On a number of occasions returning from work on dusk I have noticed one,
possibly two, Hobby's menacing a huge congregation of roosting Rainbow
Lorikeets (in suburban Newcastle). There are literally hundreds of raucous
Lorikeets coming into roost on dusk from all directions and several times I've
noticed Hobby's darting through the chaos, though I have not seen any attempted
'strikes'.
HANZAB lists 3 species of Lorikeets as prey for the Aussie Hobby, each of them
small species (though Scaly-breasted aren't exactly tiny). There are probably a
few Scaly-breasteds amongst the Rainbows but I doubt they'd be targeting them
with so many Rainbows to dilute them.
The Aust Hobby is very reminiscent of the Bat Falcon (Falco rufigularis) in the
Neotropics, which is crepuscular and/or nocturnal. Perhaps our Hobby fills a
similar niche?
Mick Roderick
----- Original Message ----
From: "" <>
To:
Sent: Thursday, 3 July, 2008 3:34:15 PM
Subject: [Birding-Aus] Hobby hunting in low light
This topic prompted me to contact some of my owl experts for their
experience of birds foraging for small bats. Zoologist Dr Natasha
Schedvin had the following to say about this ...
Hi Martin,
Yep, I've seen my barking owl hawking bats out of the sky on dusk. I've
also seen Boobook owls sitting outside bat roosts at dusk; presumably
waiting to grab bats as they exit.
No personal observations of diurnal raptors taking bats.
<< snipped >>
cheers, Martin
Martin O'Brien
Wildlife Biologist - Threatened Species & Communities Section
Department of Sustainability and Environment
2/8 Nicholson St.,
East Melbourne 3002
VICTORIA
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