This is a new chapter in the Blackheath Wonga romance, but first a brief recap. Last year our resident male Wonga fell in love with his own reflections in the shiny hubcaps of our house painter’s vintage VW van. It meant a long, lonely season, as he missed the chance to find a new partner after losing the mother of his earlier chicks to a fox.
And then, a miracle occurred. On Valentine’s day he appeared with a new lady. The romance took its natural course and was, well…….consummated on his wooing seat, where such events have occurred for quite a few years..

Naturally we were all delighted, and very excited at the prospect of cute Wonga chicks in the autumn. But this morning Mrs Wonga seemed rather preoccupied. What on earth could have caught her eye?

Oh my word…..please, not again! Yes, she has made the same, disastrous mistake with the hubcaps as her new spouse did. She actually thinks that’s him in there! Good grief. I thought females had more sense.

Hmm, and she appears to be adopting a certain posture. I’m getting an uncomfortable feeling about this.

Yes, no doubt about it, she is presenting her rear end to her imagined partner. I’m afraid you may be waiting for some time Sweetie, because he is off foraging somewhere.

Quickly where are those modesty skirts? This cannot go on. She is meant to be finding a nest site.

We are hoping all will be well and that the wind doesn’t come up. Last year we had to resort to more drastic measures to keep the skirts down, anchoring them with bits of wood and old buckets.

Meanwhile, would you please get a grip Mrs Wonga. Everyone here wants you to hatch cute, bright eyed babies! Of course they may break out of their shells equipped with tiny wheels.

THE AXEMEN COMETH!
I know this is hard to believe, but there has been yet another problem for our Wonga couple. My partner located the nest (a flimsy platform of sticks) in a giant cedar tree in a neigbour’s property.

This would have been fine…..except for one thing! Following the awful fire season in the Blue Mountains the neighbour had arranged to have the tree removed as a hazard, being too close to his house. He wasn’t at all impressed when we told him about the Wonga nesting in it. I thought I might have to chain myself to the cedar and organize a ‘Walk for Wongas’, but thankfully he has agreed to postpone the removal for a couple of months. We are just hoping this is the final hurdle!
SUCCESS!
And here we are….one sweet Wonga chick called Spirit. It has left the nest and is pictured below in its ground nursery. It is fed ‘pigeon milk’ by its parents several times a day. Good luck little one. Stay safe from foxes.

If you want to know more about these charming birds, CLICK HERE.