Where have all the koels gone?

[pemavjon <>]

Jack, I haven't seen any birds approach the young koel. It's been noticed for about 2 hours. Just now it was chasing starlings out of the tree.

Mavis 

Sent from Samsung tablet.

-------- Original message --------

From: Jack & Andrea Holland <>

Date: 9/02/2019 3:46 PM (GMT+10:00)

To: pemavjon <>

Subject: Re: [canberrabirds] Where have all the koels gone?

Thanks Mavis, I’m interested in your young Koel sighting as I don’t yet have a fledgling from Torrens.

 

Was it begging, and did you see it fed by its host, most likely a red wattlebird?

 

Many thanks for your clarification.

 

Jack Holland

 

From: pemavjon

Sent: Saturday, February 9, 2019 3:02 PM

To: canberra birds

Subject: RE: [canberrabirds] Where have all the koels gone?

 

Koels have been quieter in Torrens.  Ten days ago a male koel visited a table on our deck. It was interested in a share of mince fed to magpies. The koel had 2 tastes and rejected both. The magpies stood back. The koel has spent time feeding on wild ? cherries

 

Today a young koel is resting/being rocked by the wind in our wild cherry tree.

 

Mavis

 

 

Sent from Samsung tablet.

 

-------- Original message --------

From: Ken Black <>

Date: 9/02/2019 11:18 AM (GMT+10:00)

To: 'John Harris' <>, 'chatline' <>

Subject: RE: [canberrabirds] Where have all the koels gone?

 

Still hearing them in Fraser J

 

From: John Harris [
Sent: Saturday, 9 February 2019 10:14 AM
To: chatline
Subject: [canberrabirds] Where have all the koels gone?

 

After being Koel City here in Gungahlin, suddenly the absence of Wirra Wirra-ing is obvious.

Do this mean that they are on their way back to PNG etc or just that the frenzied mating season has cooled?

And does any knowledgeable person know how soon the juveniles can fly north? The Annual report suggests last reported sighting of Koels is March. Does this mean all juveniles are fully grown by then and able to fly the long journey north?