Interesting Koel observation

[calyptorhynchus <>]

I was just watching a juvenile Koel in our backyard in Hughes working its hosts (Red Wattlebirds) hard. A pair of RW were hunting furiously for things to feed their oversized baby and it was egging them on with urgent begging calls that sound to my ears (and presumably the 'parents') exactly like RW chick begging calls.

However what was really interesting was that at one point a Noisy Miner showed up. Normally if they found a RW in the backyard they would be aggressive and try to drive it away, however, on this occasion the NM looked concerned, remained silent, and hopping around seemingly looking for food. My interpretation was that the Koel begging calls were also sufficiently like NM begging calls that the NM was fooled, didn't try to drive away the RW hosts, and may even have thought about feeding the Koel itself.  But it didn't, and after a few minutes flew off.

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John Leonard
Canberra
Australia
www.jleonard.net

‘There is kinship between people and all animals. Such is the Law.’ Kimberley lawmen (from Yorro Yorro)