On New Holland Honeyeaters

Of the garden birds of south eastern Australia among the better known
The new holland honeyeaters have ways of their own
With their long thin bills they live mostly on nectar they collect from the flowers on bushes and trees
In this way they are Nature's pollinators much like honey bees
Quite pretty to look at in their feathers of dark, gold and light gray
In backyards and gardens they are seen every day
And very distinctive in their scratchy type of song
Once seen and once heard one never again get them wrong
In a cup shaped nest felted with spider webs and lined with feathers, wool and bits of hay
On a tree branch two to three gray eggs with brown spots the female bird lay
Which she and her mate with aggression defend
At nesting time they do treat none as a friend
Lively and aggressive little birds with ways of their own
Of the honeyeaters of Australia among the better known.