Koels in Fraser

[Virginia Abernathy <>]

Thanks for that clarification. I also wondered if the call in the video was a female calling, as I've seen females giving this call type. Females are often more sneaky than males, so it could be that she was hiding near the male. But I have also heard a male give the kuk-kuk call once, but this seems to be rare.

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From: Wallaces <>
Sent: 22 January 2017 16:15
To:
Subject: RE: [canberrabirds] Koels in Fraser

 

Re the question of did the male give the call, I did not see the bird but the person with me did see a male. However, they did not see it call so it is possible that a female was also present but undetected. I should have been more careful with my description.

 

Steve

 

From: Geoffrey Dabb [
Sent: Sunday, 22 January 2017 9:26 AM
To:
Subject: FW: [canberrabirds] Koels in Fraser

 

Thanks Steve.  This raises a matter that has not been brought to a conclusion on this chatline.  The background c all is what is usually called ‘the female call’  -  an insistent kek-kek-kek.  This varies from softly repetitive to an explosive ‘kuk-kuk-kuk’.   However I have heard and seen that call also given by a male bird, so you may be right this time.  Did you see a m ale giving that call?

 

The ‘different call’ is the single soft ‘skrrrrt’ which seems to interrupt the begging sequence.  This is difficult to interpret without more knowledge of Koelese.   

 

From: Wallaces
Sent: Sunday, 22 January 2017 8:28 AM
To: Canberra birds
Subject: [canberrabirds] Koels in Fraser

 

At least three koels have fledged on the northern slopes of Mount Rogers this month. While I was filming one of them, an adult male koel called nearby and the juvenile interrupted its begging to give a different call. It did this twice but when the host returned to feed it the juvenile did not respond to the Koel call. Video linked below.

 

Steve

 

http://www.hbw.com/ibc/1326060