>--- wrote:
>
>> the question of the 'aviary escapee theory': where do you draw the
>> line between
>> likely aviary escapees and likely wild birds as you move from the
>> CBD, through
>> inner suburbs, outer suburbs, and eventually native bush beyond the
>> suburbs?
>
>Maybe the short answer is that we can't reliably distinguish between
>aviary escapers and naturally occurring PBQs in suburbia - unless of
>course they are wearing breeders' leg bands.
>
>Which brings me to a related topic .... how common are Red-chested
>Button-quail in aviculture? ..... and does anyone know of any in
>Melbourne or nearby? I'm interested to see what their behaviour is
>like in captivity, because if you read HANZAB there's no mention of
>them making platelets. Come to think of it, there's really no
>indication that they occur much in non-grassland habitats (BQ platelets
>are most evident in leaf litter under trees of some kind). I've
>certainly seen RCBQs making platelets at Gunbower Island in Victoria -
>where at a few locations they outnumber PBQs - and in 'atypical'
>woodland habitat.
I cant help on the RCBCQ platelets the avicultural societys would have a
better idea I used to( 10-15 years ago) keep and breed Painted BC as well
as stubble and some introduced species
at that time they were not uncommon in aviculture although only certain
poeple liked keeping them (aviculturists tend to specialise in say parrots
or finches with a few keeping soft bills )
along the bump in the night lines many find them disruptive to the other
birds they seemed to have a longer day
I would love to think painteds still turn up in suburbia I've never seen
them myself although I have seen a stubble quail along the Bulleen /Balwyn
stretch of the eastern freeway and although I kept watch daily I never saw
it again
When I was in primary school a local hunter used to bring home live quail
that had been shot and the pointer dog would retrieve them these were then
used to train the pointer later at home I suppose they were released in a
park or the back yard so the dog would find them as hunting practice I
would imagine a few red necks would still bring them home like that
There is no doubt the bird in question could be wild I still think an
aviary escape is possible although no one else seems to
cheers Ian
To unsubscribe from this list, please send a message to
Include ONLY "unsubscribe birding-aus"
in the message body (without the quotes)
|
