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Earlier in September while camping by Sweetwater
Lake in Lakefield NP a female Papuan Frogmouth was stationed on a daytime roost
in nearby paperbarks. We were able to observe and listen to this bird during our
stay of four nights She was able to hunt sufficient food items in an area of
about fifty metres square.
Through the first night we heard
the familiar slow "oom, oom" calls that we are used to hearing further south in
the Wet Tropics. Shortly before daybreak she emitted a brief call of about seven notes that although they had no change in
pitch, sounded like brief laughter.
Graham Pizzey mentioned it in
his field guide as "hoo,hoo,hoo" whereas in this case the individual notes were
much flatter, however this difference may be regional.
On the last morning the
frogmouth in question responded with "her" call to the first call of a
nearby Blue-winged Kookaburra at 0600 hours and when the kookaburras called
again at 0800 hours we heard her call again!
A curious reaction when the
frogmouth should be deep in slumber!
Del. Richards, Fine Feather Tours, Mossman,
NQ.
www.finefeathertours.com.au
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