A Flock of Fantails

When we moved from Southern California to the middle of the south island of New Zealand, I had no idea of the extent of the differences in the animal life here. Not only were there no squirrels, beavers, foxes, rattle snakes, hummingbirds or even a multitude of ants here, there were very few familiar birds, except for sparrows, seagulls and perhaps some pigeons. So I began to take note of the native species and even observed the ones that’d flown in all the way from Australia, as very exotic. The native ones especially, are cherished here and well they should be. But all the European pests that were thoughtlessly brought over here to our still pristine land have increased their numbers into the millions and have pretty much decimated the native populations. Many of these very endangered species are now hand reared then put onto separate islands for a few years until the numbers grow sufficiently to let them back into very specific areas of bush where they won’t be disturbed by the countless predators: the cats and dogs and possum and ferrets and their ilk, meant to kill off the millions of rabbits that were also introduced here foolishly, that now decimate our farmlands and probably eat what the indigenous species used to eat. So after a lifetime of owning a few dogs that didn’t eat anything but what I fed them until I moved here, and my many cats that were more resourceful hunters, I now feel particularly awful if a native bird is hunted. Fortunately though, my pet cats focus on the rabbits and the mice primarily, but that doesn’t mean that they don’t stop a few birds from living their full lifespan.  So it was with particular awe to see my first fantail years ago and now it is a daily occurrence in the country cottage garden, where they seem to thrive with so many different kinds of trees to fly through and nest in all around the garden. But they are elusive. One day there will be a whole bunch of them frolicking around our place and the next day there won’t be any.

They are a funny lot. Although they do flutter around near John’s original pond that has a tray of wild birdseed suspended from a tree at a safe height for many small birds to enjoy, and a nearby bath for bathing or drinking, they don’t actually eat anything there except perhaps an occasional micro sip of water quickly while they dive bomb for their food. They do love when I water however, and if they’re around I spray up in the trees near them, which I think cools them off and helps them to catch more bugs and they seem to really enjoy these watersports. And that’s the thing about them that sets them apart from so many other birds…that playfulness and boldness to come so close to people. They seem to have no fear of contact but that probably doesn’t always work so well for some of them on a property with three resident cats. Luckily though, my cats sleep when these little fellas are active.  Apparently all of their food is supplied by nature in the form of insects and they move so quickly that one would hardly surmise that they’re eating at all. Like swallows they dip and turn and elevate and come down quickly while fanning their long tail feathers open and shut. And they sing and cock their tiny heads and will come right up to you speeding around like a tiny graceful airplane that only alights on any surface for a few seconds then is off again. Well one came here today and tried to come into the house and was circling the windows and singing to me. I sang back although it’s more like a high pitched sucking noise to mimic their sound. It stayed around. Then another joined it and they were playing tag. Then a third came flying in near the others and when I looked again through my camera lens several more joined them in a flying parade around my front door. I did catch two in one frame but was unable to get any more in one frame except for the shadow of a tail when it flitted away from a chair. 

Years ago when we first moved here to this property, I used to leave the kitchen windows open and on the opposite end of the room the French doors were also ajar in summer. That was to let the flies out that insisted on being inside. So they’d fly in one way and exit the other  (that was my plan, not theirs). But one day I heard the frantic little flapping of wings and to my amazement and joy I found a small fantail flying from one side of the room to the other. Then it would land on the curtain rod and turn around and do the same route in the opposite direction. I thought this was because I am so good with animals and they sense it. This must have been the same little guy I sing too that visits every day and almost lands on my finger or shoulder as if I’m Snow White. But no, I was wrong with my deduction yet again. These birds want to eat anything that flies period. I just facilitated that for them. And the same thing would have happened today because they seemed to be diving towards the windows and then stopping before hitting the glass. They were hoping to get the flies inside that were in bigger numbers inside than outside.  I'd been cooking all day and thus the flies were quite thrilled about that as they hovered around anything not covered properly. So I almost let the birds in for a big feed, stopping short only when I realized that my napping cats would hear them and come running.

 

But they sure are sweet little creatures and hard to capture with my camera since they always seem to be moving. But I sure love it when they come around, so I don’t care if they’re just using me for the surplus of pesky flies we seem to attract just living on a farm. These miniscule winged wonders make me smile and that’s definitely worth the price of admission.