Kirrama Wildlife Tours wrote:
> Hi everyone,
> the most commonly road-killed animals in our region are the Northern
> Brown
> Bandicoots and Cane Toads. Nothing unusual about that, but I am
> puzzled by
> the presence of Chestnut-breasted Mannikins picking on the carrion.
> First I
> thought that the bandicoots might have had something delicious in
> their
> stomachs, but since they also pick on the cane toads that can't be.
> Sometimes there are just a pair, but I counted up to six actually
> picking
> on the dead creatures, not just looking. The questions remains: What
> are
> they interested in?
> Does anyone know?
> Happy Birding, Klaus
> Kirrama Wildlife Tours Klaus & Brenda Uhlenhut
> PO Box 133 SILKWOOD QLD Australia
> http://www.gspeak.com.au/kirrama
Hello Klaus,
I am sure that I have read of Red-browed Finches doing this same thing.
However, I can't remember off the top of my head what it was they were
feeding on or where I read it. I think it may have been in an old volume
of the Emu. When I get a chance I will try to locate it.
Off the top of my head could they be feeding on insects, perhaps
maggots, in the roadkills? Of course if they are actually feeding on the
carrion I guess it would be an excellent source of protein for feeding
young!
Regards,
Michael
--
Michael Todd,
Department of Biological Sciences
University of Newcastle,
Callaghan, N.S.W., 2308
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