidi by email hidihi@xtra.co.nz, or look her up on Facebook... Heidi Padain Photography.