YES! True to the prediction from the previous year's calendar, 'M1'
(the male Satin Bowerbird which lives/builds on our place) has
re-built the bower for the first time this year!
This means he was absent for about 6 to 8 weeks: He was
observed to be absent on 15 January, and, apart from several flying
visits, did not return until some time between 28 Feb and 9 March.
So... perhaps he goes away (into the forest?) during the moult...?
As noted here earlier (below), rains in January caused his
bower area (in a garden bed) to become heavily vegetated. Since then,
the weather has been unseasonally dry (the place looks as it does in
MAY!).
The bird has re-built in almost the same place, but in a
clearer area a couple of feet westward. The bower is strong=looking &
well built. It faces north-south, and decorations have been renewed.
The bird himself is not as visible as he is later in the
year. He is also mostly silent, at present.
Joy!
Judith.
***
12 Jan -> 5 Feb
Date: Fri, 25 Feb 2005 10:35:35 +1000
Subject: [BIRDING-AUS] Summer Birding, Qld: CIRCULAR Page 4
[Between mid-January & early February, I was near Mt Mee. Birdlife
there continues much as usually reported. One note is that M1, 'our'
male Satin Bowerbird, was absent during that time, and the bower has
collapsed. The last two years this absence occurred for one month,
with just the occasional 'drop in' visit by the bird. According to
the diary, the bird should return about now - end-February - and
re-erect the bower.
He has been seen 'dropping in' several times over the past
week or so. However, with the rains this year the bower-site has
become heavily vegetated. So it'll be interesting to see 1/ if he
does return on schedule, and 2/ if he does rebuild in his usual
place.]
--
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Judith L-A
S-E Qld
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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