Jim Davis wrote:
>
> While foraging Restless Flycatchers are reported to hover a
> metre or so above the ground while emitting a characteristic
> grinding call. I was once told that the flycatcher's call
> attracts the attention of spiders. Specifically, trap door
> spiders will open the door of their tunnels to investigates
> the noise ... in so doing, they become vulnerable to being
> caught by the flycatcher. Can anyone confirm this
> interpretation?
>
> Cheers, Jim
>
> Dr Wm. James Davis, Editor
> Interpretive Birding Bulletin
The last Restless Fycatcher I had a good look at was at Costerfield
(near Heathcote, Vic). It was hovering about the edges of an abandoned
tennis court with posts round it (once supported fence I suppose). It
was chattering in the usual manner from time to time. Presently it
alighted on top of a post and apparently extracted a large blackish-grey
spider from a crack down the side of the post. It then took a while
processing the spider by knocking off most legs etc, and then swallowed
it - quite tricky, but fortunately the RFC could open its gape very
wide. I saw nothing to indicate that the call attracted the spider - the
bird seemed to reach into the crack quite deeply to seize its prey.
I am sure I have been told that spiders are deaf - though they
certainly respond to vibrations in web etc.
Anthea Fleming in Ivanhoe, Vic.
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