I wonder if the birds are using their sense of smell here. Is
an organic fertiliser being used, perhaps something based on animal or fish
product - perhaps in liquid form?
From: Peter Fullagar
[
Sent: Monday, 19 April 2010 6:16 PM
To:
Subject: [canberrabirds] Fwd: Killing two stones with one bird
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Peter Fullagar <>
Date: 18 April 2010 19:37
Subject: Killing two stones with one bird
To:
Following on from my posting about stone caching by Australian Ravens I have
carried out a small test to see if white stones are selected exclusively. They
are not. It took one evening and the following morning to dispose of all of the
contents of two bags of fresh stones, white and black, amounting to at least
100 smooth pebbles. I attach a couple of pictures to show a young bird in
action. Two black stones can be seen in the bill in one picture and a third
maybe further down in the throat. There are at least 12 birds in the pack
at some times. They have also trashed some potted plants (including cactuses)
in their endeavours to remove all available stones in the garden! Smooth stones
seem to be favoured with Irregular shaped pieces ignored by and large.
--
Peter Fullagar & Helen Topor
1/11 Joy Cummings Place
Belconnen
ACT 2617
Australia
(02) 62 514 672
--
Peter Fullagar & Helen Topor
1/11 Joy Cummings Place
Belconnen
ACT 2617
Australia
(02) 62 514 672
