Observations of Nesting Brown Honeyeaters Lichmera indistincta at Willetton, Western Australia

Abstract

Observations were made of the breeding activity of a pair of Brown Honeyeaters Lichmera indistincta in Willetton, a suburb of Perth, Western Australia, in December 1999 to January 2000. Incubation and nestling periods were 13 and 17 days respectively. Mention is made of behaviour in nest construction, co-operative nest defence by more than one pair of birds, previously undocumented parental calls, post-fledging re-use of a nest and inter-season re-use of a nest-site. An unusual nest-site (inside a garage) and aggressive behaviour by a pair of Singing Honeyeaters Lichenostomus virescens toward nesting Brown Honeyeaters are also described.