Out of the fire

When it comes to opportunists the Pied Butcher Bird (as well as their cousin the Grey Backed Butcher Bird) are great examples and nothing brings them more quickly for an easy meal than a burn off. One of our front paddocks is due for a burn and today the weather looked as though I might get a burn in before forecast rain arrived. With in a minute or so of lighting the grass a couple of Pied Butcher Birds arrived, ready for any insects, lizards or frogs looking to get out of the way of the flames.

The burn was not going too well as the ground still has too much moisture and the grass not quite dry enough, but there was still good pickings until the rain came, earlier than expected and that was the end of the burn today.