birding-aus
Jill:
I hope you get some definitive replies although there hasn't been much
work (published) done on Channel-bills. Do you happen to know if you can
reliably ID juvenile birds using Binocs? If so, obviously, this is the
way to do it.
Your questions is particularly interesting because Channel-bill cuckoos
are migratory...which gives at least a dual purpose to forming
post-breeding flocks: 1) first year birds follow adults back to
over-wingering ground 2) young flock to help find food, etc. In both
scenarios, the presence of adult would be highly benefical...therefore I
would reason that the flocks are comprise of mixed ages. Good luck with
your inquery..
Dr. Wm. James Davis, Editor
Interpretive Birding Bulletin
On Wed, 10 Feb 1999, Jill Dening wrote:
> birding-aus
>
> An incredulous report to me from a fellow birder, who had seen flocking
> Channel-billed Cuckoos (CBCU), prompts this posting. The observation
> occurred in Rockhampton, as did another, by a different observer, in late
> January. The first time I saw it myself, I have to admit, I was so amazed
> that I didn't report it, expecting no one to believe me. That was a couple
> of years ago, and for a little while I wondered if I was going gaga. It was
> in forested Beerwah, on the Sunshine Coast, Qld.
>
> Now I ask: How many others have observed this behaviour? I have only seen
> it after the breeding season myself. I have my thoughts, but would welcome
> the opinion of others as to the motivation behind the behaviour. For
> instance, do you think it involves only immatures, or only adults, or both?
> I have not been close enough to distinguish myself.
>
> Cheers,
>
> Jill
>
> Jill Dening
> Sunshine Coast, Qld
>
>
>
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