Earlier this week I witnessed four interesting behaviours from the same group of White-winged Choughs at Gossan Hill. Perhaps some of the same ones I saw fly over Haydon Drive earlier.
The group of six were foraging at the Western end of Gossan Hill, along with around six magpies and some currawongs. One Chough spread its wings and began displaying to other Choughs, than another one started an altercation with a juvenile
Magpie, at first chasing each other on either side of a tree, then taking it into the air. The Chough that attacked the magpie then picked up a stick and appeared to play with it for a few minutes.
Finally, three huddled together at the base of a tree then began picking up dirt and working it through their feather.
Photos on Canberra Nature Map
https://canberra.naturemapr.org/Community/Sightings/Details/4233230
Alison Milton
