These tiny Mistletoebirds are often a bit tricky to see in the treetops, but it’s well worth waiting and watching if you ever hear their high-pitched single call.
Mistletoebirds are Australia’s only species from the flowerpecker family. They are about 10cm long and weigh just 9g. The males are resplendent with their blue-black heads, upperparts and wings. They have bright red feathers on their throat and beneath their tail. Their underparts are white with a black central stripe – quite magnificent.
They feed on mistletoe berries but their digestive systems are unable to digest the sticky seeds which they excrete by wiping them onto branches. This works perfectly to sustain their food source as mistletoes are parasitic plants which have often been placed in a perfect spot to germinate.
The bird above is a female. She has much softer colouring than her male partner. She has a grey central streak on her underparts and a softer red colour beneath her tail.
Several years ago I watched a pair as they nested in my garden. I hid on the ground behind fallen branches and watched them through my binoculars. The nest was made from plant fibres and cobwebs. It was pear-shaped and hung from the outer branches of a Swamp Gum (Eucalyptus ovata). It was amazing to watch the nest increase in size, gradually stretching, as the nestlings grew bigger.
Last week I shared a link to a petition to try to save the Heritage Golf and Country Club kangaroos (above) from being killed for dog food. I’m pleased to report that Heritage have been in consultation with the CEO of Wildlife Victoria, Lisa Palma, and a leading veterinarian from Save the Kinley and Heritage Kangas, Dr Tash Bassett. The petition has reached just over 19,000 signatures – Save the Heritage Kangas – Petition – there is hope, thank you.
Happy birding, Kim
~ Facebook page Kim Wormald – lirralirra
~ Facebook group Ethical Bird Photography
Sometimes I’m ashamed to be a human being, it’s sickening what we’re capable of doing to other living beings, even those of our own species.
I had to reread ‘Mistletoebirds’ to see what was sickening, the roos of course. I’ve just checked the petition which now has over 21,000 signatures. I hope, so much, that they stay safe. Thank you for caring.
Hi Judy, I think the kangaroo industry has been very clever with its marketing which is having devastating consequences for kangaroos. There is much scientific evidence which disputes the figures given by shooters.
I’ll address some of your comments here and add links if you’re interested in further information.
1. Kangaroos do have predators. It is estimated that foxes take up to 50% of emergent young. Many other kangaroos are killed by roads, fences (where they are commonly known as ‘fence hangers’), shooters and dingos.
2. In relation to ‘eating the place out’ it is interesting that grazing pressure equates 1 sheep to 30 roos, and 1 cow to 60 roos. Kangaroos have always existed in harmony with small animals, grazing birds and marsupial mice (which are not grazers). There is no issue with overgrazing relating to the Kinley or Heritage kangaroos.
3. Regarding options other than culling – this depends on circumstances. For the gentle mob of Kinley kangaroos currently trapped on the development site, a team of expert vets, darters and relocation experts have put together a detailed relocation program. A wildlife shelter has offered an ideal relocation site. These experts have been successfully relocating kangaroos for many years. They are willing to do this free of charge.
For the Heritage Golf and Country Club kangaroos there is no valid reason for relocation, the roos have been on the site since its beginnings with no issues and no overpopulation, they are not stressed or starving. The site has just come under new management and this killing seems like a misguided plan to profit from selling the roos as pet food and skins. An alternative would be for the club to repair their fences, though the residents (who live on site) and the golfers have expressed much love for these gentle, beautiful roos and don’t want things to change. There is plenty of habitat for the roos and macropod experts have assessed the area see no reason for relocation of any of the mob, and certainly no reason to kill them.
4. In cases where there is a genuine reason for relocating roos, controlling fertility or humane euthanasia for sick animals, it can be managed by macropod experts. This is not in the interests of the kangaroo industry.
5. Kangaroo killing is the world’s largest land-based wildlife slaughter. Millions of kangaroos are killed each year for the commercial industry. According to the code pouch joeys are to be decapitated or killed by blunt trauma, often bashed against bullbars. At foot joeys often escape to die slowly without their mothers.
Thanks for raising the points you made Judy. I think the kangaroo industry has inundated the media with information that is contested by ecologists and other experts in the field. I am sickened by the wanton killing of our native wildlife and think this era will be looked back on in much the same way that we now view the koala killing industry.
Here are some links that give more information, all the best, Kim
https://www.kangaroosatrisk.net/6-kangaroo-myths–legends.html
https://www.animalsaustralia.org/issues/kangaroo_shooting.php
Great shot. Remember my first bird was from underneath s he deposited the seed on the branch
What a memorable first sighting!
The male and female look so different. It is amazing and the nests so many birds make, like spider webs, are a feat of engineering and wonderful design. Mother Nature is indeed amazing.
Thank you for sharing the petition to save the kangaroos. This family group has been a fixture enjoyed by golfers and community for many years. In comes new owners and their life is under threat. As stated by everyone in the community who have enjoyed interactions with this family of kangaroos they cause no problems and, in fact, people come from far and wide to play golf with the kangaroos and record the day with great photos. Let us hope everyone signing the petition will prevent this family of kangaroos ending up as pet food.
“The love of all living creatures is the most notable attribute of man.” Charles Darwin
I totally agree Barbara, about the birds, their nests, nature and the kangaroos. The petition is continuing to grow which is awesome, and your quote from Charles Darwin is a beauty. There are many William Blake quotes that I like, including’He who shall hurt the little wren, shall never be beloved by men’.
Wow. I have never heard of (much less seen) this tiny charmer. I will have to keep my eyes and ears peeled next time I am anywhere near miseltoe. Thank you so much.
And thank you for passing on the encouraging news about the roos as well. Fingers crossed. Tightly.
The petition has continued to grow EC, it’s good to know how many people care and it’s definitely making a difference to the roos chances. I hope you get to see Mistletoebirds soon. They have quite a direct flight, and quite high for such tiny birds. They sometimes call when flying, that’s often what alerts me to their presence.
Kim I don’t like to see animals killed, but these roos have no predators. They will go on eating the place out and taking food from less assertive and threatened small animals like bandicoots, grazing birds and marsupialmice and the like. What do you propose to do with the roos if not cull them? There is nowhere for them. We can’t let them be stressed and starving. Its wildly expensive and stressful to relicste them. We need contain their numbers so they don’t destroy their environment. Keep things in balance. Its our responsibility. So i am pro culling- only when assessed as needed -as humanely as possible. Use the meat – don’t leave to breed foxes which slso destroy wildlife- so pet food is one solution.
In my area, the high kangaroo numbers would affect malleefowl – no food for them and they are very threatened. Lack of food directly affects breeding in Malleefowl. We have to choose what to save. Not save a common, unthreatened kangaroo at the cost of more prescious species. I am a member if a conservatiin organisation and support Australian Wildlife Conservancy. I am very pro conservation and protection of our native inheritance. But we have to be responsible, sustainable in the long term and very strategic and as careful as we can. So I believe we have to allow some kangaroos to be killed, at times.
Hi Judy, I think the kangaroo industry has been very clever with its marketing which is having devastating consequences for kangaroos. There is much scientific evidence which disputes the figures given by shooters.
I’ll address some of your comments here and add links if you’re interested in further information.
1. Kangaroos do have predators. It is estimated that foxes take up to 50% of emergent young. Many other kangaroos are killed by roads, fences (where they are commonly known as ‘fence hangers’), shooters and dingos.
2. In relation to ‘eating the place out’ it is interesting that grazing pressure equates 1 sheep to 30 roos, and 1 cow to 60 roos. Kangaroos have always existed in harmony with small animals, grazing birds and marsupial mice (which are not grazers). There is no issue with overgrazing relating to the Kinley or Heritage kangaroos.
3. Regarding options other than culling – this depends on circumstances. For the gentle mob of Kinley kangaroos currently trapped on the development site, a team of expert vets, darters and relocation experts have put together a detailed relocation program. A wildlife shelter has offered an ideal relocation site. These experts have been successfully relocating kangaroos for many years. They are willing to do this free of charge.
For the Heritage Golf and Country Club kangaroos there is no valid reason for relocation, the roos have been on the site since its beginnings with no issues and no overpopulation, they are not stressed or starving. The site has just come under new management and this killing seems like a misguided plan to profit from selling the roos as pet food and skins. An alternative would be for the club to repair their fences, though the residents (who live on site) and the golfers have expressed much love for these gentle, beautiful roos and don’t want things to change. There is plenty of habitat for the roos and macropod experts have assessed the area see no reason for relocation of any of the mob, and certainly no reason to kill them.
4. In cases where there is a genuine reason for relocating roos, controlling fertility or humane euthanasia for sick animals, it can be managed by macropod experts. This is not in the interests of the kangaroo industry.
5. Kangaroo killing is the world’s largest land-based wildlife slaughter. Millions of kangaroos are killed each year for the commercial industry. According to the code pouch joeys are to be decapitated or killed by blunt trauma, often bashed against bullbars. At foot joeys often escape to die slowly without their mothers.
Thanks for raising the points you made Judy. I think the kangaroo industry has inundated the media with information that is contested by ecologists and other experts in the field. I am sickened by the wanton killing of our native wildlife and think this era will be looked back on in much the same way that we now view the koala killing industry.
Here are some links that give more information, all the best, Kim
https://www.kangaroosatrisk.net/6-kangaroo-myths–legends.html
https://www.animalsaustralia.org/issues/kangaroo_shooting.php
Thanks Kim i will look up your references.
Thanks Judy 🙂