Comparing the much-observed WFHE with the Little Wattlebird, I
do not think behaviour similarities are entirely coincidental. The
similarities are (a) comatose periods (b) close approach permitted, both (a)
and (b) occurring together.
As to the WFHE, on the morning of my second visit there, it
appeared only quite late in the day and then spent periods of up to 15 minutes
dozing on 3 different perches within 4m of an observer, eyes drooping closed
asymmetrically, bill occasionally buried in back feathers, slight teetering.
While since then it has apparently been fully alert, the ‘close approach’
aspect remains - not at all characteristic of this species in my
experience.
The LW has certainly been closely approached. Today, while
resting it could be approached to 1.5m (no closer attempted). It closes
eyes, buries bill in back feathers, remains in same position for at least 15
min. [The LW’s breast feathers also have club-shaped ends, like ‘cotton
tips’, as if for some reason they have not opened properly.]
For both birds the conditions have been very cold. I think
they might be suffering from some kind of stress, possibly from both cold and
disorientation.
So far as I can see, the Black-chinned Honeyeater behaves
normally.
From: Philip Veerman
[
Sent: Tuesday, 17 July 2007 11:46 AM
To:
Subject: [canberrabirds] White-fronted Honeyeater is still in KAMBAH
I
was out for most of yesterday (Monday). At lunchtime (during my brief return)
Geoffrey Dabb was here filming it and from about 4.00 till 5.00 Stuart Harris
was here taking photos of the bird in the Grevillea and I got a bit more film
of it in the Grevillea at about 10.30 today. I heard it as I went out of the
house and I didn't need to wait. It is now into its third week on my GBS chart.
It allows approach within under 2 metres and is one of the easiest
"twitches" ever.
