Just some trivia on the Black-breasted Buzzard, but the behaviour being
discussed here, while recently noted by folks at zoos and desert parks has
been known by our Western Desert citizens for donkey's years - the name for
the Black-breasted Buzzard in the Western Desert language
(Pitjantjatjara/Yankunytjatjara) is *kalaya-kata-pungku*. Literally
translated this means "will/may strike an emu in the head", which I would
venture derives from observation of such habits.
All of the birds of prey have distinct names and they usually have some
relationship to an aspect of their behaviour or fall into the well
established Western Desert habit of naming birds using onomatopoeia derived
from their call. So the Wedge-tailed Eagle is* walawuru* - from a
conjunction of the words *wala* (swift, or in a hurry) and *wurumpu* (a
specially designed fighting spear designed for ceremonial punishment wounds
which has a flat diamond-shaped head with a remarkable resemblance to the
tail of the eagle).
Regards,
Chris Watson
Alice Springs
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