Many years ago, my
grandparents, who lived at Upwey, would occasionally put out
strips of liver for the kookaburras. I remember being told
(must have been about 1950) that sometimes they would cough
up less desirable stuff they had eaten to enjoy the liver. I
now believe this was regurgitation of undigested remains,
kookaburras being one species that does this routinely.
Sometimes a bird will need to regurgitate obstructive
remains to take in more food. My best example of this is a
Dusky Woodswallow on a powerline, clutching a European Wasp
in one foot while it ejected a large pellet of insect
remains. (Photo from last June, Canberra)
This brings us of course
to the Pied Currawong, the regurgitative habits of which
have been discussed on more than one chatline. Messy,
crumbly pellets can create a problem at backyard watering
sites that the bird visits, presumably to drink, such as
dogs’ water bowls, bird baths and ornamental water features.
Australia’s champion regurgitator I would say (passerine
division). Indeed it might be a contender for the world
title, although I believe the American Robin has a similar
reputation.
There is a photo. I
might just be able to fit it in under the limit if I reduce
the woodswallow one. GD
