canberrabirds

early morning bird call

To: "'Canberra Birds'" <>
Subject: early morning bird call
From: "Geoffrey Dabb" <>
Date: Wed, 10 Oct 2007 10:26:45 +1000

Fascinating.  I must tread carefully here, because I could be on completely the wrong track.  I had assumed, without verifying it, that the regular early morning call in the breeding season, that I would render 'whit-hoyeeee', was by the Pied Currawong, a pair of which nest on the nature strip.  This call is given in succession, monotonously, for a minute or so.

 

There is no reference to this call in Pizzey (it is not the 'long wolf-whistle "weeeoooo"') nor, I think, the same call rendered by Slater as 'whistling "oo-ooooo" like disapproving schoolgirl').

 

HANZAB devotes 17 column-cms to the call of the PC but only 5 to the 'song'. Tony Howard is cited on the song, but the reference does not appear in the notes.  It is stated 'does not sound like other vocalisations of this species and may not be recognised as given by currawongs'.  The following (Tony cited) seems relevant:  'Near Sydney, at c.04:45 in early Oct., a song rendered kwee, kooweee (with the koo very short) uttered at regular intervals in a long sequence.’

 

Here’s a nice touch:  HANZAB says “Usually uttered at first light or earlier (of six occurrences, three started during nautical twilight and two during astronomical twilight) ...”  Get those chronometers synchronised out there!

 

I didn’t realise it was so little known.  If it’s still going on, I might try to get a recording of it.  

 

-----Original Message-----
From: Ann Howarth [
Sent: Wednesday, 10 October 2007 9:08 AM
To: John Leonard; Canberra Birds
Subject: early morning biurd call

 

I have been hearing a similar early morning call between 4 and 4.30 am here

in Isaacs in recent days.  After a few minutes it has been replaced by the

more familiar 'whistle' call of the pied currawong.  I had wondered whether

it was just an early morning 'warm-up' call or whether it was perhaps a

young currawong.

 

Ann Howarth

 

 

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