I have noticed the CBC and the Koels have been very quiet lately and I am wondering if this is maybe because they have left early due to the extreme wet conditions? Maybe the wet out a "damper" on their extraordinary mating habits?? (pardon the pun :') ) However I did see a CBC fly over in front of my car up in Maleny (in the Blackall ranges)the other day. Would they be hanging around to take the young back with their migration?
Birdie, do you remember, when I said, that I wanted to find out wheather there was a connection between Locusts and Floods, and how I thought asking Aboriginal People would be good? But first I want to share what my wonderful grandmother told me a long time ago: everybody on this planet has a story, good or bad, all you have to do,is:ask,listen and learn! That's what I did yesterday at the Tennis. As I talk to people, I saw this aboriginal man, very dignified looking,with a long white beard.So I started a conversation.As often in life he had knowledge. Here is what he said, this might anwer some of our questions. He said: "the most importent animal in the cycle, is -the frog-, and if you upset the frog, everything will be out of balance! Then he said, after a long grought, the frogs stay underground, and don't eat the hoppers, you will get a plague, then you will get the rains, that increases the frogs, the the frogs will eat the locusts. He added, we better look after "the frogs,the most important animal" Now,over to you,what do you think?
M-L
Birdie, I found some spelling mistakes, sorry,to late now!!
M-L
Makes sense to me Araminta...... as does so much of their knowledge. they have been watching the cycles for a whole lot longer than we have and just because it doesn't get written in a book doesn't mean that the knowledge hasn't been passed down. I too have been told by many an old farmer that the frogs are like the thermometer of our eco systems. No tadpoles means..... bad farming practises and so on.
Sunshine Coast Queensland
We have done our ever so small bit, to increase the frog population, we have fenced off a small waterhole for the birds and the frogs.You should hear them at night! (there are no chemicals on our property!) Birdie, I love you new(?) Avatar !
M-L
This is not my best day in regards to spelling! Did you notice the "freudian slip"? Ment to say: I love YOUR new Avatar!! But then again, I also- love you - LOL
M-L
Thats a coincidenece, my second favourite kind of animal (after birds obviously) is the frog! We have one in our garden thats called a "ornate burrowing frog". It comes there because our neighbours have a pool and the water as created a mini bog on our side of the fence. It sounds like a axe hitting wood rather than a crooking noise.
Anyways, the other day I heard a koel and today I saw a CBC which was still quite young.
Thanks cooee,I had to investigate what your frog looks like. You just opened up a new world for me, I will take an interest in frogs. I have that many, I can't tell how many different calls there are around my water hole? Will try to find out more about them!
M-L
A good website to go to is "Frogs Australia Network". I would attach a link but I'm not a certain how to.
Thanks James!
M-L
James, have you had a look under "Best Photos", Kingfisher....Photos taken by Wanda. A bit further down you will find more people who are interested in frogs!!
M-L
thank you
I just saw a lucky siting in my garden! CBC getting feed by currawong! Whish I had a video cam!
That is lucky Cooee. I heard a Koel calling this evening about 5.30 too, so I guess they are still around.
Sunshine Coast Queensland
I wouldn't be surprised if the Koels and Channel Bills leave about six week early this time, most of the chicks were fledged before Christmas. Could also be an early , cold winter.
I have noticed they are calling differently also, maybe they are afraid of calling more rain that we already have, feel a bit sorry for them, their winter quarters poured rain, now their summer quarters have done the same. The Hunter has not yet been flooded, it usually does the year following Queensland though this La Nina has been similar in severity to the one following the 1797 to 1805 El Nino, the hunter flooded severely on 6 November 1805, the arrival of La Nina, when the Hunter rose 82 feet above the river bed.
Birdsong, I have noticed the same down here in Victoria.Many birds that last year would have bred more times, have finished breeding.(Not the wrens, I have never seen that many) I have seen some in larger flocks, to high in the trees to identify.I think you might be right,summer could be short this year.
M-L
There haven't been any CBC calls for a while, but I heard a koel this week.
The frog site is http://frogs.org.au/frogs/state/New_South_Wales/
It's very useful because it includes frog calls with the individual photos.
The currawongs are still feeding juveniles - would this be a second brood? How many clutches do they lay in a season?
They say that they may lay up to five but where we are I only see one young one. Another thing, whats with that call at the end of the loud squawk. I will be honest with you, I have never heard it but my dad says that it sounds like a steam engine and they do not always make it. I wonder if thats some kind of mating call and they have stoped breading?
Cooee they have certainly stopped up here although they may still be around in some areas. The end part of the call was in full swing when they first arrived so I guess it is part of their finding a mate call! It is a rather jurassic era kind of noise that is for sure.
Sunshine Coast Queensland
Just heard another Koel this morning so they are still in the Mountains.
Saw a channel billed mother the other day go to her baby and gave a short "AWWK". After that I saw them fly of north. I can't wait to have them back next summer. Its the first time its come down here and I am really hoping they will come back. Also thought I saw a koel take off, not certain.
That is pretty cool to see that Cooee, amazing isn't it? I wonder what the mother does for the rest of the summer while she is down here with someone else raising her chick????
Sunshine Coast Queensland
I have a young Koel here, as well, it's been around all day. The adults seem to keep track of the young, I have read that they even feed them when necessary. The parents seem to do the rounds of their territory each morning and gather any young birds as they go. I have noticed they will leave a young bird to its own devices if it refuses to go, it's usually ready to join them after twenty-four hours.
I have noticed the female young look sleek and males look scruffy and untidy, also noticed they have a different baby call according to the species of the foster parents.
This link shows photos of young Koels and foster parents, also their father bird. This group were very friendly.
I can't see your link Birdsong but I would love to see the photo so try again ???? please :)
Sunshine Coast Queensland
This should work:
Father Bird
Father Bird
Father Bird in evening sunlight
Father Bird
Juvenile Female
Juvenile Female a few days later
Butcherbird host parent of above female
Juvenile Male
[img] http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3532/3988170341_69015e8326_s.jpg[/img]
Red Wattlebird host parent of above
Blackfaced Cuckoo-shrike hos parents of another female, this one was a very shy bird, not communicative as the others were.
Looks like you only managed to post the thumbnails, but I was able to see the original images from going directly from the email links. What wonderful captured of the male bird there! Beautiful work... and to show the host birds too is really interesting.
You should post them in the Photos section as a lot of people don't look further than that and I think they would be interested Birdsong. do you know how to post the larger image?
Sunshine Coast Queensland
Thinking on it - have I gone to the thumbnail instead of the full sized photo on flickr?
Yes I think so. Hey by the way, after thinking they are all gone, I heard a Koel doing the Wurra wurra type call this morning so there must be some stragglers still here.
Sunshine Coast Queensland
The "wurra wurra" sound usually means bad weather coming, the more insistent, the worse the weather. If you listen carefully during spring storm season, you can tell what type of storm and how bad it will be. I have found them to be quite accurate.
This year they have been quite subdued. I wonder whether it reflects the weather they have endured for the last twelve months?
I tried to upload the Koel photos full size, no success so far, I am copying the link and enclosing it with the correct bracket formula, try to upload and get an error message.
Whereabouts are you again Birdsong.. I know you have probably told me but I have a dreadful memory for such details :)
I'll have a go at reposting for you if you like and see if you are doing something wrong.
Sunshine Coast Queensland
See how this works
Sunshine Coast Queensland
If you are going directly from your flickr account you need take it from the size 500. that means you need to click on the image until it gives you the option of choosing sizes. Or just right click it then go to the 500 size. All I did here was copy the image location and take off the _s before the jpg. That is the indicator to it as to which size to post.
Good luck. If you are having trouble and want to repost to the best shot thread, I am happy to do it for you.
Sunshine Coast Queensland
Great capture of the male mid-call Birdsong!
I am still hearing and seeing Koels around my place south of Sydney. I heard the distinctive ascending call yesterday and there is a young bird being fed by Little Wattlebirds still hanging around.
Birdie, I am still having trouble uploading, I would be grateful if you would upload the photos for me. When uploaded I can send information regarding each one. Thank you. Is there a better way of uploading than from directly from the Flickr account?
I am in the Maitland area of the Hunter Valley.
Hi Birdsong
Have had a look at your flickr account. You need to click on each photo in you album so you get a big version of it, then go to 'share this' on the top right and select 'grab the link'. Then you copy the address it gives you.
In here you then type [ img ] paste address [ / img ] but remove all the spaces.
Father Bird
http://www.flickr.com/photos/43380676@N08/3988168361/
Almost Birdsong - thats the link to the photo, not the photo itself. I have changed it from an image to a link for you
Go to 'share this' and copy the link that is in the 'grab the link' section.
Father Bird
I'm having lots of luck, all of it bad at the moment re uploading photos, have followed advice given, not much luck. As a last resort will copy link I kept for thumbnail version, remove s_ and see what happens. Not sure what is happening, I am getting a different url today that previously. Thanks for your patience.
Father Bird settling in
This is the link you need Birdsong: http://www.flickr.com/photos/43380676@N08/3988168361/in/photostream/
Well the one above worked great!
Father Bird Arriving
Father Bird in evening sunlight
Father Bird staking claim to the weeping mulberry - ready food and excellent sundeck
Female Juvenile
Female Juvenile a few days later
Grey Butcherbird foster parent, was observed feeding above female a cicada
Juvenile Male - notice they are not as sleek looking as the female at this stage
Red Wattlebird foster parent of above male juvenile, it is actually foraging for food it's food
Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike foster parent, their juvenile was quite shy
On the far north coast of NSW we always called them Stormbirds. Interestingly, they arrive up there the same day as they do down here in the Maitland area (Hunter Valley. In this garden the eat everything from mulberries to strawberries. There is plenty of cover and our neighbour has an enormous Canadian walnut tree from which to survey the district. Stormbird loves it. In fact all birds love it, no matter what the season. This year, the male and female spent their rest period for a few days in the weeping mulberry.
Father Bird arriving
Father Bird arriving
Holly, the /in/photostream/ is not showing up for me. I have added it to this photo,if this doesn't work I won't inflict any more on everyone.
Father Bird arriving
Hmmm - flickr is being horrid! I personally use photobucket.
I am happy to post the photos for you if you like? You can email me
Holly
IMG_0782bb Common Koel by Songbird 09, on Flickr
Bryan
Under "Share this".
Select "Grab the HTML/BBCode"
Click on "BBCode"
Select size "Medium 500"
Copy and paste the codes in the box.
That should work.
Good luck!
Bryan
Bryan
Thank you Bryan, I'm trying it your way, thank you. Try one at first
Father Bird arriving
IMG_0774bb by Songbird 09, on Flickr
Father Bird testing the accoustics
IMG_0770bb by Songbird 09, on Flickr
Father Bird in evening sunlight
IMG_0782bb Common Koel by Songbird 09, on Flickr
Father Bird staking claim to the weeping mulberry - ready food and excellent sun deck
IMG_0785bb Common Koel by Songbird 09, on Flickr
Female Juvenile
IMG_2454bb Common Koel by Songbird 09, on Flickr
Female Juvenile a few days later
IMG_2601bb Common Koel by Songbird 09, on Flickr
Grey Butcherbird foster parent, was observed feeding above female a cicada
IMG_3468c Grey Butcherbird by Songbird 09, on Flickr
Juvenile Male - notice they are not as sleek looking as the female at this stage
IMG_2612L1b Juvenile Common Koel by Songbird 09, on Flickr
Red Wattlebird foster parent of above male juvenile, it is actually foraging for food for it
IMG_2628L1bb Red Wattlebird by Songbird 09, on Flickr
Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike foster parent, their juvenile was quite shy
IMG_4453cbb Black-faced Cukoo-shrike by Songbird 09, on Flickr
I'll add this again:
On the far north coast of NSW we always called them Stormbirds. Interestingly, they arrive up there the same day as they do down here in the Maitland area (Hunter Valley. In this garden the eat everything from mulberries to strawberries. There is plenty of cover and our neighbour has an enormous Canadian walnut tree from which to survey the district. Stormbird loves it. In fact all birds love it, no matter what the season. This year, the male and female spent their rest period for a few days in the weeping mulberry.
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