I agree with Dr Ambrose. On a recent trip up to north Queensland I saw groups
of 3 and 5 birds flying together calling. The group of 3 near Gladstone I
observed frrom time to time for an hour and they were not approached by other
birds once. My observation of single birds however, especially in Alice
Springs where I lived for 26 years is that they are constantly mobbed whilst
alone and calling. I also noted in the Alice that two birds would often fly
together towards their roost sites in the evening. I have also seen the
unusual sight of a juvenile bird out of the nest being fed by two Torresian
Crows whilst others of the same species were attacking it!
Rob Burgoyne
Message: 5
Date: Tue, 6 Dec 2011 15:44:26 +1100
From: "Stephen Ambrose" <>
To: "'Philip Veerman'" <>, "'Birding Aus'"
<>
Subject: What is the function of Channel-billed
Cuckoo's calling flights?
Message-ID: <>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
I think it is more likely to ensure "safety in numbers" especially while in
flight. A lone individual is more likely to be mobbed by a nest host species
(currawong or magpie) or preyed upon by a predator (large raptor) than one
that is part of a flock. An individual calling as it takes flight alerts
others to follow. Calling while in flight keeps individuals within a flock
close together, especially if they are flying at night.
Dr Stephen Ambrose
Ryde NSW
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