Koel question

["Philip Veerman" <>]

Hello Anne,

 

Those are big questions that apply not only to Koels but migrants of a whole range of species. Lots of people have researched migration over decades with those questions in mind and there are many books and papers about this. We are scratching the surface but still many mysteries as to how they do it. I don't know for sure about Koels. In most species the question about where and when do they catch up with the actual parents as they go north, does not apply, as they don't, they go by themself and how they know where to go (!!) well that is the big question or is this a new phenomonen, locally in the short term for Koels breeding in Canberra yes, but more broadly, no. So I suggest the answers to those questions for those who are interested, is better found by reading books about animal migration, than by searching for information via only considering one species. Though the answers for one species may be different for others.

 

About Koels in Kambah. I am mostly at home these last few months and although I hear Koels occasionally, they are far from my home at Castley Circ. I think you are on the other side of Kambah.

 

Philip

 

-----Original Message-----From: martin butterfield [ Sent: Sunday, 9 January 2011 12:24 PM
To: COG List     Subject: [canberrabirds] Fwd: Koel question

Anne addressed this
question to me, but I don't think I have the knowledge to address it, so with
her agreement have posted it to this wider pool of expertise.

Best
regards

Martin

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: anne & john ions <>
Date: Sun, Jan 9, 2011 at 11:03 AM
Subject: Koel question
To: Butterfield Martin <>


Martin, a simple question..we have several Koels here in Kambah over the
last nearly four months..male calling, then couple, now singles. Many
friarbirds and wattle birds two, with now youngsters..I suspect one could be
a young Koel with wattle bird parents..my question ..if the Koel youngsters
are raised by other parents, where and when do they catch up with the actual
parents as they go north, how they know where to go (!!) or is this a new
phenomonen..I guess we have a smaller population here in C at the moment??
(although the Ks have been here in Kambah for at least 4 summer seasons) I
have not found any relevant info on the young Koels immigration pattern on
WEB or COG, or other books! Also, my last week walk around Lake Tugg. was
really interesting, a very good breeding year with many youngsters surviving
the small stages and now almost adults..the swans were spectacular with four
out of five goslings in full plumage. Good luck for 2011. Cheers Anne I