canberrabirds

FW: [canberrabirds] "black and white" thing

To: <>
Subject: FW: [canberrabirds] "black and white" thing
From: "Geoffrey Dabb" <>
Date: Tue, 3 Sep 2013 19:29:04 +1000

This is a little confusing.  In the original report a black and white thing was attacking a grey thing with a small amount of black.  WWs routinely harass raptors of any colour within their territory.

 

From: David Rosalky [
Sent: Tuesday, 3 September 2013 6:51 PM
To:
Subject: RE: [canberrabirds] "black and white" thing

 

Thanks Phil

 

As I recall discussion eons ago, some B&W birds (in particular, magpies) attack B&W dogs preferentially over other coloured dogs.  The whole thing may be an age-challenged spouses’ tale (please note my political correctness), but I thought it was a good story and these little anecdotes feed the story, even if not scientifically proven.  Has Chisholm’s observation been verified?

 

David

 

From: Philip Veerman
Sent: Tuesday, 3 September 2013 6:38 PM
To: 'David Rosalky'; m("canberrabirds.org.au","canberrabirds");">
Subject: [canberrabirds] "black and white" thing

 

Many years ago Alec Chisholm devoted a chapter of a book of his to this "black and white” thing and that it is a notable feature of Australian birds. Sure WW are aggressive, as are many birds when defending a nest and some black and white ones are notably so to other black and white birds. But WW are aggressive to most raptors (which are mostly not pied). I mentioned this in The GBS Report under the Magpie-lark text. In that case I expect that probably when they have high hormone levels they interpret Magpies as a supernormal version of themselves and harass them for the same reason that other birds attach reflections of themselves.

 

Philip

 

-----Original Message-----
From: David Rosalky [m("webone.com.au","davros");">]
Sent: Monday, 2 September 2013 6:51 PM
To: m("canberrabirds.org.au","canberrabirds");">
Subject: RE: [canberrabirds] 3 x baillon's crake 4 x Quail BSK under attack by wagtail Jerra Wetlands

Kym Bradley wrote:

 

Not long before a Wagtail was attempting to attack a Black Shouldered Kite

 

Is this the “black and white” thing again?

 

David R

 

PS Great photos as usual, Kym

 

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