On 10 June Cilla Rose wrote:>
>I know everyone is aware by now that there are Regent Honeyeaters by the
>hatful at Glen Davis but no one seems to be highlighting just what a
>delightful day's birdwatching is to be had there just now besides seeing the
>Regents so easily. One interesting aspect of the Regent observable just now
>is the interesting way they were calling. It was their soft, warbly call
>(best described in Pizzey) interspersed with bill-clapping and lots of
>bobbing up and down (this is also described in Pizzey, but not the
>bill-clapping). Does anyone know the significance of this?
>
The function of the head-bobbing and bill-clapping display is not known with
certainty. This behaviour is commonly observed when flocks of Regents first
arrive in an area. I have regularly observed this behaviour amongst Regents
in north-east Victoria during spring and I suspect that it is associated
with territory establishment and pair formation. The birds at Capertee may
well begin breeding within 4 to 6 weeks.
Peter Menkhorst
Manager, Regent Honeyeater recovery effort
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Peter Menkhorst
Flora and Fauna Branch
Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
PO 41 East Melbourne Vic 3002
phone 03 9412 4288 fax 03 9412 4586
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