[Birding-Aus] Lifespan of willie wagtails

[Cheryl Irene Bawhey]

Hi All

I'm interested to know an estimate of average life-span of willie-wagtails
(ignoring predators, accidents etc.) if anyone has this information. I've
checked several of our bird-books but haven't had any luck so far.

The reason for my query: We were blessed with an adult wagtail (female, we
think) that visited our house for the last 3 years or so, but has most
probably lived in the area for longer than that. She disappeared about 3
weeks ago, and hasn't been seen or heard which is unusual as previously
she'd never been away for more than about 3 days at any one time - even in
nesting season (the kids were brought in too when they'd fledged). There's
been no moth-"outbreaks" to keep her busy and she'd been paired up with
another adult for a month or so.

Thanks for anyone who might shed some light for this wagtail-lover.

Kind regards

Cheryl Bawhey

Clarence Gardens, S.A.

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[Andrew Hobbs]

Hi

How about 10 to 18 years.

http://member.telpacific.com.au/balehirs/Bishyp6BirdLifespan.html

Cheers

Andrew

[Philip Jackson]

Hi Cheryl
According to 'Private Lives - Ages, Mates & Movements of some Australian
Birds' by Pauline Reilly, a Willie Wagtail banded as an adult was retrapped
alive 9 years 4 months later. So it seems likely that they can live to be at
least 10 years old. Whether this is an 'average life-span' I do not know.
I hope that this is useful,
Philip Jackson.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Cheryl Irene Bawhey" <cba...@optusnet.com.au>
To: <birdi...@vicnet.net.au>
Sent: Thursday, July 05, 2007 8:14 PM
Subject: [Birding-Aus] Lifespan of willie wagtails

> Hi All
>
> I'm interested to know an estimate of average life-span of willie-wagtails
> (ignoring predators, accidents etc.) if anyone has this information. I've
> checked several of our bird-books but haven't had any luck so far.
>