I, too, doubt that the presence of Koels in Melbourne is only
due to the winds although the earliest record I have for my area
- Bayside - was on the day of a hot northerly in November 1986.
That was a female and single females were very probably seen in
the area for seven successive summers in all (usually arriving
within a few days of the Melbourne Cup race). They were seen at
two sites, 1km apart, the main site being a very large garden
with several Moreton Bay Fig trees (and breeding Red Wattlebirds
and Magpie-Larks as potential hosts).
This year's Yarra Bend bird also arrived around Cup Day and has
been (mainly?) in imported fig trees.
I guess that like many migrants they can overshoot (or come by
horse box!?) and then stay if they find suitable habitat, even -
as the local records suggest - returning to the same spot in the
hope that a partner will arrive.
I wonder what Philip Veerman's Canberra garden birds study says
about Koels ?
Michael Norris
Melbourne
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