Not sure of the answer to your question re botanic gardens but my observations in Ainslie suggest that this year is unusual: For the past few years the Koel has arrived (albeit at varying times) in the same street and called from the same trees. They definitely prefer big shady European trees. Last year they succeeded in breeding and even the young koel seemed to prefer a large European tree in a neighbour’s backyard where it was fed by wattlebirds. This year the Koel arrived but did not stay probably because the Wattlebirds bred earlier. However in the past few weeks there has been increasing activity: wattlebirds and Friarbirds are aggressive and calling loudly and I think the wattlebirds maybe nesting again. This has coincided with the Koel back in the usual trees round Cobb Cres, Tyson st and Herbert Cres.
Dr Coral Dow
Senior Researcher, Social Policy Section
Research Branch
Parliamentary Library, Department of Parliamentary Services
Parliament House, Canberra ACT 2600
Ph: 02 6277 2709
Fax: 02 6277 2498
Email:
From: Tonya Haff [
Sent: Monday, 24 January 2011 10:02 PM
To: Canberra Birds
Subject: [canberrabirds] Koels - why so patchy?
Hi all,
I just moved to O'Connor, where there is a Koel that calls constantly, and I've noticed that Koel are fairly common in the Inner North. But I spend quite a lot of time in the botanic gardens (like all day most days for much of the breeding season), and have for the past few years, and I've only rarely ever heard a koel there, despite the fact that there are tons of wattlebirds and orioles that could serve as hosts. Does anyone know why Koel are more abundant in the suburbs - perhaps a diet of planted trees serves better than natives, and that's more important than host abundance? Any thoughts of opinions would be appreciated!
Cheers,
Tonya
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Tonya Haff
PhD candidate
Evolution, Ecology and Genetics
Research School of Biology
Australian National University
Mobile:+61-4-3331-2908
Lab: +61-2-6125-5651
