LYREBIRD DIARIES 7 by Stuart Leslie, Dorrigo National Park

SHORTY who has just moulted into his first full adult tail. The juvenile lyrebirds moult their tail each year and it takes about 4 years to grow out their adult tail. Even then they have to work for some years to develop their calls to achieve the widest repertoire and best mimicry to attract the females. There was an older bird nearby and Shorty was directing his calls toward it. Male lyrebirds hang out together a lot to learn and compete. Shorty has been an enthusiastic singer from the time I first came across him over two and a half years ago and should become quite the stud.