You’ve probably heard of slogans like “New Year, New You!” Well, presenting “New Year, New Nest!”

On New Year’s Day this year I was in the Warrnambool Botanic Gardens, and I saw a Eurasian coot trying to rebuild its nest. It had younglings demanding food and other things needing doing, but still kept at it. And there were some photos I wanted to share.

Repairing the nest

Here’s what it looked like repairing a nest:

Pick up a stick (Warrnambool)
Put it in its new place (Warrnambool)
Now move onto the next stick (Warrnambool)

That’s the easy bit, though. It also had to do it with younglings in the nest:

I was wanting to put the stick right there! (Warrnambool)

Youngsters begging for food

At least some of the younglings were capable of diving for their own food:

Look what I found on the lake floor! (Warrnambool)

That didn’t stop them begging for food:

Feed us! Feed us! (Warrnambool)

Even pecking inside the parent’s beak to try and get at food:

You're hiding food in there, aren't you? (Warrnambool)

When the parent dared to go off to find nest building materials rather than diving for food, the younglings could get most upset:

Why aren't you feeding me? (Warrnambool)

And so the parent had to find time to find food:

Here you go - fresh pond weed! (Warrnambool)

Though one of those younglings it then chased back to the nest, and I’m not quite sure why.

You, sir, are grounded! (Warrnambool)

Getting some alone time

I’m sure the nest is also a place to get some alone time.

Perhaps it’s a place to safely vent:

That was pretty awful! (Warrnambool)

Or a place to straighten ruffled feathers:

Let's get everything in shape (Warrnambool)

Perhaps it has a complimentary mirror to ensure the effect is perfect:

Mirror, mirror in the lake (Warrnambool)

The importnat thing is getting everything loking right before venturing out again:

Applying the finishing touch (Warrnambool)

Cuddling up

That was all from that overworked parent, but later in the day I saw this pretty pair:

Fairy-wrens cuddling (Warrnambool)
Fairy-wrens cuddling (Warrnambool)

I usually find fairy-wrens busy, active birds. It’s hard enough getting photos at all, let alone shots with both males and females in the frame.

In this case, I saw the pair cuddling up a couple of times. I’m not sure I’ve seen that before. Each time the female initiated it - but the male didn’t seem in any hurry to get away, either.

And I know that can be an important part of home for many - a place where you can cuddle up with a significant other and relax and watch the world go by.

A new year’s message

This was meant to be a new year’s post. Obviously now it’s a couple of weeks late - but better late than never.

May you have a home that is home - a place where you can be safe, where you don’t have to perform. May you rise to any challenges you need to face, but also may the year not be one constant challenge.

And so, whether the new year involves important house repairs and renovations, or wrangling kids, or just trying to get through each day as it comes, I wish you all the best. And hopefully pretty bird pictures help a little 🙂.