Mallee Fowl's Nest - WA

The mound of an abandoned mallee fowl's nest is located right alongside the Holland Track here and has been fenced by CALM to protect it from damage. An information signboard gives limited details.

Mallee Fowl are the largest mound builders in Australia. The male builds the mound from dirt, sticks and leaves from the surrounding mallee terrain (mallee scrub). The mallee is small type of drought resistant eucalyptus. During the breeding season the males will visit their mounds at least once every day. Once all the eggs are laid the female will join in with the care of the mound. As the vegetation starts to decay heat is generated and this keeps the eggs warm. The male and female will closely monitor the mound temperature and if it is too hot they will scrape away some of the mound from above the eggs to allow the heat to escape. Sand and leaves will be scraped back if it is too cool. They regulate the mound so that it stays 31 degrees celsius. It takes the male 4-6 months to build a mound which might be well over a metre high and up to 5 metres across. The chicks have a hard time escaping from the mound, and after resting for a day start to fend for themselves. They live separately from each other and their parents do not look after them. The only enemy is the introduced fox.