Hi Birders,
I cannot answer all of Nevil's questions but I can say that it is not normal
that three Channel-billed Cuckoo eggs are laid in the one Currawong nest but
it has been reported on at least two other occasions that I can recall. Two
young per Currawong nest although not the normal thing, is not uncommon. In
fact in my garden at Bateau Bay yesterday morning there was a pair of Pied
Currawongs feeding two juvenile Channel-billed Cuckoos, seeminly the same
size. The young birds remained about 50 m apart but were obviuously of the
same family. Interestingly enough there was an adult CB Cuckoo hanging
around and staying close but I did not see it attempt to feed either chick.
Without DNA sampling, it cannot be known whether there are multiple donors
of eggs to the Currawongs nest or whether it was the same bird who could not
find enough receipients for her eggs and so ended up taking them back all to
the same nest.
Alan Morris
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