Fairy Martin being fed

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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