birding-aus

Birds striking glass - Kookaburras

To:
Subject: Birds striking glass - Kookaburras
From:
Date: Tue, 21 Mar 2000 16:45:38 +1000

Anthony Overs wrote about a Kookaburra that keeps launching itself against
windows.  Unfortunately, this behaviour is not uncommon, and may result in
broken windows (I know of one house where 10 windows were broken by one
misguided Kookaburra), not to mention excessive wear and tear on the bird.  Some
of these Kookaburras were examined by Healesville Sanctuary, and were found to
have enlarged adrenal glands, suggesting high stress levels.  It was suggested
that these birds may be exhibiting an abnormally high territorial response to
the "other" Kookaburra in the window.  There are several possible options.  Do
nothing (always an option, but one that may result in a dead Kookaburra and
broken windows, or shattered nerves at the least).  Remove the perch from which
the bird launches itself at the window.  This behaviour may not be elicited if
the bird cannot see itself in the window.  Smear the window with some coating to
remove the reflection (mud works well, but there may be aesthetic
considerations!).  Hang shade cloth from the eaves, to intercept the bird.
Obtain a permit from the relevant wildlife agency to have the bird destroyed.
Place a mirror in the garden, where the bird can find a good reflection without
damaging windows (does not do much for the bird).

There seems to be a common denominator in many of the cases where a Kookaburra
adopts this window-bashing behaviour.  That is, the well-meaning residents of
that house, or a neighbouring house, have been feeding the birds.  In some
cases, one of the birds being fed begins to attack its reflection in the
windows.  A neighbour of mine used to feed the Kookaburra when it tapped on the
window.  In this instance, it seemed that the window-tapping (done from the
ground by this bird) was reinforced by being fed.  This bird became obsessed
with tapping at the window (we refused to feed it, even though it frequently
tapped at our windows.  Over several weeks, it became scruffy, had blood on the
end of its beak, and then disappeared.

The above illustrates just one of many good reasons for not feeding birds (or
other wildlife).

Cheers

Ian

=======================================

Ian Temby, 1999 Churchill Fellow

Wildlife Damage Control Officer

Secretary/Treasurer, Birds Australia Parrot Association

Flora & Fauna Program

Department of Natural Resources and Environment

4/250 Victoria Parade

EAST MELBOURNE   VIC   3002

AUSTRALIA

Phone          613 9412 4429
Fax       613 9412 4586
E-mail      



To unsubscribe from this list, please send a message to

Include ONLY "unsubscribe birding-aus"
in the message body (without the quotes)

<Prev in Thread] Current Thread [Next in Thread>
  • Birds striking glass - Kookaburras, Ian . Temby <=
Admin

The University of NSW School of Computer and Engineering takes no responsibility for the contents of this archive. It is purely a compilation of material sent by many people to the birding-aus mailing list. It has not been checked for accuracy nor its content verified in any way. If you wish to get material removed from the archive or have other queries about the archive e-mail Andrew Taylor at this address: andrewt@cse.unsw.EDU.AU