Hi, I live in Bairnsdale, Victoria (East Gippsland) and have lived at the same address for 20 years. In the last 2 weeks we have heard a new bird. It sounds like the first part of a wolf whistle. It is very very loud. It just does one loud whistle then a few seconds later another and so on, then stops for a bit and then starts up again. The tone never changes and always just one loud whistle. It starts at about 5.30am will go most of the morning then stop for a few hours and then starts up again early evening (sometimes) At first we thought it was a drunk person walking home from an all nighter but alas it has not stopped. I have not seen the bird at all and it changes location about 3 or 4 times each day. We only hear the one bird we never hear one calling back. I hope someone can help. Its driving me crazy but if i knew what sort of bird it was at least id know what im yelling Shut-up too at 5.30 tomorrow....LOL
Hi Aussiemummy, not really sure what bird is doing the whistle for you but you gave me a good laugh.Love your part of Victoria. Maybe a pied currawong or maybe some form of sandpiper but not really sure just a stab in the dark and im sure someone will correct me.How funny it would be to hear you screaming at it in the morning shutup whatever you are.Hope someone can help you soon.
Hi there... that sounds suspiciously like the Eastern Common Koel to me. You would be at the outer edges of where it is normally found judging by my field guide, but it ticks all the boxes from your description. They start up at dawn and sometimes call in the night too at this time of year (breeding season). it sounds like a hoarse Coo-eee kind of sound mostly. Listen out and see if you hear the wurrow wurrow call at all, I think that indicates a response from an opposite sex bird but not sure about that. The male is big and black lind of like a raven but with a red eye. Check out the pics and sounds on this site and see how they compare.
Took me a long time to actually see one after hearing them for months.
Sunshine Coast Queensland
If you do hear it and decided that it is indeed the same bird, could you fill out a survey form on the BIBY website and state your location etc. it would be very helpful for Holly and the rest of the team as it is not common down your way.
Sunshine Coast Queensland
Thanks so much for your replies. I just did a google of the Eastern Common Koel and i think indeed that is the bird i am yelling at. It is the male bird. I have never heard this bird here before. The whistle is so loud and it just seems to echo. Well at least i now know what to look for. They almost look like a crow. I know why its eyes are red because the rotton thing is awake before dawn, it needs more sleep....LOL thanks so much for helping me.....
Hi can you give me a link to the survey? Im not sure where it is.....Tracey
http://birdsinbackyards.net/surveys/koel.cfm
No worries Tracey................ by the way I can recommend some good eyedrops and maybe a range of earplugs as I can tell you that yelling at it will not stop natures urge.... he is a male after all!!!! They are a parasitic nester and up here they tend to go after fig bird nests , but I think they may also try wattlebirds, if you have any handy.
I wake to them and the rest of the tribe at 4.30 every morning currently so I know how it feels :')
Cheers
Birdie
Sunshine Coast Queensland
Thanks again for your help. I have completed the survey so i hope it helps. As i said i have never heard that bird here before.....
I would also suggest trying http://www.eremaea.com/
They need some more contributors.
You will have difficulty seeing any Koel as they really like thick bushy locations. Wattlerbirds and similar sized ones are common hosts. In fact, I heard a strange call in my frontyard (Penrith, NSW) yesterday morning and it was an immature (fledged) Eastern Koel. So my resident pair of Red Wattlebirds had no young this spring. :(
Today was the first day i did not hear this bird. Yesterday when all was quiet (5.30am) i actually heard the female just as loud but much more pleasing to the ear (not so Monotonous)
Well i assume they now must be going at it like rabbits as it is all quiet today...LOL
G'day All, is the attached photo's a Eastern Common Koel ?
Hi David, yes that is a male Koel.
LM
David appears to have posted in 2012.
Yeah, what's going on with the thread revival! LOL
soakes
Olinda, Victoria, Australia
hmmm yes it does. 3 years later David has an answer to his question! Better late than never...
LM
Hi all, I can not believe it was so long ago that I first posted this thread. Just an update for you all. Every year since my first post this noisy little bugger has returned to the same tree to make more noisy little buggers. I say this with fondness as we have become accustomed to his arrival. We still only have the one that can be heard. He seems to have his own little territory that he flys around each morning. I sit on my back porch watching and listenening as he makes his morning rounds.
I must say I still get a little bit upset he is not on our timezone as 2:30 am is not the time to start calling for a Lady Friend. I did hear the female a few weeks back but my little bird friend is still calling....Gotta love nature
Anyway just wanted to let everyone know that the Eastern Koel I originally asked about is still visiting Bairnsdale, Victoria
Thanks for the update, Aussiemummy.
Koels seem to be increasing in Victoria.