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Fairy Martin |
Sightings
Spotted only occasionally in 2005, Fairy Martins came to our neighbour's billabong, 20 km south of Narrabri, New South Wales, where they hunted from dead trees standing in the water. They returned to the same place in September 2006.
Also seen regularly in late 2006 and then again from late August 2007 on 20 km east of Narrabri. During the winter of 2008 at least part of the local population remained in the Narrabri area. They reappeared at our place in the middle of September.
Photos
Two Fairy Martins on the ground collecting nesting material (click on image for larger version)
Based on the photo above one might think that they were after twigs, but this photo shows that they were collecting ash of a woodfire (click on image for larger version)
Fairy Martins taking to flight (click on image for full-size display)
Nest
Colony of Fairy Martin nests under a bridge across the Namoi river south of Narrabri; one chick can be seen waiting outside the nest, two others are looking out the entrance (click on image for larger version)
Closer view of a Fairy Martin entering its nest; the entrance is on the side of the nest, not in the middle (click on image for larger version)
Habits
As opposed to other swallows, Fairy Martins hunt in flocks. They also go to ground in flocks of 10 to 20. It is now clear that they collected ash from the ground, probably as a binding agent for their nests (see photos above).