Black Kites

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Woko
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Black Kites

Black Kites became abundant at my place during a mouse plague about 15 years ago. After the mouse plague most of the Black Kites moved on but a small party hung on about 4 km away. Occasionally we were visited by one or two.

For the last few months Black Kites have been appearing with increasing regularity. Today a pair appeared as I was out & about poking around. They came quite close, circling above & nearby for several minutes before drifting off & then reappearing.

I have begun to wonder if they might be attracted by whatever is making these burrows & tracks/galleries which, I've been told, are probably Australian Bush Rats.

Devster
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When I went out to the Lockyer Valley last weekend, we spotted a Kettle of about 200 Black Kites slowly making their way skyward.

It was a marvelous site to behold. Then on another section there were about the same number again, resting in a tree. There was an odd Whistling Kite amongst them as well as a Brown & Black Falcon.

What do you suspect is making those tunnels WOKO, Bandicoots?

Woko
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Hi Devster. Sadly, I don't have enough knowledge to have any suspicions. At least, not about what's making the holes & tunnels.

A while ago I contacted Chris Daniels, professor of natural things at University of SA, & he wasn't sure what caused them. Nor was a colleague of his.

More recently, a man from the Murray Darling Natural Resources agency told me that they were probably made by Bush Rats. A few weeks ago I caught a glimspe from afar of a very dark, rat-like creature making its way among a group of holes so maybe the MDNR man was on to something.

I've researched Bush Rats but nowhere can I find any photos of their holes, burrows, galleries or tunnels.

If they are Bush Rats then they obviously feel welcome here as there are plenty of signs of their presence. There are lots of Guilford Grass & I notice that near the holes there are husks from Guilford Grass bulbs (which Galahs & Little Corellas also feast on).

Bush Rats are mainly nocturnal animals, I understand, so it's perhaps surprising I haven't heard the calls of a Southern Boobook or Barn Owls for quite some time.

If there are any Bush Rat or other experts on this forum I'd be grateful if they could throw some light on the origin of the holes.

Incidentally, I've noticed that there is a Brown Goshawk about again, perhaps attracted by the occasional sleepless Bush Rat or whatever.

Owl of Kedumba
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Tunnels, runways and burrows can be used by several species. A picture of any scats and feeding signs (eg seeds) you find with a scale and even habitat shots would be most useful. A camera trap would come in handy too! 

My intial impression is the tunnels/runways/burrows are quite likely to be Bush Rat (or some other rodent) and the seeds at the entrance hole sound good for this. The diggings I'm not as confident about. A population of Southern Brown Bandicoots does exist in the Mt Loft Ranges which would be nice, but they dig conical holes when looking for insects (I believe they're shallower than the Long-nosed Bandicoots I'm familiar with). Those diggings don't look conical to me. And I don't think they normally dig deep runways and rarely dig burrows. 

Woko
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Owl, I'd like to think there are Southern Brown Bandicoots around but I doubt they've been seen in my area for many moons. The distribution map I have shows that the south eastern slopes of the Mt Lofty Ranges where I live are about the limit of where I could expcet to see them.

When this Antarctic vortex clears & the wind is in the right direction I'll put on my beanie & get outside & take a few photos of the holes' habitat. Generally, they're in both thickly & thinly wooded areas as well as open pasture grassland. I don't see the holes on my neighbour's property where cattle graze.

Owl of Kedumba
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Woko
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I think you're right, Owl. There would be few private landholdings with sufficient thick cover & other suitable habitat to enable Southern Brown Bandicoots to survive.

Woko
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Owl, here's a shot of the sort of habitat most of the holes are in. It's near the bottom of a creek line where the soil is deeper than further up the valley slopes where the soil is mostly skeletal with lots of rock outcrops. There are also holes in a grassy, less wooded area where the soil is relatively deep.

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