Thank you Philip for this very interesting set of observations. With all the noisy Koel activity around my place for the past 6 weeks there have been quite a number
of instances when up to 4 Koels were calling together at the same time. Often from the calling this can appear to be two males and two females, with different qualities of both the male and female calls and with much variation, including what seems to be
a seamless switch between the male and female calls. Unfortunately, as you point out unless the birds can be seen making the calls, usually not possible including even when they are perched like yours were, you can’t be sure which bird is making the call.
I have wondered a number of times whether the birds are calling antiphonally like Magpie-larks do, certainly Koels in different directions can rapidly respond to each other.
It's another aspect that would need a much more detailed scientific study than I can do. In particular the activity this year has underlined the great variety of
calls the local Eastern Koles make, including within the accepted male and female calls of whoa whoa/wirra wirra and kek kek kek/quick quick quick, respectively.
Jack Holland
From: Canberrabirds <>
On Behalf Of Philip Veerman
Sent: Saturday, December 16, 2023 10:18 AM
To: 'Dr David Rosalky' <>; 'COG bird list' <>
Subject: Re: [Canberrabirds] Koel activity
My comment is probably not news. Last Sunday whilst I was out lawn mowing I stopped to look at 2 adult female Koels that had or were spending some considerable
time (probably over 30 minutes) shouting at each other. Whilst other normal male (probably 2) calls were heard nearby. The 2 females were perched unmoving, on a gum tree sort of lined up directly facing each other, something less distant than one koel total
length apart. I could not tell whether just one bird was making all the noise or they were doing so alternately. It was curious that the timing of each bout of the screeching was quite regular and frequent as in maybe 15 seconds apart. As in not random, which
suggests it was only one of them, or that they sort of have a routine of sharing their timing. This has probably been going on for weeks here, although most times I think it is a bird by itself. That was just one time I had the opportunity to see what was
happening.
As for David’s question. I have never seen any interactions between any juvenile Koels and adults.
A big Koel morning in my GBS precinct. On the corner of Gawler and Northcote Crescents in Deakin, these were two noisy female Koels being harassed by RWBs – but not chased
away. They kept coming back. There was also a male calling at some distance.
The RWBs were busy, including growling at me to drive me away and carrying food. Then I heard the tell-tale chirp of a Koel fledgling. It must have been very close to me
but so well hidden in the foliage that I could not get a visual confirmation. But, no doubt, a Koel fledgling.
I am intrigued though what the two females were doing – perhaps Mum with a maternal instinct (do cuckoos have that?) but aunty as well?
David Rosalky
