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I am
sure that the behaviour of currawongs (victim host) and cuckoos (nest parasite)
is a few million years old. Although the fine details of their behaviour is
still evolving, as shown from the studies done on the smaller cuckoos &
wrens etc. But in recent history, currawongs are becoming more common as a
breeding species in Canberra and other places. That impacts, but it is a value
judgement as to the impact of this. Ian Fraser wrote a very good opinion piece
about that in the COG GG last month. I suggest read that. I am sure they do a
lot of good in predation on blackbirds and starlings.
Philip
Was
it always thus, or have currawongs become big bad bogey men since the
urbanisation of their range?
Margaret
Leggoe
From: Philip
Veerman [ Sent: Saturday, 15 September 2012
2:49 PM To:
Subject: [canberrabirds] Currawongs
getting rid of Koel
That
last year
they even chased a Koel away is
hardly surprising, they have a vested interest. Most host species want to remove
their nest parasites.........
-----Original Message-----From: Geoff Duggan
Sent: Friday, 14 September 2012 4:14 PM To: Subject:
[canberrabirds] bks in hughes
I was not surprised to
read that a BKS was seen in Hughes but then moved on. Hughes is
becoming infested with Currawongs, getting rid of everything in site...last year
they even chased a Koel away. I recently saw a woman who lives near me
actually feeding balls of mince meat to them. When I asked her about this she
said lots of people she knows feed Currawongs because “then they won’t take baby
birds from the nests”!! I could not change her mind.
So...I was wondering if there are any official publications, leaflets etc
advising against this bad habit. Perhaps COG could arrange with
Government for a letterbox drop to advise against it, or even a newspaper
article. If people all over Canberra are feeding Currawongs then no wonder
they re reaching plague proportions
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