Channel-Billed Cuckoos

["Brian Everingham" <>]

Over January we have enjoyed the sight of two young Channel-Billed Cuckoos growing and being fed by Pied Currawongs. It is now 15th January and in the last two days things seem to have changed a little. There are now two adult Channel-Billed Cuckoos calling and flying/perching close by and the young are taking more notice. I posted an observation here two years ago regarding similar adult proximity of a male Koel to a juvenile being fed and reared by a Red Wattlebird and still wonder if this is not a distant parenting to ensure that the cuckoo is finally "socialised".

 

The two juvenile cuckoos seem to have grown considerably. On 13th January they were both calling loudly to be fed and were being fed grapes from the neighours' vine (at a ratio of 10:1 bias towards one bird ... though the other bird was taking its own grapes while not being fed!) Since then it seems there are growing moments of silence and the young are ranging further apart. One seems to be moving away and the Pied Currawong is avoiding the feeding demands from the second.

 

There was a small accident yesterday. In mid afternoon one juvenile crashed directly into our front window and sat stunned on our balcony. It got up and moved to the balcony rail, unsteadily, then flew to the power line. I think it survived. We have heard both birds since but we have only seen one juvenile today.

 

Brian Everingham
PO Box 269
Engadine
NSW 2233
Australia
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+61 2 95209341
0419260236