canberrabirds

Noisy friarbird display

To: "Philip Veerman" <>, "'Margaret Leggoe'" <>, <>
Subject: Noisy friarbird display
From: "Kevin and Gwenyth Bray" <>
Date: Thu, 12 Mar 2015 15:52:21 +1100
Quite a few years ago, before we knew of COG’s existence, we had a prolonged and most unwelcome noisy friarbird “display” at our house in Belconnen (Emu Ridge).  Our west-facing windows (including our main bedroom) have a reflective coating on them to reflect late afternoon sun, which gives them an almost mirror-like appearance from outside.  This particular year (never repeated, thankfully!) a pair on NFBs not only “found” these windows, but decided the images of themselves in them were of “enemy” birds that needed to be got rid of. This they did incessantly and aggressively by “attacking” the windows from about 5 or 6 am until dark, with their loud, extremely close-by “cackles” (and loud collisions with the glass), driving us crazy!!
 
We first spent about $25 to buy a large imitation eagle in a flying posture, which we hung (as if in flight) just above our bedroom window.  When that made no difference, we placed the eagle as if perched with wings outstretched on a pole right in front of the window – whereupon one of the NFBs perched on top of the eagle and the attacks continued unabated.  (We took the eagle back  and got our money back!)
 
In the end, we found the only way to stop this unending bedlam was to completely cover the whole window with green “sarlon” netting.
 
Every time (as now for example) I hear a NFB (and I’ve been hearing them in Belconnen and in Ainslie), I’m reminded of our non-“quiet enjoyment” of our home all those years ago!
 
Kevin Bray
 
From:
Sent: Thursday, March 12, 2015 1:44 PM
Subject: RE: [canberrabirds] Noisy friarbird display
 
Curious. They do this sort of flight regularly to catch flying insects. The chasing bit is an extra. Could be a few things, 2nd bird being aggressive, 2nd bird being a DY wanting parent to feed it, just playing...........
 
Philip
-----Original Message-----
From: Margaret Leggoe [
Sent: Thursday, 12 March 2015 12:28 PM
To:
Subject: [canberrabirds] Noisy friarbird display

On Callum Brae this morning I watched a pair of noisy friarbirds darting into the air together many times, and just a quickly descending to the same or another tree.  What was unusual ( to me) was their proximity in the air, with one bird directly behind the other and apparently holding on to the tail feathers of the bird in front with its beak.  It would let go as they came down to land.  Unfortunately, they would give no warning as from where and when they would take off, and they beat me every time, so no photos of the display.  However I did get a shot of the pair together in a tree.

Interested in any comments you might have on this behaviour.

Margaret Leggoe

 

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