Hi Kevin,
Thanks for your comments. Choughs are liable to show up virtually anywhere around Canberra particularly in mulched garden areas and where there’s plenty of ground litter
and, as mentioned in my recent post, they will sometimes forage in highly urbanised locations e.g. the Kippax shops. Chris Davey reminded me that Ian Rowley, writing in his book his book
Birdlife, tells us that outside of breeding season White-winged Choughs will range over areas from 800 – 1000 hectares.
John Layton
Holt.
From: [
Sent: Tuesday, 11 January 2022 11:35 AM
To: 'John Layton'; Canberrabirds
Subject: RE: [Canberrabirds] Choughs around Kippax Fair again
Hi
I’m not sure of other records of Chough sitings (where should I look?), but we regularly see groups of six or so (perhaps sometimes up to 10) in our street (Moulden Court, Emu Ridge, Belconnen) which tend to wander from place to place (and
across the street) foraging in the gardens – usually through the leaf litter. I don’t think we’ve seen them in the last few weeks – I could keep a record if that’s worthwhile. Now and then, if disturbed, they’ll fly up into our large black wattle, until
they feel it’s safe to resume foraging. One aspect I’ve noticed is that the group seems very much a single entity, so as soon as one bird wanders off (invariably on foot) the others quickly follow – whether next door or across the street. Kippax is some
distance from us, so I’d be surprised if “our” Choughs are also the Kippax Choughs - unless someone has evidence of such “migrations”.
Kevin Bray
From: Canberrabirds <>
On Behalf Of John Layton via Canberrabirds
Sent: Sunday, 9 January 2022 4:16 PM
To: Canberra birds <>
Subject: [Canberrabirds] Choughs around Kippax Fair again
Last August Chris Davey, myself and others reported flocks of White-winged Choughs foraging along the footpaths adjacent to Kippax Fair quite oblivious to considerable
pedestrian traffic. Since then I’ve only had two sightings of three or four fossicking in garden areas near the Raiders Club.
At 07:00 hrs today, however, I sighted 10 choughs foraging along shop fronts on the western side of Hardwick Crescent, across the street from the rear of the library.
They seemed to be gleaning titbits from cobwebs. There were no people in the vicinity.
I gain the impression, rightly or wrongly, that these intermittent sightings could indicate that local choughs peregrinate over a large territory. Sometimes, of course,
they would be off the streets and nesting.
John Layton
Holt.
