Red Wattle Birds

 They are birds one sees from time to time though not every day

The red wattle birds you see today tomorrow may be far away

Since you only see them where blossoming eucalypts are

Their migrations do take them to places far

Dark brown grey freckled honeyeaters their tiny red wattles hanging under their ears not alwaays easy to see

Against other honeyeaters they aggressively defend every flowering eucalypt tree

In their harsh grating calls their aggression they show

Of to stay clear of their blossoming trees others honeyeaters know

In fork of tree in cup shaped hanging nest of twigs and dried grass the female bird lay

Pale pink dotted eggs two or three from sight well hidden away

Sometimes seen in town parks and often in woods and gardens of the countryside

In search of blossoming trees they travel to places far and wide

With yellow legs, thin dark slightly curved bills and ruby red eyes

Once seen and once heard them again you will recognize

Of human kind wary but not all that shy

Red wattlebirds the name that they are known by.