Channel-billed Cuckoo aggregations

[Michael Tarburton <>]

Alan’s comments make sense.

While we worked at PAU in Papua New Guinea we would hear the Channel-billed cuckoos migrating overhead during the night on their way to Aus.  So I think it is a bit like White-throated Needletails going to roost in the dark, not too many birdos see what their birds do at night.

Cheers & Happy birding

Mike Tarburton.

On 12 Jan 2021, at 9:27 pm, Chris King <> wrote:

Hi everyone

Alan Morris posted this response  recently to a facebook photo of a koel, and I confirmed with him that its ok to post it.

'The parent Koels usually re-connect with their young at this time when they wean them off the largely insect diet of the Wattlebird and Friarbird hosts and onto the fruit diet of figs, berries, cherry tomatoes and other fruits! They then depart northwards with their families. Channel-billed Cuckoos do the same.' Alan added to me that HANZAB has this info. However there are observations of small flocks of CBCuckoos, up to 15 birds migrating north and south in NSW! Small flocks of 6-9 birds is more typical.

Chris

On Mon, 11 Jan 2021 at 20:05, Tom Tarrant <m("gmail.com","aviceda");" target="_blank" class="">> wrote:

Probably a bit early in the season (usually March/April) but I suspect they congregate like this to 'teach' the young how to migrate north, as their host parents, Torresian Crows/Magpies/Currawongs are probably residents (certainly not long-distance migrants)

What do others think?

Tom

On Mon, 11 Jan 2021 at 18:30, Laurie Knight <m("optusnet.com.au","l.knight");" target="_blank" class="">> wrote:

G’day

My most common CBC observation is a single bird calling in flight, with numerous instances of coordinated duos. 

A while back I came across a group of 4 hanging out in a eucalypt and I was struck by their similarity with hornbills.

This morning I saw a combination of 7 CBCs (6 in a bunch an another flying to join them). My question, is why would such a large group come together?  I can understand a pair doing a nest raid, and two pairs facing off over territory, but why would 7 come together?

Regards, Laurie
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I.B. (Tom) Tarrant

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