There were 3 or 4 chasing
each other in and out of our back garden (which adjoins a reserve)
yesterday afternoon. Golden Whistlers have also been a regular feature
of my walks around the Pinnacles NR up behind Hawker for the last few
weeks, but usually as individuals in MFFs consisting mostly of Y-R
Thornbills and G Fantails. Perhaps it's been a good year for them?
John Brannan
H
Paul Taylor wrote:
John
Leonard wrote:
This morning his Hughes we had a party of
Golden Whistlers of 5-6 birds including at least two adults males, all
calling to one another and flirting around the vegetation vigorously.
Previously, in the bush and in the suburbs I have only ever seen GWs in
ones or pairs, do other people have expeeince of them moving around in
larger parties?
I was caught in the middle of what I interpreted to be a territorial
dispute between three of four male Golden Whistlers several years ago
at Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve (before the fires). The birds were
flying
back and forth between perchs calling loudly; there was no direct
interaction between the birds, and the birds stayed within their own
patch. At one point the birds seemed to be marking a line between two
bushes at the "border", flying back and forth on their side of the
invisible line.
An alternative interpretation is that it was simply displaying between
the males to settle the pecking order; at any rates, the birds were
very excited about the whole thing - as was I, trying to remain
inconspicuous.
--
36 Challinor Cres., Florey, Canberra ACT 2615, Australia
Ph.: (+612) 6258 6038 Fax: (+612) 6258 6238
|
|
