Satin Bowerbird (bower)

Description:

This amazing structure is called a Bower which is not the nest. The male Satin Bowerbirds build these "specialized stick structures, which they decorate with blue, yellow, and shiny objects, including berries, flowers, and plastic items such as ballpoint pens, drinking straws and clothes pegs. As the males mature they use more blue objects than other colours." (Wiki) Bowers are really a courtship arena, used by the male to find potential mates. In my experience, blue objects are generally straws, bottle tops and the rings which go around the opening, lolly wrappers.

Habitat:

On the ground in a small cleared area at the Bunya Mountains.

Notes:

As a child and on trips as an adult, I have been fortunate to always have seen a bower at the Bunyas. Sometimes even two! Here is some interesting reading on how the Bower is used: "On the arrival of a female, the male Satin Bowerbird leaps into a ritualised display of exaggerated movements, such as strutting and bowing, with wings outstretched and quivering, and accompanied by a variety of mechanical-sounding calls, such as buzzing and rattling interspersed with mimicry. One of the bower decorations is usually carried in the male's bill. If impressed, the female moves into the bower avenue for mating and then leaves to perform the nesting duties on her own, while the male readies himself for courting more prospective females." (Birdlife Australia - http://birdlife.org.au/bird-profile/sati... )