Just got back from holidays and looking through the archives saw the thread
about AONJ. This is a species that is a lot commoner than people think
because you mainly hear them rather than see them. As Lawrie Conole said it
is the minority of nights spent spotlighting that you don't hear them flying
about. They apparently respond very well to playback (I vaguely recall
someone a few years ago talking about three or four calling very close in
Royal NP). I have seen a number over the years both during the day and while
driving at night (they do tend to sit on the road). One at Charcoal Tank NR
(West Wyalong - central NSW) used to call regularly at around 10 AM every
day, and was often seen sitting at the entrance of the same hollow sun
baking. One I saw last year was flying in the day looking for a hollow after
assumingly being disturbed during the day - took me a few seconds to work
out what it was.
As a final note, they are one the most amazing birds to band - they are tiny
and are covered in the softest feathers.
Cheers,
Peter
P.S. a trip report on Vanuatu will follow soon.
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