Vol. ^Y''"l Morse, Nesting Notes from Moree. 65 



Nesting Notes from Moree 



(40 Miles from Queensland Border). 



By F. C. Morse, R.A.O.U. 



During the months of August and September I examined fourteen 

 Ravens' (Crows') nests, eleven of which contained five eggs, two 

 four, and one six eggs. 



On ist September I noticed the first arrival of Wood-Swallows ; 

 these were the Masked variety. They are generally accompanied 

 by the White-browed, but for some reason these latter did not 

 appear. There are always some of the White-rumped and Common 

 Wood-Swallows to be found here during the winter months. On 

 the same day (ist September) I noticed one Pied Caterpillar-eater. 



20th September. — Watched a Brown Tree-creeper dropping 

 something down a hollow spout. She did not appear to be feeding 

 young, so I climbed up and opened the hollow with my toma- 

 hawk. About a foot down there was the foundation of a nest 

 made of grass, on the top of which was about a handful of kangaroo 

 droppings, probably to give warmth. Many birds use dry 

 manure for lining their nests, the White- browed Babbler in 

 particular, but more so for the winter quarter nests than those 

 for breeding purposes. 



15th September. ^Found three nests of the Tawny Frogmouth, 

 ' none of which was quite complete. About here the clutch is 

 almost invariably four eggs. 



2ist September. — First flight of Bee-eaters noticed. 

 ■ 2gth September. — Found the nest of a Ground Cuckoo-Shrike ; 

 on climbing up, found three large young therein. Shortly after 

 I found another with three fresh eggs. 



1st October. — Found a Brown Hawk's nest, which was high 

 up in a tall, straight belar tree {Casuarina). The nest contained 

 two eggs. Attached to the bottom of the nest was a Yellow- 

 tailed Tit's nest, with eggs, on which the little bird was sitting. 

 It is a remarkable thing that these little birds should so often 

 choose a similar place to nest. I wonder if it is for protection ? 

 On another occasion, on the Macquarie River, I found one nesting 

 under a Sparrow-Hawk's nest, and a few' days ago I noticed a 

 Spotted-sided Finch flying with grass up to an Eagle's nest. 



nth October. — Found a Striped Honey-eater's nest ; to obtain 

 it I had to attach a strong cord to the limb, which I then cut off 

 and lowered to the ground. The little bird continued to sit on 

 her eggs. The nest contained three fresh eggs. 



Birds are nearly all robbers. The little Spotted-sided Finches' 

 nests in the jacaranda trees in the garden are literally torn to 

 pieces each year by " Blue-faced Soldiers," White-rumped Wood- 

 Swallows, and many other kinds, to build their own homes. 



On 13th October went with my two small boys to a swamp 

 to see if I could shoot a Snipe. This is not a natural swamp, but 

 is the terminus of a bore drain, and every year a few birds collect 



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