Crested Pigeons' nest

["Geoffrey Dabb" <>]

CPCAG?

 

From: Charmian Lawson [
Sent: Saturday, 30 October 2010 3:55 PM
To: Lia Battisson; 'Canberra Birds'
Subject: Re: [canberrabirds] Crested Pigeons' nest

 

Why cannot something be done about the currawongs? They are a cruel and voracious pest responsible for the loss of many of the birds which have visited our garden. I see them daily chasing crested pigeons, wattle birds, willy wag tails, peewits and magpies, and I have seen one hit the head of a male Gang gang causing its feather so fly. They have killed young crested pigeons and peewits which have nested in our trees, and one of the young male Gang gangs which was here until recently, but hasn't been seen, along with his brother, for about a week, had a savage wound on its cheek and neck, which I attribute to the currawongs. There are more of these horrible birds around our area than of anything else. They are killing the young birds and I think there will soon be, if in fact there are not already, more of them than of almost any other bird. To my mind they are a far greater threat to our wildlife than cats or Indian Mynahs. I know they are native birds, but I want to see other native birds as well. I really think they need somehow to be controlled.

 

I wonder what other chatliners think?

 

Charmian Lawson

Holder

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

From:

To:

Sent: Saturday, October 30, 2010 3:12 PM

Subject: RE: [canberrabirds] Crested Pigeons' nest

 

About four years ago I counted up to 22 Crested Pigeons in the playground adjacent to our home.  I haven’t seen anything like that number in more recent times.  If the Pied Currawongs don’t get them as babies, the cats will get them soon afterwards.

Lia

 

---

From: Barbara Preston [
Sent: Saturday, 30 October 2010 1:29 PM
To: Canberra Birds
Subject: Re: [canberrabirds] Crested Pigeons' nest

 

Around 2003 to 2005 a pair of CPs nested more or less continuously in the same nest in the leggy hakea a couple of metres from my first floor office window. So I was able to observe the process, which I called the 'currawong food factory': so often the pair of offspring was reduced to one, then none, and our resident currawongs had well fed youngsters - esp around spring (I have a note of a well-feathered fledgling left well gnawed under the currawong's nest in early October 2005). I estimated at least ten breedings over the period (according to my 2005 notes), and there were certainly some through the cold months, but I did not keep a comprehensive record ....

Following is a note sent to the COG line in March 2007 when  CPs were nesting in another shrub in our garden:

QUOTE:

On Tuesday the two young CPs and their parents were happily in large shrubs about 10 metres from the nest, and I had good views of feeding and preening from my office window. However, on Wednesday there was only one young CP, and a few feathers around (may be from something else). The remaining young is still being fed, and has not moved far (that I'm aware of). The young currawong has not been around for about a week now, but the two parents were stalking the CPs like wolves for a good hour yesterday. The two parent CPs were perched on either side of their offspring, very close, and softly cooing - they seemed quite fearful. The currwongs moved up and down branches on either side of the CPs, constantly glaring at them, making the odd flap, but not getting closer than about 2 metres. Eventually the currawongs seemed to have got sick of their game, and flew off. They have been back, but I have not noticed any such blatant stalking behaviour since. At the moment (5.00 pm Friday) the young CP is in the same spot as usual, with no parent CPs or currawongs about. . . .

UNQUOTE

 

cheers

Barbara

 

_______________________

 

From:

Sent: Saturday, October 30, 2010 12:02 PM

To:

Subject: RE: [canberrabirds] Crested Pigeons' nest

 

Perhaps we can add especially after rain. Also Canberra’s cold weather doesn’t seem to stem their desire to procreate. Often hear what we assume to be their mating calls through the depths of a winter fog adding an ethereal quality to the misty morn.

 

JKL

 

From: Geoffrey Dabb
Sent: Saturday, 30 October 2010 11:18 AM
To: 'John Layton'
Subject: RE: [canberrabirds] Crested Pigeons' nest

 

Yes, they seem to breed at any time of year.  g