Eastern Bristlebird Injury

[Chris Charles <>]

Following recent posts regarding Barren Grounds & Buderoo NP, I took  
a look this morning.
Highlight was a long & intimate encounter with an Eastern Bristlebird  
on the Service Track at Barren Ground.
The EBB was about 5m away when I came on it & was foraging in the  
short grass on the track catching grass hoppers & drinking from  
puddles. I followed it up-sun some way as it worked the track but  
then it turned & approached me until it caught a grass hopper at my  
feet & inside the 1.8m minimum focal depth of my lens. It took quite  
some time to get the legs off it before it picked it up & swallowed  
it. Each successful capture was celebrated with some excited tail  
fanning & when finished the EBB would wash its beak in a puddle. For  
about 40 minutes the EBB was never more than 5m away.
When I looked at the pics at home I realised why it was having  
difficulty as it was missing the tip of its upper beak. It seemed a  
recent injury as it seems to have new blood on it. However it didnt  
seem to be perturbed by the injury & took many grasshoppers while I  
was watching.
http://www.birdforum.net/pp_gallery/data/528/29490Eastern- 
Bristlebird3.jpg
http://www.birdforum.net/pp_gallery/data/528/29490Eastern- 
Bristlebird.jpg
So how does such an injury occur & will it grow back?

Chris Charles






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