Red Wattlebirds

 From flowering gum trees never far away

These birds i see often though not every day

Of yellow on breast, red wattles under ears, red eyes and mostly freckled brown

Often seen in gardens and parks of rural town

The nectar from the blossoms of bushes and trees to them a tasty treat

And insects they are also known to eat

On saucer shaped nest of bark and twigs and grass on fork of tree

The female lay pink brown dotted eggs of two or three

The flowering trees and their nesting territory they vigorously defend

And any other species of honeyeater they do not treat as a friend

Of humans they are wary and quite shy

And by their appearance and hoarse like calls are not hard to identify

Not the sort that humans capture for to tame

Red wattlebirds for them seems an apt name.