Winter leads to frenzy of nesting
THE passing of the winter equinox is the signal for the start of the breeding season among many birds.
While it is true that most birds nest between September and November, springtime in southeastern Australia, others select earlier or later dates.
It all depends on the food that the nestlings and young birds need to give them a good start to life.
Ravens, magpies and lapwings find the most abundant supply of food in the winter when the ground is damp and insect larvae are easy to find.
So it is with the Cape Barren geese that, by now, will be closely brooding their eggs in nests at Serendip Sanctuary and around Lara.
Their early nesting means that the goslings will have plenty of green grass on which to graze before it dies off in summer.
So, too, the Australian wood ducks, which were at one time classed as geese — maned goose was the former common name.
Unlike most ducks, they are not so much inhabitants of open wetlands as they are of shallow ponds and grassy areas.
They have adapted well to hobby farms where there is inevitably a small dam and areas of grazing land.
On occasions, wood ducks have created havoc by settling to graze on golf courses and even bowling greens.
The open, well-grassed places are ideal to their needs, but their presence is not welcomed by the greenkeepers.
The male is an attractive bird, mainly soft grey with a dark brown head and neck, and speckled brown and grey collar.
He has a line of feathers down the back of his neck giving rise to the alternative name of maned goose.
They usually nest in hollow trees, lined thickly with soft feathers, the female being responsible for incubating the eggs.
The male keeps guard, no doubt drawing any potential predators away from the nest.
Wood ducks are recognised as game birds and are one of the species subject of an open season each year. Wildlife information and questions can be sent to ppescott @optusnet.com.au