Birds into windows

[jandaholland--- via Canberrabirds <>]

Many thanks Richard, yes, I had seen those, but in the probably mistaken belief that they don’t fly far had opted for the closer less recent records.  In my experience PBQ are reluctant to flush, much less so than for example the Brown Quail I have been seeing over recent months, though I have experienced them jumping vertically for 3-4 m when disturbed after dark. 

 

In fact it’s been hard to find any readily accessible information on whether they can fly for any distance, with the HANZAB entry (now nearly 30 years old) noting that “when flushed, fly fast, weaving through the trees ….. usually a metre of two above the ground; usually fly some distance before dropping and running.”   However, it also notes that patterns of dispersal may be linked to seasonal factors such as rainfall ...., and that the Aust. Atlas (RAOU one) claims that individuals may fly long distances. 

 

While the Birdlife Australia Atlas does not clearly show seasonal movement, this may be because it is related to conditions rather than season.  So it appears that like other species such as crakes which can suddenly appear if conditions are right, they may fly considerable distances to take advantage of conditions. 

 

Jack Holland

 

From: Richard Allen <>
Sent: Sunday, 19 September 2021 6:45 PM
To:
Cc: Geoffrey Dabb <>; Canberrabirds <>
Subject: Re: [Canberrabirds] Birds into windows

 

September records from ebird show a couple at each of 3 sites that line up with your place Geoff. Campbell park (Steve H), Isaacs ridge (David D) and Wanniassa hills (myself). 

 

Richard 

Sent from my iPhone

On 19 Sep 2021, at 5:26 pm, jandaholland--- via Canberrabirds <> wrote:



Geoffrey, very interesting, it must have been a big surprise.  Checking the eBird Australia records from 2010 reveals single records of single birds at Callum Brae in June 2020 and June 2021, and 2 birds on Red Hill in September 2019, possibly from where yours was heading S.

 

Around noon yesterday a not so loud bang on our deck window alerted me to a bird which tried to flutter away but then came to rest under the deck table.  I thought it was a female blackbird but on closer inspection the barred tail first alerted me it was an adult Fan-tailed Cuckoo.  It’s the first I’ve had in my Chapman GBS site since the 2003 fires, though there have been a few local records, particularly over the past couple of years, at both Narrabundah Hill and Cooleman Ridge. 

 

A slightly happier ending though.  After recovering for about 15 minutes, on my approach it flew to a casuarina about 10 m away, where it recovered for another 15 minutes before it was last seen about 10 minutes later foraging quite actively there.  

 

Jack Holland  

 

From: Canberrabirds <> On Behalf Of Geoffrey Dabb
Sent: Sunday, 19 September 2021 3:58 PM
To: Canberrabirds <>
Subject: Re: [Canberrabirds] Lock down protocaol for Birders

 

 

It was not necessary to leave my LOCAL REGION to investigate the loud THUMP on the window at sunrise this morning.  I found an ex- Painted Buttonquail that must have been commuting south at some speed at about 5m above ground level. Now in the freezer.

 

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