R.K.(Sam) Carruthers reported in The Aust Bird
Bander Vol. 3 No.1 Mar 1965 that on 14.6.63 Bill Horton banded 4 GCB's 4
mile S of Mount Isa and 6 GCB's were banded on 22.9.63 12 mile NNE of
Mount Isa. But 6 months later Sam and Bill at the second site,caught 5 GCB's
including 2 from each of the previous groups.
He also wrote "The obvious interpretation to put on these results is
that the babbler groups split up into pairs in the mating season--Oct to March
indicated--and form new mixed family groups in the following season. The latter
retraps indicate that such parties may stay together until the following
year."
I'm not sure if Sam's interpretation is complete as I was under the
impression that GCB's are like the Wren families and need the remainder the of
the family (helpers) to assist feed the young. I have seen several GCB's
entering a breeding nest with food. Their own dormitory/roosting nests were
only about 6 meters away
I read somewhere that If the GCB family is reduced too much that
sometimes the young do not get enough food to survive.
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Regards...... Bob Forsyth
Mail............ PO Box 933,Mount
Isa,Qld,4825
E-mail........
Phone.......
(07) 4743-3210
Heat.......... is just a state of mind !
