Noisy Miner chick (fallen nestling)
Manorina melanocephala
-27.4496, 153.101
Field Notes
Description:
A tiny little Noisy Miner chick, only days old, has fallen from the nest. Not even a fledgling, it's incapable of flight, and the nest was way-too-high for it to be returned. The biggest danger for this little guy is predation, most likely from snakes or lizards, or even other birds like magpies or butcherbirds. The adults, however, were keeping a watchful eye and feeding it constantly, as they were the chicks still in the nest. The little wings were being flapped, and it was starting to climb very low shrub branches. Fingers crossed all will be ok. PS: Monday 28 Sep. - found out today that this little fellow died on the weekend due to a massive thunderstorm yesterday. Torrential rain and hail, and he probably died from hypothermia. Such a pity. RIP little guy.
Habitat:
Spotted in a garden at the Metroplex on Gateway estate, Murarrie, Brisbane.
Notes:
Here's a spotting from last year of the same species at the same location. These birds are 2 weeks old, but capable of flight, albeit short hops. http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/1053546008
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