The other day as I was sweeping outside, I saw a red wattlebird in the Silky Oak tree, and as usual it was squawking and cokking and being very noisy. The saw a black currawong come and stand beside the red wattlebird and give it something, with which the wattlebird flew off to another tree a few hundred yards away in the next yard. The way the currawong handed over this thing was like really reverential. It took me few minutes to realise what it was that the currawong had given the wattlebird. It was a Mulberry!!! It actually gave away its food to the wattlebird. Astounding. I have a Mulberry tree acros my yard, and it immediately flew back to the Mulberry tree probably to get another mulberry for the wattlebird. But I didn't see if the wattlebird came back as I had other work to do. Has anybody else ever seen anything like this.
Are you sure it was this way around?
Currawongs are generally not know to feed other species, as you report.
Most unusual.
Denis Wilson
www.peonyden.blogspot.com
I'm wondering if it was indeed a wattle bird, not an early hatch of an immature cuckoo that the currawong had raised? Just a thought.
See Yez
Trev
Good thinking, Bushanwater.
.
Probably a juvenile koel, raised by the Currawong.
rggowing, check this link,
http://www.birdsinbackyards.net/bird/54
.
Currawong is outside the normal size range of brood hosts used by Koels, but it is possible.
At least, Bushie's suggestion makes sense to me.
.
After all, the bird you saw was making squarking noises, as a juvenile Koel does - all the time.
.
Cheers
Denis
Denis Wilson
www.peonyden.blogspot.com
Where do you live rggowing?
My mulberry tree hasn't got leaves yet, let alone berries :)
Cheers,
al
Central Victoria
https://sites.google.com/site/blackhillreservekyneton/home
I live in Lake MACQUARIE and it has been really hot down here and everything is coming out in flower. And I don't think that it was a juvenile cuckoo bird. It hangs around my backyard which is full of Grevilleas and Banksia Trees, and quite frankly I have a lot of red wattlebirds. Some of the black ones I think are crows, I also have piebald currawongs, and heaps of Native Mynas also Indian Mynah birds. I have set traps for the Indians but they are so clever I haven't caught one yet. Anyway thanks for the reply talk to u later.
Regards
Roz
Hi Roz,
Regardless of what the bird was (cuckoo or wattlebird) it still must have been an interesting sight. Perhaps you could give us an update if you see it happening again, or if you notice something that will help you confirm the species.
The mulberry tree here in Brisbane is full of berries (so, too, is the footpath beneath it!).
Andy.
Hi Roz,
I would be interested in your method of trapping
Common Mynah birds, as a few have arrived on my farm
recently which I would like to get rid of.
Andy, I live in central Vic & my mulberries are ripe
in early February.
Still having frosts at the moment.
Cheers,
Al
Cheers,
al
Central Victoria
https://sites.google.com/site/blackhillreservekyneton/home
I am new to this so I have sent a few emails that didn't go thruPls don't think that I am ignoring yr answers. I am a member of Central coast indian myna action group. Membership only costs $11 p/yr and is a not for profit org and members contibute their services freely and do a wonderful job. Membership entitles one to buy a cage and try to catch some of these monsters. The mynas are a very clever species and aren't easy to catch. log on to www.ccimag.org.au to c the work that they are doing. It's a brilliant gorup and only recetly got government funding after a huge process of submitting proposals and going thru the channels to make sure that this is a humane group. The cage costs $40 and one has to be a member to get the cage. I cannot participate in meetings as they are based on the Central Coast (Gosford) and it is too far for me to go to meetings. But they have a newsletter and I keep in touch that way.
Pls keep in touch and thanks for talking to me
Ciao for now
Roz
Hi Roz,
thank you very much for the information about the indian mynah birds.
In the past I have caught several birds using a bownet or a feral cat trap but I will buy one of those special mynah traps.
Cheers,
al
Cheers,
al
Central Victoria
https://sites.google.com/site/blackhillreservekyneton/home
Hi Al
If u need any more info on the myna birds pls feel free to ring me on 02 4950 8178. If I am not home u can leave a message on my answering machine. Have to run as I have heaps of emails to go thru
Ciao for now
Roz
I think I was mistaken I don't think it was a currawong I think it was a Crow. There are three of them Mother and two young ones, who have made my backyard theirs. Anyway can someone tell me why Crows are PROTECTED???? for goodness sake they are a menace and I saw on a Current Affair theother night that people are moving because of them.