Predation by Corvids is a real problem for hooded plovers. They could well
predate on other birds as well.
------------------------------
On Sat, Aug 30, 2014 6:20 PM AEST John Brannan wrote:
>Here's the latest pic, taken today, which takes today's tally to 3 birds, all
>killed in the same spot. This one appears to be conclusive.
>Any thoughts? Suggestions?
>John
>
>
>
>On 30/08/2014, at 4:34 PM, sandra henderson wrote:
>
>>
>> Just a few days ago I saw a gang of 8 pied currawongs who had cornered a
>> crimson rosella on the ground in front garden of a neighbouring house. They
>> were taking it in turns to peck at it. At one stage it flew next door,
>> followed by the gang. That's when I went over and persuaded them to leave.
>> The somewhat dazed rosella perched on top of a fence, and after about 5
>> mins, with the currawongs not hanging around, I left it, and heard no more
>> distressed calls. The attacked bird was a female, a male was flying around
>> calling loudly but couldn't do much else. Last I saw both were higher up in
>> flowering cherry so perhaps there was a happy ending. And a few months ago
>> I photographed a pied currawong at Jerrabomberra Wetlands, who had a newly
>> killed crested pigeon (actually flew with said victim in its beak, and
>> landed under a bush) and was obviously about to enjoy it for breakfast. So
>> I'd be wondering about the currawongs at your friend's house.
>>
>> Sandra H
>> On Saturday, August 30, 2014, John Brannan <>
>> wrote:
>> Hi all,
>>
>> A friend has been in touch recently upset at a spate of Crimson Rosella
>> deaths in her back garden (in Weetangera). They found the remains of a total
>> of seven birds in the space of a week, plus another one the other day and a
>> Crested Pigeon today. The only case where they saw a possible culprit was my
>> friend's husband, who, having observed two rosellas happily perched in a
>> tree, returned a few minutes later to find one of the rosellas dead on the
>> ground with an A. Raven pecking at the body. I've attached a photo that
>> shows one of the bodies, with what looks like a puncture wound in the
>> abdomen. It is just possible that something else killed the rosella and a
>> passing raven just happened to arrive at that moment, but that seems to be a
>> bit of a stretch given that it would've all happened in the space of just a
>> couple of minutes. My friend also described another victim that was largely
>> intact other than having its skull emptied. All these events have
taken place in the same sheltered corner of their garden.
>>
>> However, she sent me another photo today (also attached) of a Crested Pigeon
>> that could easily have been taken by a cat or raptor, given that the entire
>> torso has gone.
>>
>> So my question is, how likely is it that the raven is the culprit, at least
>> in some of the cases? Do ravens routinely attack and kill other birds the
>> size of a rosella? And would a raven eat the entire torso of a victim? My
>> friend is somewhat distressed by all of this and would appreciate any
>> suggestions as to how to prevent further deaths in her garden. It does seem
>> that she's getting rather more than her fair share.
>>
>> Thanks,
>> John
>>
>> <Rosella.jpg>
>>
>> <Crested Pigeon.jpg>
>>
>
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