ML648142745

Observation details

We watched the remnants of the Calidrid (small) sandpiper migration at Bronte in mid-day. As we were back at our car we noticed two crows flying purposefully in from the east. They circled the harbour restaurant and flew up to the former Cliff Swallow nests under the eaves of this building. Running back to the spot we were within hearing and confirmed our strong suspicion that this was a pair of Fish Crows. They immediately set upon hanging from the walls-ceiling and tearing apart the nests with their bills. The hubbub of House Sparrows left no doubt that they were seeking young from several of these old swallow nests. In fact, one flew off with a young House Sparrow in its bill. The other poked into another nest and, finding nothing, flew off after its mate. The American ornithologist Charles Bendire is cited in Life Histories of North American Jays, Crows and Titmice (A. C. Bent Dover reprint (1964) of orig