Roosting aggregation of Magpie larks

[David Clark <>]

I'm not sure that I could tell Alan but the two established pairs are involved and they would have to be 4-5 years old.

Common Mynahs have only appeared here recently and they don't seem to go near the Cypress trees.  Little Ravens, Red Wattlebirds, Black Kites and Brown Falcons regularly roost there.

Cheers

David

On Mon, Jul 12, 2021 at 9:52 PM Alan Gillanders <> wrote:

David,

Here in north Queensland young Magpie Larks form flocks at this time of year and are often joined by Common Mynahs. I wonder if you could check out if they are first year birds.

Regards,

Alan

Alan's Wildlife Tours
2 Mather Road
Yungaburra 4884

Phone 07 4095 3784
Mobile 0408 953 786
http://www.alanswildlifetours.com.au

On 12/07/2021 5:16 pm, David Clark wrote:

I'm looking out my study window at the gathering of Magpie Larks that occurs around this time every day on our property on the Bellarine Peninsula.

There are usually two pairs of Magpie Larks on our property and last summer one pair fledged three young so we could see up to five quite regularly.  A few months ago, I noticed quite a few more arriving an hour or so before dusk.  This was accompanied by lots of calling, group flights and the occasional scrap between individuals.

As I'm writing this, at least ten Magpie Larks have flown to the bare lower branches of our large Cypress trees and are perched there.  Later on they will move higher up among the foliage and will be joined by others until there are at least 30 Magpie Larks roosting there overnight.  They seem to disperse at first light and we're left with two pairs.

Some of the neighbouring farms had large Cypress trees but many have been removed over the last 12 months and there aren't many other large trees with extensive canopies.

I have seen aggregations of Magpie Larks, most notably at Kakadu where I counted 50 perched together in a huge gum during the day, but I was not aware that Magpie Larks roosted communally.

Have our Cypress trees become the dormitory for the neighbourhood's Magpie Larks?

Cheers

David

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