Re: Agression between honeyeaters.
Hi Jill, Roy, Bill and others,
I have a totally different set of affairs in our garden.
The resident Little Wattlebirds are by far the most aggressive in the
garden, attacking quite a number of other species. They are certainly
even more aggressive at present with an active nest hidden in dense
foliage of a Ficus Oblique. Both adults have been taking in food during
the last couple of days, which would suggest chicks have hatched.
I have not observed any other species of honeyeaters being aggressive
towards the Little Wattlebirds. There is of course fights between the
wattlebirds themselves.
I posted details on Birding-aus previously about the arrival of a
Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater (SCH) in our garden on 12 July. On 25 July
this same species was seen again at 0755 hours feeding on a Callistemon,
variety called "Tinaroo Dazzler".
Bill Jolly reports that " the SCH which has arrived in his garden has
set up a territory within which it will brook no other honeyeaters,
resorting to full-on body contact etc".
The one observed in this garden was continually attacked by one of the
wattlebirds. The SCH would feed on the flowers of the above callistemon
between attacks and move closer to the middle of the shrub when the
wattlebird flew in. Although there was continued attacks by the
wattlebird the SCH continued to stay and feed for 20 minutes or more in
this shrub, even though there are a variety of grevillea in full flower
close by.
Roy mentions that the Noisy Friarbird would pursue the lorikeets and
grab their tail. From my observations, Noisy Friarbirds visiting this
garden are on the receiving end of the tail grabbing and aggression.
We have also had continuing wet weather ( to a lesser extent than the
area where Jill lives), and my pteridifolia has been full of flowers
along with other varieties of grevillea, attracting most of the
honeyeater species Jill is missing.
Linda Cross
Bellmere
SE Qld.
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