Yes to Judi and Neil,
I've observed something very similar, in September and in May.
A copy of my posting to birding-aus on 9 May 2000 describing the events
follows:
"A spectacular sight here this-morning, when one Azure Kingfisher fluttered
its wings at another from an adjacent branch and then commenced to fly in a
tight circle around the other bird, which crouched during the performance.
The two birds, both apparently well-coloured adults, continued to-ing and
fro-ing for several minutes in and out of our view from the verandah, but
clearly in a sustained interaction.
We watched a more extended version of this same activity in September of
last year when two Azure Kingfishers alternated flying around each other,
interspersed with a lot of bobbing, crouching, beak-clapping and
wing-fluttering. Then, as today, the flashing of blues and reds in the
sunlight was literally breathtaking. What a privilege!
We've had some rain lately, and Lockyer Creek has recovered a few
centimetres of what it lost during the dry early part of the year.
But, can this be courtship in early May?"
Truly a wonderful sight to see, and surely the activity that we were
witnessing must be courtship related, whether or not it led to subsequent
nesting. The New Atlas of Australian Birds shows breeding records between
August and April, peaking from October to December, but I imagine that, as
with many other Aussie species, Azure Kingfisher breeding dates can be a
variable which is subject to availability of water and food supply.
Bill Jolly
"Abberton",
Lockyer Valley, Queensland.
Visit our website at www.abberton.org
email:
ph: (+61) 7 4697 6111
-----Original Message-----
From:
Behalf Of N & J Russill
Sent: Wednesday, 2 June 2004 2:32 PM
To: Birding-aus
Subject: Azure Kingfishers
At Currawong Flat Royal National Park (south of Sydney) on 1st. June we
witnessed some interesting behaviour by two Azure Kingfishers.
They were both on the ground, a grassy bank beside the Hacking River.
Standing close to and facing each other. They were bowing to each other,
then flicking their wings occasionally. This behaviour continued for at
least 5 minutes. Then they flew around each other in tight small circles
just above the water surface, close to the bank. Water splashed up as they
lightly touched the water surface. They landed on a small half submerged
log and then facing each other again, they continued bowing to each other.
This continued for another few minutes and then they flew again in tight
small circles over the log once again touching the water. This action was
repeated several times before each flew up and landed in separate trees
nearby before flying off in different directions.
Has anyone witnessed this behaviour?. It seemed different to the chasing
flight of territorial behaviour, however, there are quite a few Azure
Kingfishers along the river at present. This isn't usually their
courting/nesting period although the drought may have had some effect,
although the river level is fine. We would be interested to hear any
pertinent comments. Judi & Neil Russill
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