Andrew raises the interesting phenomenon of Grey Goshawks sitting out on the
open on the Sunshine Coast.
I also have noticed this, and I see goshawks regularly sitting on telegraph
wires in the flat sugar cane fields. However, unfortunately, I don't think
it's a case of adaptability. It is a recent development and coincides with
something of a plague of rats (species undetermined) in heavily grassed
parts of the coast.
The proliferation of Grey Goshawks coincides with the recording of unusually
good numbers of Eastern Grass Owl, Australian Hobby, Spotted Harrier and
other raptors, including Brown Goshawk. It is nonetheless interesting that a
species normally associated with wet forest is so conspicuous at this time.
Greg Roberts
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Hi all
As urbanization hits my home area of the Sunshine Coast, I have been forced
to rethink the description of Grey goshawks as secretive raptors of tall
forests (the notion I grew up with). On my daily commutes along the Bruce
Highway in the early and late light hours, I regularly see up to 4 birds
hunting in the open right beside the traffic. They favour sitting on tall
street lights placed at intersections and occasionally I am lucky enough to
see one swoop down into the short grass after prey. I have even seen one
way out in the open spaces of a vast sugar cane field where you more often
see kites and hobbies.
The birds have also had to adapt to urbanization spreading into the forest
areas the birds need for breeding and I know of at least one pair that
nested quite close to a bush block residence (though not visible from it).
That block was steep. Had it been flat, it may well have been cleared for
pony paddocks and a dam. Some nice forest parts of the Sunshine Coast have
already been lost to "ranch style" development where a house is built and
forest cleared for horses and fire risk minimization. This will continue
with the Queensland government's determination to see a huge population
increase in SE Qld over the coming decades.
The Grey goshawk's adaptability is in for a real test!
Regards
Andrew"
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