Re: The last (?) word on raptors & canetoads

[Andrew Taylor <>]

On Tue, 24 Jun 1997, Alex Appleman wrote:
> ...  In north Queensland I found cane toads to be crepuscular as well as
> noctural; ... The canetoads young are frequently seen in daylight along
> the banks of the Ross River and near Ross Dam after rain events.

Its not clear how toxic young Cane Toads are to birds.  Tyler mentions 140
being fed to a chicken without it showing ill effects.  Cane Toad
metamorphs can be certainly numerous and conspicuous in the daytime.
Given their small size (about 1cm long) I presume they'd be potential
prey for many bird species.

Anyway I'd be very interested in anyone who can extend Tyler's list
of birds killed by eating toads.  Either from personal observation
or a literature reference.  Maybe just e-mailed to me,  I suspect
the birding-aus collective interest in Cane Toads is being stretched.

Tyler's list was

Kookabaurra, Crow sp., Little Bittern and Black Bittern.

Andrew Taylor