Klaus,
Whilst photographing a Golden Bower Bird at Paluma over a week I saw it
place a fruit in small recessed hollow near one of its regular perches, then
pull it out to eat the following day. On another day I watched it place a
piece of fruit in another small recessed hollow, only to fly to it later to
use in display. I have no idea what the fruit could have been. The author
who wrote "In Quest of Bower Birds" (his name eludes me) mentions this
practice. Apparently it is also a known practice of the Macgregor's Bower
Bird of New Guinea.
Keep up the notes onthe bower birds, we have only mallee fowl down here to
entertain us.
Ross Whiteford
-----Original Message-----
From: Kirrama Wildlife Tours <>
To: <>
Cc: Cliff and Dawn Frith <>
Date: Thursday, 29 October 1998 09:01
Subject: Notes on Great + Golden Bowerbirds
>Great Bowerbird:
>On 23.10.98 a bower at Mt Surprise (wwodland north-west of Cairns) was
>decorated, just off to one side, separate from the other decoration, with
>one snow-white and very fresh egg. The egg was about 4 cm long, and I can
>only imagine it belonging to a pigeon. The egg was damaged, cracked one
>side, and the opposite site having a hole surely made by the beak.
>The egg was very fresh, judging by the interior (looking at the hole).
>Has that been observed before, that the Great Bowerbird goes over dead
>bodies to get decoration?
>Also, Great Bowerbirds at Lawn Hill (Western Qld) have been heard to give
>weak calls of Whistling Kites, and in one case giving perfect imitations of
>the sound of rustling pandanus leaves. I thought I just add that.
>
>Golden Bowerbird:
>On the 11.10. on Mt Lewis near Julatten a male Golden Bowerbird was
>observed feeding on the ground, about 15 meters away from its bower. The
>bird fed on figs, and it carried a half eaten fig, size about 2 cm., to a
>sapling. At about 7 feet height it jammed the half-fig into a depression on
>the sapling, and then moved on. It soon called from another branch, but
>paid no more attention to the fig.
>Is he storing in case of shortage of food? (Food shortage in the
>rainforest!?!)
>Happy birding, Klaus
>
>
>
>Kirrama Wildlife Tours Klaus & Brenda Uhlenhut
>PO Box 133 SILKWOOD QLD Australia
>Kirrama Home Page http://www.gspeak.com.au/kirrama
>Birding Web Directory http://www.ausbird.com
>
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