matching the call to an image (& name)

["Shaun Bagley" <>]

Graham,

 

Scratchy brass door knocker certainly raises some interesting sounds.  I wonder if the call you are hearing is indeed the Red Wattlebird but a seasonal call that I have only heard at this time of year which makes me wonder whether what I am hearing are juveniles at that stage that choristers go through when their voice “breaks”.  It’s much higher pitched than the usual “quock” and repetitive.  Whether it is given by adult or juveniles I cannot attest, only that I hear it at this time of year and not otherwise.

 

Cheers

 

Shaun

 

From: Graham Wright [
Sent: Saturday, 15 November 2008 4:33 PM
To: 'Peter Ormay'; 'David McDonald'
Cc:
Subject: RE: [canberrabirds] matching the call to an image (& name)

 

Thanks for your response, Peter. The call I hear around here differs from that of the recording of the Red Wattlebird in that the call I am ‘chasing’ is much more regular in tempo. Perhaps like a scratchy brass door knocker (not sure if that description helps).

 

It is quite possible that the call and the image I have described are of different birds.

 

David McDonald has suggested the call sounds like the end of the call of the White-eared Honeyeater. It is certainly very similar to that rapid end of the Honeyeater’s call. However I am not convinced that it is the same. The call ‘bugging’ me doesn’t have the other parts of the White-eared Honeyeater call although, at times, I have heard a short prelude to the ‘knocking’ part. The repetitive part of the White-eared Honeyeater call is probably a little more rapid than ‘my’ elusive call.

 

I don’t think it is the Pallid Cuckoo (another of David’s suggestions) either. “my” bird’s call is more regular in pitch (here am I, with a terrible ‘ear’ trying to describe pitch & tone) and there is only one series of ‘knocks’ per call.

 

I just might have to go roaming with binoculars and camera in hand to resolve my dilemma. Gee, I think I have discovered an interest that I would never have dreamt of taking up. J

 

Thanks again for your help.

 

Cheers,

 

Graham

 

 

---

From: Peter Ormay [
Sent: Saturday, 15 November 2008 3:45 PM
To: Graham Wright;
Subject: Re: [canberrabirds] matching the call to an image (& name)

 

Hello Graham,

The call you describe and yellow on the it's belly seems like a Red Wattlebird.

Regards

Peter

----- Original Message -----

From:

To:

Sent: Saturday, November 15, 2008 3:24 PM

Subject: [canberrabirds] matching the call to an image (& name)

 

Hello Canberra bird-lovers,

 

Having recently moved to Yarralumla, I have gained an interest in the local birdlife. We live on the edge of the old Canberra Brickworks reserve so we are fortunate to wake to numerous bird calls and I have been trying to identify the birds that relate to the calls.

 

One call is driving me crazy; I just can’t put an image to the very distinctive call. I hear it frequently and have caught sight of the bird briefly but not well enough to be able to clearly describe it. I have downloaded and listened to almost every call on the Birds of Canberra website (and the Birds in Backyards site) with no success.

 

Thus my search led me to the COG web site and my subsequent subscribing to the Canberra Birds mailing list.

 

The particular call consists of a repetition of the same sound; usually 6 to 9 repetitions. The tempo is like that of someone knocking on a door. It is quite loud and clear and is like tuk-tuk-tuk-tuk-tuk-tuk. The closest call I can relate it to is that of the Pied Currawong except the currawong is much more melodious and only repeats the sound a couple of times.

 

From my brief sightings, I’d say it is greyish in colour. It may have some yellow on its chest. However, given my brief glimpses, I wouldn’t be confident of my descriptions. (Amusingly, my best sighting opportunity was a time when I wasn’t wearing my glasses.) When I have heard it in trees nearby, it seems to be perching high in the tree. One time I saw 2 birds alight from the tree under inspection but the other couple of times, I think there was a solitary bird. I doubt that it congregates in flocks. Also, it seems to move around quite a bit as the call may come from one spot once or twice but then moves on. I’d say it is a little smaller than a magpie, perhaps pigeon sized.

 

I hope someone can put me out of my misery by identifying this bird for me.

 

Thanks in anticipation,

 

Graham Wright

 

 

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