January 13 - Architecture

Architecture - so many things spring to mind - we have some fabulous old sheds here built with huge logs that still show the axe work and massive bolts that we also find rusting in the paddocks at times, remnants of even older buildings. Travels have left me with images of famous and not-so-famous buildings by creative (and not-so-creative) architects and of course in Australia we have the famous Sydney Opera House - moored in her harbourside surroundings, but a walk with my camera gives me some spectacular architecture - by the birds nesting outside our home.

These mud condominiums are built by tiny birds called Fairy Martins - each year they take over the gables of our home's second storey to make their constructions. At present the parents are raising their babies, returning regularly with insects. If you look closely, a baby is waiting at the entrance of one of the nests.

The second nest is hanging about a metre (3 feet) over the river behind our house. At present this mama olive backed oriole is sitting on her eggs, but soon she will also have hungry moths to feed. Her construction has survived a flash-flood several nights ago which brought water to its underside and just yesterday some gale-force winds whipped her around but didn't spill bird or eggs. This morning she is sitting comfortably in the warm sun, sometimes shouting at the magpie-larks who are getting too close for her comfort. I am staying back, letting the zoom on my canon do the work of getting close enough for this photo.

...and then there's our bower birds - not a nest, this bower is the male's architectural offering to his love, where he places blue objects to attract her so that he can dance and sing for her pleasure. I took this photo a couple of months ago as they are also now raising babies but I can't find their nest.

Last but not least - these wagtail babies are very snug in their nest, woven and rounded and protected by grapevines - but the parents let me know where to look by creating a fuss whenever I was close ;-) I waited until they had gone to search for food, set my camera for some close-ups, lifted the leaves and snapped a few images.