For the past two weeks or so a Bush Stone-curlew has taken up residence
at a panel beating shop on the main road in Koondrook, Vic. This road is
quite busy with traffic coming from Kerang, Cohuna and over the bridge from
Barham, N.S.W. It stands in full view of the road in front of a glass
window which it occasionally attacks with open beak (presumably it is seeing
it's own image).
Even during business hours it is sometimes there and has been known to
walk through the open shed. My daughter's boyfriend is an apprentice there
and he keeps me up to date with its antics.
A week ago I was coming home late from a meeting in Swan Hill (about
12.00 a.m) and I stopped and shone the car lights on the building, the bird
was parading up and down the window but I noticed a second bird some 10
metres to the right. One can only assume this is its mate although from
reports the two are only seen together occasionally, maybe it is nesting
somehwere in the vicinity??? Has anyone else observed such strange
behaviour?
Also last week (19/9) I had the opportunity to go fishing on the Wakool
River some 18kms north of Barham. In between catching the odd fish I was
able to observe/see 26 different species of birds whilst sitting on the
bank. Highlights were hearing the first Sacred Kingfisher for the Spring
and two White Backed Swallows that continually hawked insects over the river
which is rising. All indications are the red-gum forests will soon be
inundated with water with the Murray River running a banker at the moment
and there is a lot more water to come.
John Nankervis
Barham N.S.W
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