Thursday, July 16, 2009

Unexpected.

I was out photographing LBJ's the other day when this one perched high up in a rather open casuarina tree. It was only when I got home and put the photos up on the computer screen that I realized I had another photo of a bird I had not previously seen - this time a female Mistletoebird. Apart from the red undertail coverts it is indeed another Little Brown Bird.
These birds eat the fruits of mistletoe plants as well as nectar, insects, and other fruit/berries.
Mistletoe plant hanging from a tree
But! Uh-oh! I had read that these birds excrete the seeds of the mistletoe plants as a sticky 'package' - but I had certainly not expected to photograph this! That looks as if it would stick to anything!

11 comments:

  1. Oh, that's a brilliant photo Mick!
    Its one thing to read about their sticky poo....but that photo says it all! No wonder there is so much Mistletoe about.
    Because Mistletoe birds have a very fast digestive system the toxic seeds of the Mistletoe have no apparent effect on the bird.

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  2. Oh! This is a very rare photograph!! Superb timing and presence!!!

    Bedse Caves

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  3. It will! Your female is more or less across branch. Usually the birds will align more in parallel with the branch so the sticky package is deposited securely on the host tree.

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  4. I think I've read somewhere that they turn side on to the branch so the (defecated) seed lands on living wood instead of the ground.

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  5. Hi Barbara, Bhavesh, Tony, and Boobook, thanks for your comments and further detail about mistletoebirds and seeds. This is one of those shots that I could never have taken with the old camera so again I am so pleased I now have one that focuses quickly and does good multiple shots. btw the mistletoe is all in flower right now and yesterday I even saw a Brown Honeyeater at the flowers.

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  6. Well captured. Not only a new bird for you but also mistletoe propagation is progress. Something you read about but to see it - that is something else. (as they say).

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  7. Thanks John. Definitely and interesting 'moment in time'.

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  8. What a lovely bird. This is the first I've heard of a mistletoebird!

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  9. Excellent Mick. That's a rare capture & another new bird for us to see. Cheers Frank.

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  10. Thanks EG and Frank - Its always great to photograph new things.

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  11. G'day Mick,
    Well done. Gorgeous bird, even with sticky faecal package attached!
    Gouldiae

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