I think the ultmate source for the American quote on the Satin
Bowerbird was originally collected by that 'bowerbird' of information,
the late Alec Chisholm. Somewhere in one of his popular books he
reported that a captive male Satin Bowerbird built a bower in its aviary
which contained a number of small birds as well. The SBB was found to be
killing Blue-faced parrot-finches and ornamenting his bower with the
corpses.
The only wild Satinbird bowers I have seen in Victoria were paved
with Rosella tail-feathers, with only a few 'human' objects added. One
in Fraser Nat. Park had a few blue straws, some cicada cases, some
yellowish berries, and in the centre the blue plastic plug from the
handbasin in the ablutions block.
Anthea Fleming
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