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A short while ago (abt 4.30pm) 2 YTBCs flew into a small pine
tree on the footpath 2 doors up from our house. They then began to eat?
(certainly tear apart with their bills, anyway) some of the green pine cones
that are on the tree. They were quite unconcerned about us watching them. To
complete a perfect picture, an Australian Hobby glided past overhead, the first
time we have seen one near our street.
After about 10 minutes or so a Pied Currawong flew into the
eucalypt next to the pine tree. It sat there quietly for about a minute and then
flew at one of the cockatoos, which gave a squawk and a flap of its wings at the
Currawong. The Currawong perched on the nearby electricity supply wire and then
flew straight into the YTB, hitting its thigh region with its bill.
Needless to say the cockatoo took flight, followed by its feeding mate. The
Currawong chased them briefly and then, presumably in
triumph, perched itself on a nearby TV antenna and surveyed the now
cockatoo-less area.
I've seen smaller birds occasionally harassing S-c Cockatoos
in flight but this is the first time I've ever seen anything acting aggressively
towards a YTBC. Do these birds attract this sort of attention from other species
- or was the Currawong being territorial/insecure/deranged?
Bruce
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