It was a pleasant surprise to find I have unwittingly created a habitat for the tiny but lively native bird-the Superb Fairy-wren (Malurus cyaneus). Males are brightly coloured with black, dark and light blue patches while females and young are a light brown. These colours are enhanced during the breeding season.

Fairy Wrens On My Hobby Farm

Family groups cooperate to raise their young within a single nest located within dense thickets. Fairy-wrens are common throughout southern Victoria and it was only a matter of time before a family group decided to set up their home within my lazy-compost enclosure – replicating a safe haven for breeding within dense vegetation.

PausePlayPrev|Next

A view of the lazy-compost enclosures

The Fairy wren nest is located deep within this ‘artificial’ thicket

Female Superb Fairy wren

The female wren puffs her feathers when defending her nest site against other intruding bird species

View of healthy and productive fig hedge in sum

Male Superb Fairy wren

These fig plantings will receive nutrients from the decaying vegetation

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

My Composting Enclosures

A set of composting enclosures were built using recycled fencing posts and old metal sheets. The aim being to place garden waste, weeds, dead plants and pruned branches into each bay and let them slowly decompose, releasing nutrients.

Once started the pile is compressed by the weight of later additions, eventually the vegetation at the base of each compost heap will be sufficiently broken down to act as a nutrient source for a row of figs. No mixing, moving or digging-only plenty of time and some water is needed.

A Happy Family On My Hobby Farm

Having noticed the Fairy-wrens at work I won’t be watering the compost and will allow the birds the opportunity to rear their young within something akin to a natural thicket. No doubt a successful season will see the birds return.

Something to look forward to in the future – a happy family – foraging, co-operating and diligently guarding their territory.