A smaller group encouraged by Jack H has been discussing the
variability of koel calls. The information in HANZAB is far from
complete. Part of the difficulty is the bird often calls from dense
foliage with the bird’s sex to be inferred from an associated sighting, possibly
not of the same bird as they can keep close company. However
yesterday’s view of a calling male was very clear (much more so than in
the below blurry snap). The call was loud and resonant and belonged to the
variable kek-kek-kek group of sounds rather than the ‘wirra’ or ‘koo-el’ groups,
those probably only given by the male. The kek-kek-kek is only a reliable
guide to the presence of a female insofar as, if not from a female, it
will be from a probably excited male. It is generally a sign of some kind
of action.
This morning’s airing of the dogs (shown) on Rocky Knob
confirmed that the King Parrot can be added to the long list of parrots and
cockatoos that make use of the introduced African Boxthorn. It also
offered a view of the soccer balloon, by-passing the National Parliament and
announced on local ABC radio to be headed for Canberra Stadium, more or
less. This is included for our correspondents in Burra, Carwoola and
Wamboin who miss out on this kind of excitement.
