Bowerbirds

[Marg Peachey <>]

David, 

Very interesting.  I had not heard of that gift exchange before, thought it was all about the acceptance of the male decorating.

thanks for sharing.

Marg

Marg Peachey
President, ACT Wildlife
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On Wed, 5 Aug 2020 at 12:41, Dr David Rosalky <> wrote:

My neighbours have a bower in their front garden in the same spot that I reported last year.

Last year’s activity was mainly involving immature males but this year there is a blue bird – indeed two blue birds on one occasion.

The bower was demolished but has been rebuilt and decorated.

I have been recording up to four birds associated with the bower over recent weeks.

 

Today some interesting behaviour.  A blue bird was making a lot of low growly sounds and moving around the bower with a blue flower in his bill.  Then a green bird flew in and walked through the bower.  It emerged from the other end, picked up a white flower and flew to a low nearby tree.

The blue bird followed along the ground, still carrying the blue flower.  The green bird dropped the white flower and then flew down beside the blue bird. The green bird then flew off with the blue flower that the blue bird had relinquished and the blue bird followed with the white flower in its bill. 

A sort of gift exchange. 

 

I don’t know how to interpret this behaviour – or indeed if there is anything to interpret.  I don’t even know whether the green bird is male or female, but the behaviour suggests female.  There was no agonistic behaviour.

 

David Rosalky

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