Birds of a feather

[drron]

The butcher birds are certainly very comfortable around humans. When we first arrived on the coast the pied butcher birds would come and sit on my shoulder usually. After a while I decided to feed them. After about 20 years one became very comfortable with me. Anytime I was in the garden he would come and sit in the nearest tree and started talking to me. He was an incredible mimic. He could do an excellent kookaburra laugh.
I worked out that he was the alpha male of the flock when he brought them all to entertain me They would sit in the frangipani in 3 rows and go through their calls but in rounds. Simply beautiful.
It all ended a few years ago when he came and sat in the frangipani. Every time he heard a call or a bird flew over he ducked his head and was obviously afraid. I thought he was under threat from a younger male.
2 weeks later I found him dead under the frangipani. I feel that he deliberately came there to die. So he is now buried under that tree.

The pied butcher birds then disappeared. About a year later the grey backed butcher birds arrived. One followed me around for 2 weeks before the flock all came around. They are smaller than the pied butcher birds but are known for their aggressive nature and it’s believed that they are why the name butcher bird was given to them. I certainly watched one slice up a myna.

Now I hear the calls of both species. I thought they must have been getting on well together until I saw one of the grey backs doing the pied butcher bird’s calls.
This week I have been feeding them again.

 

[drron]

And her are the butcher birds feeding. Only took a day before a routine was established. The first day it was only dad. He was probably the largest of 3 youngsters from 3 years go. He would always get a piece of meat then fly up and sit on the back of the chair beside me. This fellow does the same thing except it is my walker beside me.


An interloper arrived.


Dad sent it packing with a few low flights above it' head.
The next day and the rest of last week it was the family of 3. First mum.A bit smaller than the male.


She feeds the youngster but as soon as she goes junior comes down and hoovers itup. He really doesn't need feeding. He is a bit wary of me.




Dad let's him continue

 

[Groundfeeder]

A long term friend who brings his family for High Tea. Haven't seen him for months but he turned up yesterday on a cool afternoon and got chased away for his troubles by Barry.

 

[Major]

Returning from a recent road trip we pulled into a rest area for lunch and a small flock of Apostlebirds arrived to eat breadcrumbs at our feet.

 

[SYD]

Returning from a recent road trip we pulled into a rest area for lunch and a small flock of Apostlebirds arrived to eat breadcrumbs at our feet.

View attachment 519932View attachment 519933

So where exactly was that?

 

[Major]

So where exactly was that?

Just South of Childers QLD

 

[Groundfeeder]

Why is it when you upgrade the dining facilities at the buffet there's always one who selects the most uncomfortable seat?

 

[Groundfeeder]

The rains have stopped!!

 

[drron]

We are seeing a lot more species around our place than usual. There are some returning such as the osprey and terns but rarer species for us such as the black coughatoo and galahs.

 

[leadman]

As I get older, I've been mixing birding with business trips. My latest efforts from a packed travel schedule.

 

[leadman]

 

[Cossie]

A couple of Peacocks at Pialigo, near Canberra Airport.

 

[love_the_life]

A couple of Peacocks at Pialigo, near Canberra Airport.

View attachment 530506View attachment 530507View attachment 530508

I wonder if they are the Narrabundah ones who have gone exploring - there are quite a few living there (all with names).

 

[Cossie]

I wonder if they are the Narrabundah ones who have gone exploring - there are quite a few living there (all with names).

Quite possibly, it's where she gets her hair cut. Apparently a few chicks were lost recently, probably foxes.

 

[leadman]

Wild peacocks last week in southern Sri Lanka. A big birding day, 107 species

 

[leadman]

Those who are interested, the birds I posted are;

1. Crimson Sunbird - Singapore Oct 26
2. Oriental Pied-Hornbill - Singapore Oct 26
3. Changeable Hawk-eagle - Sri Lanka Oct 26
4. Shikra - India Nov 26
5. Painted Stork - Sri Lanka Oct 26
6. White-breasted Kingfisher - Thailand Oct 26
7. Brown-headed Barbet - Sri Lanka Oct 26
8. Juvenile Changeable Hawk-eagle - Sri Lanka Nov 26

 

[Cossie]

So, we have a Noisy Mynah nest just outside living room. It has 4 or 5 eggs. I was tempted to dispose of it, but they are native, if had been an Indian Mynah, I don't think it would have been as lucky.
Last photo is of it flying off after dive bombing me.

Leave or remove?

 

[JessicaTam]

So, we have a Noisy Mynah nest just outside living room. It has 4 or 5 eggs. I was tempted to dispose of it, but they are native, if had been an Indian Mynah, I don't think it would have been as lucky.
Last photo is of it flying off after dive bombing me.

Leave or remove?View attachment 530933View attachment 530934View attachment 530935

View attachment 530936

I vote leave. As you say they are native - even though they are encroaching more and more into the 'burbs.

 

[drron]

I don’t like the noisy mynahs. They chase the birds I like away. Over the years we have lost families of flycatchers and honeyeaters who used to nest here. They try it with our butcher birds. Didn’t worry the pied butcher birds who would sometimes eat a noisy mynah. However they have chased our greybacks from our house and they now nest on the other side of the canal but still come back to eat each afternoon.
The mynahs then started attacking them as they were eating. That was going too far so I started waving my walking stick at them. Then one day one literally flew into my walking stick and got a good thump in the head. Now if they come I just bring my walking stick out and they all fly off.