The fantails of Horsham Downs

Dave Stanley was scooting down his Horsham Downs driveway t’other day, when a little bird shot past.

It turned out to be a fantail chick, and the mother soon appeared. Dave and wife Pam spent the next hour or so with the family and were thoroughly enchanted.  Every now and then mum would lose sight of her baby, and they helped coax it into the open and make it chirp so she could find it again.

“The baby was tired, but mum kept coming back with more food. It was great to watch.”

They took many photographs, and sent N8N some. Must admit, we’re very keen on birds here at N8N, and yet we’ve never, ever seen a fantail chick. Will keep a sharp eye out now!

Thanks Dave and Pam.

And how about this for beautiful?

 

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N8N

Number 8 Network - a community website for the rural areas northeast of Hamilton, NZ, is run by Gordonton journalist/editor Annette Taylor.

7 thoughts on “The fantails of Horsham Downs

  • January 15, 2013 at 9:33 am
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    Wonderful photos. We’ve got lots of fantails, adult and infant, in our gully and garden here at Tamahere. As if on cue, a dozen fluttered about recent visitors to the gully who were completely charmed.

    Reply
    • January 15, 2013 at 12:40 pm
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      Oooh – can I come see them sometime?

      Reply
  • January 15, 2013 at 10:58 am
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    Lovely wee bird! Despite having had a regular pair of fantails in our urban garden for years, we’ve never seen a chick either. Presumably something unusual had happened in this case and mum was having to care for the chick in the open?

    Reply
    • January 15, 2013 at 12:39 pm
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      I believe so, Judy. Just beautiful, I now want to see a baby for myself!

      Reply
  • January 15, 2013 at 7:49 pm
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    How gorgeous! My favourite bird… a wee fantail flew into our living room on Saturday morning, I very carefully guided it safely outside. An hour or so later it returned, I was on the phone and panicked, calling to the kids to help me get it outside again without it hitting a closed window – but the kids were unfazed, apparently it had spent most of Friday inside with them flying from room to room – and sure enough this wee fantail flew in and out many times over the weekend 🙂 We are all back at work this week, so not sure what our wee friend is up to?

    Reply
    • January 16, 2013 at 7:57 am
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      Clearly she is comfortable inside your house – rather nice, having a pet fantail!

      Reply
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