Looking up Ian Rowley's 'Bird Life' on this, it confirms what you say,
Ian, that other coloured natural objects are used as well as blue, i.e.
greenish and pure yellow, brown and grey. Rowley bases his information
on Satin Bower-birds on Jock Marshall, who 'became deeply involved with
them in his academic experimental work' in Royal National Park. SBBs
also are said to decorate their bowers by 'painting with a mixture of
saliva and charcoal or saliva and green liverwort', using a stick as a
paintbrush (Vellenga, 1970). The Vellengas also did a lot of work on
SBBs according to Rowley. I wonder if that latter claim has ever been
confirmed? Anyway, it's an interesting few pages in Rowley's book.
Phyl Goddard
PS On another subject, a Spotted Turtle-dove has started visiting my
garden in Weetangera.
-----Original Message-----
From: Ian Fraser
Sent: Monday, 22 August 2005 9:59 AM
To: Bird List
Subject: pre-European bowers
WHile blue is obviously crucial to a SBB display bower, and the ready
availability of blue artefacts probably means that alternatives are
largely
ignored now near settlements, I think that 'traditional' birds were/are
not
blind to other options.
I have a slide taken deep in Tallaganda, of a bower with no artificial
aids.
Blue Crimson Rosella feathers dominate, with blue berries (probably
Dianella), but there is also a selection of mostly pale-coloured
'curiosities', though a couple of sprays of glossy leaves are also
present.
There are several native snail shells, but centre stage is a sloughed
snake
skin.
---
Ian Fraser,
Environment Tours; Vertego Environmental Wordsmithing
GPO Box 3268, Canberra, ACT 2601
ph: 02 6249 1560 fax: 02 6247 3227
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