Flame Robins Poem by Francis Duggan

I stood and watched them for a half an hour or more
As they flew from their nest on wattle tree to forest floor
And back again to nest with food in bill
To feed their young the insects they did kill.

The female bird of brown and lightish gray
In comparison to her partner dressed in drab array
And male with slate gray back and breast of flame
And flame robins for them do seem an apt name.

At this time of year they've little time for song
As they work to feed their young the whole day long
From dawn till dark their babies cry for food
And the parents must keep hunting for their brood.

Male flame robin has a happy song to sing
And his low notes have such a pleasant ring
At daybreak from small gum or wattle tree
He utters forth his cheerful melody.

On hot November afternoon in middle Spring
A time of year when fledgelings take to wing
I watched flame robins feed their family
In cup shaped nest in fork of wattle tree.