I was driving around the Western Treatment Plant at Werribee when I noticed a Fairy Martin sitting out in the open, it seemed odd as it stayed longer than I thought it would, especially at a site that is teeming with raptors.
Fairy Martin (Petrochelidon ariel)
1/2000, f/7.1, ISO 800
It spent most of it’s time looking around and quietly calling which confirmed that it was a juvenile waiting to be fed.
Fairy Martin (Petrochelidon ariel)
1/1600, f/7.1, ISO 800
Finally a parent bird arrived with a bill full of bugs that it had caught on the wing.
.
Fairy Martin (Petrochelidon ariel)
1/1600, f/7.1, ISO 800
There was a remarkable balancing act going on as the parent hovered and the fledgling tried to keep its balance.
Fairy Martin (Petrochelidon ariel)
1/1600, f/7.1, ISO 800
At one point the parent bird’s wing collected some cobwebs and the fledgling spread its tail as it leaned backwards.
Fairy Martin (Petrochelidon ariel)
1/1600, f/7.1, ISO 800
When the parent bird left, the fledgling looked so tiny as it re-balanced itself on its cobwebby stick.
Fairy Martin (Petrochelidon ariel)
1/2000, f/5.6, ISO 800
I parked the car quite a distance from the first Fairy Martin so have included this closer image of a bird I saw later in the day.
Happy birding
Kim
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I will answer your comments as soon as I can, thank you! Kim
I really enjoyed these photos – thank you
Thank you for letting me know Annette, I appreciate that, Kim
These are a great set of pictures. I need to spend more time at the WTP – which is odd when you think about it!
I had to edit the link you used for WBW as no thumbnail was showing up – I used one of the images from this post.
Hope this was OK.
Stewart M – Melbourne
Quite a few of my friends are perplexed that I like spending so much time at the poo paddocks. I noticed that about the thumbnail on WBW, I thought either it would load eventually or it’d look like a mystery site. Thanks for fixing it.
Capturing the feeding of the fledgling is amazing. As always your photos allow us to share your experiences, reflecting infinite patience.The look in the fledgling’s eye after the parent has left tells us so much about how it is feeling.
Infinite patience with birds, not with queuing up in shops! I re-looked at the fledgling’s expression and see what you mean, such a tiny little bird and yet so strong.
Lovely shots, Kim. I live only 35 minutes away from the WTP, so I must do something about visiting the site where there are so many wonderful photo opportunities.
35 minutes away from the WTP! I’d be living down there. Let me know when you’re visiting just in case I’m there too.
Wonderful series.
Thanks Peter!
Aw they’re amazing!
They really are!
lovely story, beautiful tiny bird, thanks kim
I’m glad you enjoyed it Sue, thanks for commenting, Kim
What an incredible series of shots.
Fragile perfection – thank you so very much.
PS: I sent the link for this post to my partner’s sister and this was her response. ‘Amazing photography. I did enjoy her calendar. She has a real gift and I suspect much patience’
They are such sweet little birds. Thanks for passing on your sister-in-law’s comments, that is really lovely of you and her. I have untold patience for wildlife and children but put me in a shop and it’s an entirely different story.
Beautiful Kim, so glad I can see your lovely photos again and learn about birds I have never seen before. Valda
I’m so pleased you’re back on board Valda, I hope you like the upcoming Tree Martins too
Great shots. I would have thought the parent would have fed from the other side to prevent the wobbles
Now there’s an interesting thought that hadn’t crossed my mind!
Lovely shots – what a sweet-looking bird.
Thank you Annette. I think they’re really sweet too, they have such big round eyes