Hi Birding Aussers
We have recently moved to a new place and are lucky enough to have resident
Bush Stone Curlews in our front yard.
I spoke with neighbours who advised that the single bird residing in our garden
is the near adult chick of the pair across the road.
In the couple of weeks that we've lived here, the pair across the road have
been on nest again with two eggs in what appears to be their second clutch in
12 months.
I have a couple of questions for BSC experts ranging from the stupid - how can
you tell the difference between males and females? To the more complex
question of brooding.
On Sunday in a heat wave when bush fires threatened our neighbourhood, I
wondered across the road to the nesting pair and had a look. I saw two
beautiful eggs around the size of a chicken's.
Well yesterday we came home and the single young bird in our yard was
resolutely sitting in one spot and it turns out that bird was sheltering a one
or two day old chick. Accompanying single bird was one of the parent BSCs from
across the road.
Does anyone know if BSCs are like Kookaburras in that older siblings help
parents rear younger siblings?
>From the outside it looks like one of the parents has bought a chick over to
>their teenage kid and said "Here this is yours to look after. I'll keep an
>eye on you but the responsibility is yours" . Nice. Quick life lesson in
>parenting at a young age :-)
Is this normal behaviour?
Any insights would be appreciated. Both of them are caring for this chick as I
write. I have to say that BSCs are one of the most charismatic birds in their
behaviour and looks. It is delightful to have them in our yard.
Any insights you can provide would be great.
Cheers,
Inger
Inger Vandyke
Natural History Writer and Photographer
Assistant Publicity Officer - Southern Oceans Seabird Study Association (SOSSA)
Mob: 0402 286 437
www.ingervandyke.com
_________________________________________________________________
For more of what happens online Head to the Daily Blob on Windows Live
http://windowslive.ninemsn.com.au/blog.aspx==============================www.birding-aus.org
birding-aus.blogspot.com
To unsubscribe from this mailing list,
send the message:
unsubscribe
(in the body of the message, with no Subject line)
to:
=============================
|
