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Noisy MinerAlternative names: "Garrulous Honey-eater", "Black-headed Miner", "Snakebird", "Cherry-eater", "Mickey", "Squeaker" |
Sightings
Noisy Miners are a gregarious bunch. Often seen around flowering trees, for example bottlebrushes and eucalypts; only rarely spotted 20 km south of Narrabri, New South Wales, in 2003-2006, but frequent visitors 25 km west of town, at the Australia Telescope Compact Array observatory. Also spotted regularly 20 km east of Narrabri.
The Narrabri region is now located in an overlap area between the habitats of two species of Miners: Noisy Miners and the apparently very similar Yellow-throated Miners.
Also sighted at various locations to the east of the great dividing range, in the area from Rockhampton, QLD, to Sydney, NSW.
Photos
Frontal view of a curious Noisy Miner ("melanocephala") checking out the photographer from a cypress pinetree (click on image for larger version)
Lateral view of a Noisy Miner at close range (click on image for larger version)
An upset Noisy Miner ("melanocephala"), squawking at the intruder that unknowingly had come too close to its lair (click on image for larger version)
Here a Noisy Miner checking out an Australian Magpie (click on image for larger version)
Nest
Below photos of a Noisy Miner on its nest under the roof of a carport 25 km west of Narrabri, New South Wales.
Noisy Miner sitting on its nest (click on image for larger version)
The same bird as above, now cleaning nest (click on image for larger version)
Here seen tending to the newly hatched chicks (click on image for larger version)
Here is pop Noisy Miner bringing in some tucker (click on image for larger version)
Habits
Noisy Miners are used by other bird species as "sentries". When their alarm call is heard, other birds will leave the area.
They form flocks of up to around 20 birds to chase away intruders such as e.g. Australian Ravens. They have earned their name as "Snakebirds", because they raise a vociferous alarm whenever a snake is in sight.
An unexpected experience was seeing Noisy Miners foraging for insects in tree bark in wintertime.