This morning I walked past a tree on a little centre strip in suburbia and saw 3 black birds that I am fairly sure were Koels. In the same tree was a male figbird calling out and no sign of a nest ( not that birds of this size could fit in a figbird nest). They were very still and one was hunched up and gave a small call which sounded very much like the koel voice. I only have a bad image from my mobile phone but I was wondering if they were koel why would they all be in the same tree like that? Surely they wouldn't have all 3 fledged from a figbird nest?
I have other shots but they are not much better I'm afraid.
cheers
Birdie
Hmm I have never seen a gathering of Koels like that - and the parent only lays one egg in a host nest (and the chick then forces the other eggs and hatchlings out of the nest).
Ok Holly, IU thought it was strange. But they weren't drongos and not crows/ravens, and were all solid black large birds. Do you have any suggestions?
I'm completely puzzled
Cheers
Birdie
Sunshine Coast Queensland
Today i walked in the same place but an hour later and I indentified 2 koels ,one by call and sighting, and the other by call alone (it was the "wurrow wurrow" call.)and this was within 100-150m of where I saw the 3 black birds in the tree yesterday. I have heard Koels call in the area a few times over the last year. I did take a picture (again with a phone) of the one I saw but he flew up high to a TV aerial and is just a blimp in the picture.
Do they hang out in groups like that?
Cheers
Birdie
Sunshine Coast Queensland
Hi Birdie
Several years back (I think summer 05/06)we would get up to 5 pairs of Koels playing chasie around the trees in our garden,late in the afternoon or early evening, I would then find the Males roosting together low down in a large White Cedar at the bottom of the garden. This went on for a week or so. I have not seen it since!!?
Ed Townsville NQ
Hi ED
Thanks for that. I have walked past several times since then and heard the koels call this morning there but no sighting
Cheers
Birdie
Sunshine Coast Queensland
Saw a male Koel close up about 30m from this tree today, it called out otherwise i would have missed it. Got really close but no camera. Then I heard another Koel call to it while I was looking at it. They are obviously still in the area, and this is about 500m from where the juv Koels are every day.
I guess they must be due to go north soon?
Cheers
BIrdie
Sunshine Coast Queensland
I believe (and happy to be corrected) that after adult female Koels lay eggs in the hosts' nests, they leave the area and return at a later time with the males to coax the juveniles to join them for the journey back north. That is quite possibly the reason why you have such a large gathering in a small area. Also their calls are more like the "Wooroo wooroo wooroo" kind of call instead of the typical whistle that they keep you awake at night with early and during spring.
Yup, that is the call they are all doing at the moment. I have heard that about them as well and also about the channel bills. The young that I have seen don't look ready to fly anywhere far though, so maybe they mature quickly from here on.
Cheers
Birdie
Sunshine Coast Queensland