Here’s a question that occurred to me watching our local small group of DWSs.
In large breeding flocks it’s difficult to see, but when you have smaller numbers DWss usually seem to be in multiples of three. Is this a male and two females (or vice versa), or a pair and an offspring from last year helping them with this year’s breeding?
Thanks for your responses everyone, it seems well-known that DWss are helped by previous years offspring. I didn’t know this (knew about Magpies, Kookaburras, Butcherbirds &c), but glad my observations were borne out!
John Leonard
HANZAB states that the Dusky Woodswallow usually nests in simple pairs but sometimes co-operatively with one to two additional adults assisting with incubation and feeding the nestlings and fledgelings.
Greg Dr Greg. P. Clancy Ecologist and Wildlife-Birding Guide Coutts Crossing NSW 2460 0266493153 0429601960