SURROUNDED by blue items to construct a nest, a bowerbird was spotted inside the grounds of a heritage property in Maitland.
Bowerbirds are most commonly found in Papua New Guinea and northern Australia but extend into central, western and south-eastern Australia.
Their habitats include rainforest, eucalyptus and acacia forest, and shrublands.
Property volunteer Holly, whose last name has been withheld due to privacy reasons, said a male bowerbird had made four nests during his time living in Maitland over the last four years.
"He builds his nest out of twigs and plastic blue things he has collected to attract a female," she said.
"Once she's there, he will pick up a blue item and put it in his beak and do a dance ritual in front of her."
Our photographer managed to spot this female bowerbird checking out the construction.
Bowers (nests) consist of two parallel walls of sticks, which the bird paints with saliva and chewed vegetable matter. The bowers are decorated with colourful objects such as green moss, red berries, or silver snail shells.
Males are known to steal from each other's nests to display the best-looking structure to visiting females.
"It takes him quite a number of days to build his bower because it involves plaiting and weaving, and other birds will come and trash it, but he rebuilds it," Holly said.
She said people had tried to offer blue items by placing them near his nest, but the bird only uses what he collects.
"If someone puts a blue plastic near there, for him to take it, he leaves it alone. He only collects for himself," she said.
She said it was unusual to have a bowerbird in a high traffic area, but he has grown to be popular among volunteers.
"Everyone sort of looks out for him and I think he's used to us," she said.
