Stuart Harris and I did the Spring survey of Red Hill on the beautiful calm and sunny morning of Sunday 27 September. The number of species (33) and total individuals (317) were both pretty close to average for spring surveys at this site.
Intent to breed was recorded for four species: both Crimson and Eastern Rosellas were seen inspecting hollows; two active Noisy Miner nests were seen, one with a bird sitting, the other, built only about 2 metres up in a small sapling, contained 3 eggs; and
a pair of kookaburras was seen courting / pair-bonding, and finally copulating. The latter was something I’d not seen before. The pair would sidle up to each other on a branch of the large gum tree, bills almost touching, then each in turn would fly quickly
and briefly to the nest hollow entrance about 3-4 metres away before returning to the branch, in what resembled a game of touch-tag. This lasted for a minute or so, perhaps a dozen or so sorties each, before they consummated their commitment through copulation.
Unfortunately, their coitus was rudely interrupted by one of the three other kookaburras that were in the vicinity which flew directly at the mating pair such that all three were unbalanced and flew off to different parts of the tree.
Other signs of spring included the return of Noisy Friarbirds (3), a single Yellow-faced Honeyeater heading west, 6 Black-faced Cuckoo-shrikes, singles of both Golden and Rufous Whistlers and 8 Grey Fantails. Raven activity was also pronounced,
with 19 Australian Ravens recorded across the site (about twice as many as you might normally expect) and they were very vocal and frequently obstreperous, though no sign of breeding activity was noted.
Harvey
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