One of the chemotypes of Camphor Laurel contain reasonable levels of
Safrole, which is a precursor in the manufacture of MDMA (Ecstasy).
Perhaps there is something in the gut chemistry or flora which
finishes the job. I must admit though, my knowledge of amphetamine
manufacture is a bit rusty these days.
Cheers,
Carl Clifford
On 24/04/2011, at 6:24 PM, Andrew Thelander wrote:
I agree - it does point to that and I am sure there are studies
showing that
topknots do eat camphor laurel and disperse the seed (one such study
was at
the Big Scrub in northern NSW). My books are all packed away at the
moment
but I googled "topknot pigeon camphor laurel" and found this posted on
www.camphorlaurel.com <http://www.camphorlaurel.com/>
Topknot Pigeons; instances involving multiple-death events have been
repeatedly observed on and near roadsides, in both Lismore and Kyogle
Shire,
but always being found dead directly underneath the canopies of
ripe-fruiting Camphor laurel trees; in one case, only Camphor laurel
berries
were found in the stomach and crop upon dissection. Some birds retained
distinctly purple-stained beaks. These are the first records of this,
the
largest of all native rainforest pigeon species succumbing to the toxins
contained in the berries and seeds of Camphor laurel. Other reports, by
notable bush regenerators, and seed collectors . centre on the
occasional
apparent 'drunkenness' caused to many species of native pigeons, after
gorging themselves on (excess volumes) of ripe or over-ripe Camphor
laurel
berries.
It would be interesting to review the primary data for the above -
particularly any multiple death events. I am not aware of any such
discoveries on the Sunshine Coast.
Andrew
_____
From: Greg Roberts
Sent: Sunday, 24 April 2011 4:39 PM
To: 'Andrew Thelander'
Cc:
Subject: birding-aus Digest, Vol 61, Issue 34
Andrew
All of this points circumstantially but pointedly to the Topknots
feeding on
camphor laurels. As with the White-headed Pigeons, these introduced
pests
may in fact be in important part of their diet in this era of depleted
habitat.
Greg
From: Andrew Thelander
Sent: Sunday, 24 April 2011 4:27 PM
To: 'Greg Roberts'
Cc: 'Birding-aus'
Subject: birding-aus Digest, Vol 61, Issue 34
Hi Greg
I personally can't recall ever seeing Topknots feeding in camphor
laurels
but that is most likely me not getting out birding enough! I suspect
you are
right as the camphor laurels are fruiting and most of the figs I came
across
yesterday weren't. Beside the tennis centre in Nambour, there is a huge
camphor laurel that fills with White-headed pigeons when in fruit.
They were
there yesterday with the normal figbirds - the flock of topknots settled
into some eucalypts several hundred metres away. I was waiting for
them to
fly in for a feed but they didn't. I postulate that their willingness
to put
up with human activity in the vicinity depends a lot on how hungry
they are.
I believe some turned up in an orchard in Tasmania and could be
approached
very closely simply because they were ravenous. At times I have seen
them in
a forest setting and they have been quite skittish. At other times, I
have
been able to stand near the base of a tree and observe them feeding in
it
(e.g. the famous Pigeonberry ash tree near Traveston).
Perhaps others may have some personal insights to share? Is camphor
laurel a
food of preference for topknots or just something to fall back on
until the
natives start fruiting? How approachable are topknots? Have they ever
visited a feeding table (like white-headed pigeons readily do)?
Cheers
Andrew
_____
From:
On Behalf Of Greg
Roberts
Sent: Sunday, 24 April 2011 1:01 PM
To:
Subject: birding-aus Digest, Vol 61, Issue 34
Regarding Andrew's note about Topknot Pigeons. Over the past couple of
weeks
I've seen unusually large numbers of Topknot Pigeons in the Sunshine
Coast
lowlands, especially about the Maroochy River and its tributaries. I
suspect
it has something to do with camphor laurel fruiting and would
appreciate any
suggestions.
Also, last night I had great views of a Sooty Owl in the Mapleton Forest
Reserve.
Greg Roberts
""Date: Sat, 23 Apr 2011 19:35:39 +1000
From: "Andrew Thelander" <>
To: "'Birding-aus'" <>
Subject: Sunshine Coast birds
Message-ID: <>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Hi all
A tour through the Mt Mellum area of the Sunshine Coast hinterland today
resulted in some nice sightings including at least ten Barred cuckoo-
shrikes
in a fruiting Ficus obliqua (my spies tell me there were double that
number
in the tree just 2 weeks ago). Also observed a male Regent bowerbird
feeding
in a Polyscias elegans. Other species seen included Grey goshawk,
Emerald
dove, Catbird, King parrot, Brown cuckoo-dove, Varied triller and
Chestnut
breasted manikins feeding young.""
Back in Nambour, there was a flock of 30 Topknot pigeons.
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