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National Geographic : 1977 Dec
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N HER OWN, a female satin bowerbird constructs her sim ple, leaf-lined nest in an orange grove only a few hundred yards from the bower of the male. While he continues to tend his bow er, and to display and mate with oth er females, she cares for her nest by herself. Sometime between Septem ber and January the female lays two mottled eggs, occasionally one or three. When they hatch (above), the mother is also sole provider, bringing to her offspring flying insects that swarm at this time of year. As yet unable to fly, a 19-day-old chick explores around its nest (left). Some time later, the youngsters will join the flocks of satin bowerbirds that pass through the region, to the dismay of Australian fruit growers. Then next midwinter the nomadic flocks will disperse, and adult males among them will return to their territories to refurbish their bowers once again. [] 872
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