While generally agreeing with most of the comments re. the response to
raptors and other predators by Noisy Miners my experience at Coutts
Crossing, north coast NSW, is slightly different, at least in the order that
the more urgent calls are used. By far the most strident and high pitched
urgent calls are used when a falcon, either a Peregrine or a Hobby, is on
the hunt, either quite low or at some height. Goshawks and Collared
Sparrowhawks are mobbed incessantly by the Miners, along with Blue-faced
Honeyeaters, Magpie-larks, Grey Butcherbirds etc. but the calls are not as
excited or urgent, however when the perched Accipiter takes off it is
pursued by its tormentors and the Miners increase the urgency, pitch etc of
their calls but nowhere to the extent of the calls used for the falcons. A
pair of Wedge-tailed Eagles soaring at some height elicits another type of
alarm call which is less urgent/agitated than the other two. I am glad
that Paul McDonald is researching this topic as I hope that he will develop
a standard way of describing the calls as I am struggling to be coherent!!
Alarm calls used for snakes and possums are similar to those used for
perched Accipiters but there may be subtle differences which are not
apparent to the casual observer (me).
Regards
Greg
Dr Greg. P. Clancy
Ecologist and Birding-wildlife Guide
| PO Box 63 Coutts Crossing NSW 2460
| 02 6649 3153 | 0429 601 960
http://www.gregclancyecologistguide.com
http://gregswildliferamblings.blogspot.com.au/
-----Original Message-----
From: Mick Roderick
Sent: Tuesday, December 17, 2013 9:49 AM
To: Shirley Cook ; Messages Birding-aus
Subject: Fw: Fw: Alarm calls
I totally agree with Stephen and have been trying to nut this out at home.
Here at Shortland (on the edge of Hexham Swamp, Hunter Estuary, NSW) we are
blessed with a good variety of raptors. I have had 18 species fly over my
house during the past 12 months (I work from home so spend a lot of time
here!). We are also "blessed" with an uber-aggressive mob of Noisy Miners (I
have seen them near-kill a White Ibis and have brought egrets down to the
ground).
As Stephen says, one can tell which type of raptor is approaching by the
pitch and 'urgency' of the Noisy Miner alarm calls. The most frantic calls
occur when an Accipiter approaches (less so for a Grey Gos), followed by
Hobby, Peregrine then maybe other falcons. The Hobby can really get the
neighbourhood going though and is possibly the only bird that causes every
antenna-perched pigeon to leave their perches in a panic. You can almost
track a Hobby by listening to the wave of alarm calls and fleeing birds.
I was first alerted to this (pardon the pun) by when my first Little Eagle
flew over the house. The alarm was completely different to any of the others
I had heard and sure enough, a 'different' raptor appeared.
They do not bother sounding off at Whistling Kites and only do so at Black
Kites because they're a rare visitor here.
The alarm for Corvids (there are resident Aussie Ravens and Torresian Crows
here) is completely different. It's hardly an 'alarm' at all but is that
relentless 'near near near' that Noisy Miners are famous for. It's probably
the same for the cuckoos.
Mick
|
