The Willy Wagtails

by Francis Duggan
(Victoria Australia)

They like the open country sparse in trees
And spend their day hours chasing flies and bees
From fencing post they seldom venture far
And you'll always see them near where fences are.

White undersides and upper parts all black
They oft hitch ride on cow or horse's back
On look out for grasshoppers to their taste buds quite sweet
Who expose themselves as they hop from trampling feet.

The Willy Wagtails no strangers to fame
And everybody know these birds by name
And even young child to his mother say
'Mum' there goes wagtail chasing insect prey.

I watched one on a sunlit summer's day
As from butterfly she stripped the wings away
She left the wings and took the body meat
Her instincts told her what she should not eat.

Their tails are ever switching to and fro
These little birds that everybody know
Who spend their day hours chasing flies and bees
Near fence in open country sparse in trees.