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I thought I had
sent this yesterday to the chat line but had only sent it to
Geoffrey.
G'day
As some one who loves and looks forwards to the Koels call
each year I agree that there are lots of reported sightings on the chat
line.
I thought that perhaps one of the purposes of the chat line
was to give all members a forum to share their experiences.
As Geoffrey and Alistair pointed out, this should then be
built on with breeding records, female sightings etc.
Of course COG has many members of different
capabilities and every one should be allowed to express their experiences at
what ever level they are comfortable with.
The chat line could
also be then used to present the ideas of further observation of behaviour
etc for those who are new to the
experience.
There is on all computers, I am reliably informed a delete
button. This could be used if emails of any description come in and
you do not wish to have them.
I am fortunate in that at present I hear several Koels a
day, both males and females, and enjoy the experience.
We should let all members enjoy and, if they wish, share
their joy in our avian fauna.
Of course if I was to report Dollar Bird Sightings from
Katherine then the chat line would be full of these emails.
I was out at Kalkaringi last week (Wave Hill) and watching
a small puddle of water with a Black-fronted Dotterel in it (every puddle in
that area seems to have an attendant Black-fronted Dotterel) when in flew two
Little Curlews. They were a bit skittish with me around and didn't stay
long but bird watching is a much opportunistic as hard work and search. I
just enjoyed seeing a species I have not seen for some time.
There was also a Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, Australasian
Pratincole and several Mud Larks in the puddle and they didn't care less about
me.
There are reports form Hodgson Downs of several Sea
Eagles in the area. I have seen one and pointed it out to a local who now
tells there are often more that one in the area. This is a very dry area
so this influx is interesting. Perhaps they are telling us of a big wet to
come up
here.
For those who know
them the Mataranka Red Goshawks look like they have young. They are not
sitting on the nest any more but are certainly attentive to something in
it. while I have not seen them actually feeding young they are certainly looking
like this has been done in the visits I have had. I am that way again
next Monday so will have another
look.
John
Cummings
CWC Services
Manager
Katherine
W:
08 8972 9300
F: 08 8972 9333
M: 0407 181 002
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Exactly. But this is an
issue with many other species. At the moment, the spoonbills are equally
over-reported by the ?me-too? school. The antics of these are
definitely of interest, but with such species a summarised series of
observations made over time (rather than hour by hour, or even day by day) would
be much more useful.
To get back to the koels, a
recurrent issue (over 2-3 years) is the reason for their increased
presence. My guess is that it is the fruit (see previous messages).
Another possibility is the number of potentially-hosting nesting Red
Wattlebirds, as Peter and Anthony have suggested ? but surely these have been
around for many years. I do not think we have had a single confirmed
breeding event. Indeed there have been relatively few reports of females,
perhaps about 1 in 10 reports. May I suggest that people be encouraged to
report any sign of breeding activity? It may be (just a guess) that in the
absence of such Canberra is an outpost being colonised by young
hopefully-breeding ingénues, being driven on by the frantic breeding
activity to our east.
From: Alastair
Smith [
Sent: Thursday, 6 November
2008 5:56 PM
To: 'COG List'
Subject: [canberrabirds]
Reporting Koels - why?
Am I the only person who finds the incessant reporting of
Koels on Canberrabirds as incessant as the bird?s call? While I respect
everyone?s right to report sightings and hearings, can we please report what is
interesting or different, rather than every time the bird engages in syringeal
expansion.
Many thanks
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