At Banyule Flats Reserve (Heidelberg, Vic) this morning, there was a big
flock of Little Corellas feeding on the mown grass round the oval -
meaning at least 200 birds. I did try to count them but many were out of
sight behind oval banks etc. Most were feeding. I was able to drive the
car pretty close to get photos.
One bird caught my eye by apparently turning a somersault and ending
up lying on its back. Another bird, presumably its mate, came up close
and bird A got right way up. Bird B nibbled at Bird A's breast - this
looked affectionate. They would feed for a little, then Bird B would
sneak up alongside or behind Bird A and bite at A's leg, sometimes
turning it over or onto its side. This happened repeatedly - frequently
ending up with both birds flapping while apparently on their heads in
the grass. It looked like wrestling, with the birds holding each others'
feet in their beaks.Bird A didn't seem to mind B's activities - made no
attempt to fly away. Their antics were really very funny, and I wish I
had remembered that my camera will in fact take a short movie (until
its battery dies). Still photos don't really convey the effect. My
impression was that this was definitely play. At one point B seemed to
try to mount A, but A side-stepped with agility. This went on for
several minutes, but unfortunately a dog put the whole flock to noisy
flight and they settled on power lines and nearby trees. And once on
the power-line, I strongly suspect that Bird B was the one showing off
by alternately hanging upside-down by one foot, and then hanging by its
beak alone. None of the other Corellas in sight was indulging in these
antics; they stuck to feeding.
I shall put up a few of the photos on the Birdline Photo Gallery in
the next few days.
Another bird, apparently solo, found a discarded small empty plastic
bottle of a coffee drink, and spent a lot of time trying to chew it,
often from the neck, and otherwise playing football with it. I think
this was play too, though not social.
Anthea Fleming
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