Larry's Gallery:   Yellow-rumped Thornbill (1/4)

PASSERIFORMES: Acanthizidae

Acanthiza chrysorrhoa  

The Yellow-tailed Thornbill

I'M a fussy little fellow
In my kilt of glowing yellow;
As about the garden ways I bow and bend,
Many a melody I bring to you
In the soft, gay songs I sing to you
With a cheery little grace note at the end--
"Chip, chip."
Oh, I never miss that grace-note at the end.

Summer into autumn passes,
And among the seeding grasses,
'Mid the midges, goodly provender I gain.
Little for your presence caring,
Confident and greatly daring,
I will charm you with a sudden, sweet refrain--
"Chip, chip."
Oh, a very soft, yet valiant refrain.

When the time has come for nesting,
Our sagacity attesting,
We erect a neat, twin-chambered bow'r of love;
Mother in the nursery sleeping
With the babes, while sentry keeping,
Father has his parlour-bedroom up above--
"Chip, chip."
Oh, it's cosier -and quieter above.

In my kilt of golden yellow
I'm a friendly little fellow,
And my spangled sable crown I proudly bear.
Tho' my way be meek and lowly,
I can capture, win you wholly
If you'll listen to this cheerful little air--
"Chip, chip."
Oh, I'll charm you with my cheerful little air.

The Yellow-tailed Thornbill
by C J Dennis (1876-1938)
The Singing Garden (1935) p.141.

There were about 20 in company on a creek-line. A very close look at one of the other photos (showing the birds on a dead branch) shows what was attracting them to this particular location. Midges.