If you live south of an imaginary line drawn across the continent from just north of Perth to Brisbane, Australia, you'll probably be familiar this small but visible honeyeater. Having banksia and grevillea growing nearby will increase your chances again - the New Hollands are primarily nectar feeders and these are their preferred blooms. They also eat fruit, insects and spiders. There is a group of 30 or more New Hollands occupying the same territory that the LWs once reigned over. The smaller birds have the numbers and can be quite aggressive, both within the group, and then when working together to drive off other, often much larger, birds. There seem to be a lot of juvenile birds amongst the group - New Hollands have a large breeding window - both banksia and grevillea produce flowers for long periods in spring and again in autumn. Last spring I saw one pair with a nest in a grass tree, less than a metre above the ground, but very well protected. The immature birds (the bird in centre, above, is a juvenile) are browner than the adults and have a grey eye ring as opposed to the adult's white one. Not the most melodious bird, the New Hollands have a short, shrill alarm call - but it takes a bit of effort to alarm them. An hour at the birdbath and if I get just one photo of a bird then it will almost certainly be a New Holland Honeyeater. Here's a video of one having a quick dip. Phylidonyris novaehollandiae (this links to a page on Victorian Government educational site that I think gives the best, brief description of the bird and its habits) Want to see more photos of New Holland Honeyeaters? then click...
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December 2018
January - Superb Fairy-Wren
Feb - Eastern Yellow Robin March - NH Honeyeater April - Crimson Rosella May - Grey Currawong June - Grey Shrike-thrush July - Red-browed Finch Aug - White-browed Babbler Sept - Australian Ringneck Oct - Striated Thornbill Nov-Y-t Black Cockatoo Dec - Australian Magpie |