At 11:54 18.11.2004, you wrote:
They do this in other
places too. I noted the same in the main street of Goondiwindi a few
years ago and I reckon others have noticed the same thing. It is probably
warm and safe there, being well lit, if they are disturbed they can
safely fly around and settle somewhere else, rather than flounder around
in the dark. Why wouldn't they? It is not as if they are scared of
sitting on people's heads. Currumbin made a name for this decades
ago.
Starlings
in Europe and the US do the same, and I think maybe there are two
advantages for them, although one will be less important in your balmy
climes. Humans are not a problem for roosting birds (we don't catch and
eat them), cats usually can't get at them easily at most roosts, and
there are fewer natural predators in busy places than outside the towns.
Here,
where we already have 30 cm snow on the ground and freezing
weather, also the more lenient microclimate inside towns may
well play a role, I should think, but that will probably be less
important in Australia.
Best
greetings from 70*N, where the last sun of the year just has set (at
noon!)
Wim
Vader, Tromsø Museum
9037
Tromsø, Norway
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