Kookaburras, cuckoo shrikes, jacky winters and nest hollow disputes

[Erika Roper <>]

Hi all,

I have a few questions that I'm hoping you guys might have answers to.

While out checking the rosella nest boxes today we came across a kookaburra in one of them. As we approached it had its head out the hole and was bobbing it up and down with its bill open. It then flew out and joined its mate in a tree where they started laughing together. I was wondering whether the head bobbing might have been a threat display of some sort, or whether the bird just got stuck in the hole while trying to leave. Attached is a photo of the three eggs we found in the box.

I also saw what I think were three Jacky Winters, though I'm not sure as I haven't seen one before. My first thought was that I was seeing a female robin of some sort, but then I saw three birds in the same plumage. Male robins don't have eclipse plumage do they?

Also, when I was previously at this field site (a couple of weeks ago) I noticed a pair of Little Corellas inspecting a nest hollow, however today the hollow appeared to be in use by Sulphur-crested Cockatoos. Would it be likely that the SCCs took over the hollow from the corellas? I just thought it was interesting that the ownership of the hollow had changed in the last 2 weeks.

And lastly, I saw a pair of Black-faced Cuckoo-shrikes, one of which had a full face mask, but the other only had an eye mask, indicating that it was a juv. Do adults and juvs often hang out together as pairs? It just seemed a little weird.

Any answers will be greatly appreciated, and I hope you all enjoy the photo of the eggs. I hope to keep track of the kookaburra nest box over the season, just out of interest.

Thanks,

Erika

Attachment:

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