Hi Jon,
It wouldn't surprise me if Australian raptors used the techniques you
described. Lammergiers drop bones from a height so as to crack them
to get at the marrow. Fascinating to watch, though potentially
hazardous to get close to the drop zone.
Cheers,
Carl Clifford
On 27/02/2007, at 3:18 PM, Jon Wren wrote:
Gooday Birding-aussers
Let us all just observe the List Owners request on all matters
concerning Fig Parrot 4, something for your consideration and
possible comment.
Last Sunday morning I was unloading a train at Abbot Point just North
of Bowen Qld.
Just as the Sun was rising I observed two Whistling Kites perched in
a tree adjacent to the remains of carrion that had been dragged onto
the actual line. Both birds were settled and remained motionless in
the tree as the train passed over the carrion. Due to the fact that
the train was 76 wagons long I was not in a position to observe what
ultimately happened to the carrion after the train had passed.
However, I am going to surmise that the Whistling Kites purposely
dragged the carrion onto the rail so that further nutrition could be
released from the crushed bones and flesh once the train had cleared.
In the past (in excess of 30 years driving trains) I have observed
Black Kite, Brahminy Kite, Whistling Kite and Wedge-tailed Eagle
adjacent to rail tracks try to fly away from an approaching train
with carrion in their talons, only to lose the prey due to weight of
carrion? Or maybe it was purposely trying to drop it onto the track
so as a to gain access to marrow, flesh etc. after the train had
passed over.
Do birding-aussers consider that a relationship may have evolved
between some Raptors whereby they recognise trains as a tool that can
be utilised to provide access to more nutrition. I remember reading
that birds identified man made structures in their search for food
due to the high prevalence of roadkill along a network of roads or rail.
Jon Wren
Bowen
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