Mistletoe(birds) for Christmas

I was on a mission to photograph a Crake or a Buff-banded Rail down at the Banyule wetlands today. I'd seen a Crake on a few occasions whilst walking the dog but never with my camera. I found it again today but it was so quick to dart into the reeds that I'd barely taken off the lens cap!

I continued on with a lap around the wetlands and down some tracks to the yarra. It was on this track

whilst watching a group of Thornbills flit around a small tree, that I noticed what looked like an old sock hanging from a branch. On closer inspection I found it to be an intricate nest woven from matted plant down and spider web. Then I noticed that the pear shaped nest was quite plump and occasionally moved!

I stood back, hiding in some bushes and waited. Soon enough I saw this!

Two little hungry Mistletoebirds stuck their heads out of the nest, eagerly awaiting mum or dad to come and feed them!

I stood as still as I could for about 30 minutes and watched as the mother flew in and out with berries to feed her babies.

Mistletoebird (female) with chicks, Dicaeum hirundinaceum

The female builds the nest entirely by herself with no help from the male. 

As the name suggests, they mainly eat berries from the Mistletoe plant. Unlike most birds, they lack the muscular gizzard (food grinding organ) so the berries pass through their digestive system relatively quickly. They are able to digest the fleshy outer parts of the berries but then excrete the sticky seeds onto branches which quickly germinate into new Mistletoe plants. This allows the plant to spread and ensures a close supply of berries for the birds.

Mistletoebird (male), Dicaeum hirundinaceum

Both parents normally help feed the chicks but I think Dad was too unsure of me hiding in the bushes to come too close.