Chilly relations between Brush Turkey and Raven

Chilly relations between Brush Turkey and Australian Raven witnessed in Townsville's Cape Pallarenda Conservation Park today (15/01/25) quickly sourced to discarded tub of . . . 😂 sweet chilli sauce.

Turkey first to the tub. Raven barged in. Turkey pushed back. Raven took to grabbing Turkey leg from behind. Turkey turned to jab at Raven's head. Raven grabbed Turkey's tail. Between times the birds slurped up much of the sauce.

Overall, a fair draw and the birds went off to look for less fiery fare. (Yes, I know, they probably felt nothing hot, lacking our sensitive taste buds.)

Raven leads best of wetland morning

Three birds, three very different stories from Rowes Bay Sustainability Wetlands in Townsville this morning.

First up, Australian Raven, one of two challenging the presence of recently arrived Channel-billed Cuckoos from across Torres Strait (along with Koels and Torresian Imperial-Pigeons).

Second, female Black-necked Stork, making imposing statement atop vines decorating dead acacia.

Third, Forest Kingfisher, the only one of the five seen through the morning posing near perfectly.

Bonus: an even better look at Forest Kingfisher, on nearby branch last week.   

Grabbing, tearing, probing - unmoving

Three ways of catching some protein and wee portions of other nutrients, seen in the Townsville Town Common lately. Nankeen Kestrel flew from low perch, grabbed grasshopper or locust on the ground and carried it into the sky to feed on the wing (on not off, because insect wings are often discarded).

Australian Raven has torn spider nest from Corymbia tessellaris and followed or carried it down to roadside. The birds use road because spiders inside are easier to find on or hiding under road metal. I believe Torresian Crows, supplanted by the ravens in recent years, don't share the passion for such fare.

Spangled Drongo tears into gumtree bark that has split apart after last year's hot fires through the park. Lost track as it flew off but probably a caterpillar went with it and would not have lasted long.

Meantime Brahminy Kite disdained any such grabbing, tearing and probing, unmoving above the Silver Gulls grabbing slivers of discarded bait as beach fisher at Pallarenda refreshed his hooks. Though the kite is much more a scavanger than, say, the Osprey.

Ravens show gulls mouthful and get earful

Two immature Australian Ravens fossicking prey from under sand and within seaweed at Cape Pallarenda, Townsville, this morning drew persistent begging from young Silver Gull discontented with lack of service from parents. 

One of parents responded by giving junior and ravens an earful. Ravens responded by giving junior no heed. 

Magpie footedness progress report: Right 1  Left 1 

 

Why didn't the toad cross the road?

                           Why didn't the toad cross the road?  Got tired, tyred, flat out retired.

                           What bits was raven cravin'? Flew off to eat rear-squished red meat.

Aarghly gargly, Hawing cawing, Glaring staring

Morning merry  chirpy cheery       Forest haven  Strayan Raven

Raucous caucus  con brio trio       Aarghly gargly  Gatling rattling

Hawing cawing  glaring staring      Woe-some  Poe-some

Ever more-so      Never more-so

Bee-eater takes flight but others show no fright

Rainbow Bee-eater took flight this morning in the Townsville Town Common but a few other birds have been more camera friendly lately.

None more so than immature White-eared Monarch. Almost perched on lens today. Too close to focus. Naturally, whizzed away far beyond reach when it did decide to go. So, picture from earlier in week.

Yesterday, male Leaden Flycatcher had plenty to say along fire break between road and golf course. If the bill was turned a little more the bird might present as one of those bird or rabbit illusions.

Bit of a puzzle with juvenile Black-necked Storks this week. Three youngsters became four  yesterday. Seems a loner turned up and more or less joined the regular trio. Today, loner alone. No sign of juniors. Above, female parent yesterday.

Much smaller and harder to gain focus on, Fairy Gerygone two days ago stayed still long enough for an almost sharp shot.

And here's a reminder of the golden rule: don't be lured to eating fruit and berries because the birds in the bush are gobbling them up. Here's an Australian Raven chomping into Black or Deadly Nightshade. Black is deadly and ripe Deadly is black. Stick to Blackberries and leave black berries well alone.

Last, reminders of Tyto Wetland days in Ingham with one of the Common's Crimson Finches. Not many to be seen for a few months but they're popping up here and there these days. Not always quite so prettily as this male.

Overturned turtle lucky turn for havering Raven

Too early for Xmas, but seems to be a tasty gift here for me. Take it slow, make sure it's not booby-trapped.

Nope, looks like that greedy White-bellied Sea-eagle finally left me some good bits.

And here's that bloody photographer thinks he can sneak up on me.

Fat chance. Australian Ravens smarter and faster than Kiwi gimps. See you later, mate.
(Town Common, today)

Chewing over corvid cleverness

Clever birds, corvids (crows and ravens). Toolmaking. Zip opening. Number counting. Canny Cane Toad chewing. Egg munching. Golf ball eating . . . Well, not so clever with the golf balls. And maybe some vaunted skills are more lab products than typical wild behaviour. Above, Australian Raven tearing at eye and shoulder, near poison gland, of toad - probably dead when found - today at Townsville Common Conservation Park. Terrible image, but taken from about 50 metres away.

Bird, without any sign of distaste then turned toad over and drove beak several times into underside trying to tear into flesh. Unfortunately it then flew off with toad so outcome unknown. But it seems clear raven never got the memo about avoiding toad toxins. And nor had its immature offspring, watching proceedings from beside parent. One case proves little, but I've argued previously that any sensible bird would seek to eat toads or frogs from the underside, because of the soft underbelly. No genius required.

Which brings us to golf balls. Stolen by hundreds every year from the 27 golf holes the Town Common almost encircles. Stolen and abandoned after failing to crack open like eggs. Year after year corvids steal hundreds of golf balls. Not an egg among them. How clever are they really? Better to be lucky than clever. Bumble along and stumble upon Bush Stone-curlew and eggs (above).

Curlew chases Australian Raven trio off. But they return. Two pick up eggs and fly off. What usually happens, I've since been told by witnesses to corvids raiding henhouses, birds fly off with egg, land, poke hole in top of egg, and eat contents without spilling a drop. I couldn't find any trace of eggshell along 40-metre flight path of adult raven carrying one of the curlew eggs. Bird (above) landed, egg was gone. Swallowed into thin air, or perhaps simply swallowed. Be a clever trick. But, then, they're clever birds. aren't they?

Getting up to scratch with Australian Raven

Getting up to scratch with interesting and little remarked feeding behaviour by Australian Raven picked up again lately with reappearance of shredded spider leaf nests on the Townsville Town Common Conservation Park road. Bird sat down yesterday for vigorous grooming after landing (below) on the road with small nest and fast finishing off the small inhabitants as they scurried in vain to hide under the road metal.

There may be seasonal elements to the spiders' breeding (beyond scope of this post) and the Australian Raven's liking for the prey, since remnant nests hadn't been seen on the road (where birds can see and run down or uncover fleeing spiders) for some months. Ravens began building or patching up nests about this time last year. As unlikely as it would seem, perhaps breeding and spider-hunting are related? Side note: quick scan of guides finds no mention of tufty crest showing on yesterday's bird.

Huntsman bagged, turtle jagged, mantids snagged, kite ragged, monitor flagged

Wasn't hunting the Huntsman when this Huntswoman turned up in carry bag discarded by the Ross River. She didn't need a bag because she supplies her own to carry her large family of tiny offspring about.

Though looking frighteningly big and speedy to some, Huntsmen merely tickle slightly crawling up an arm - mine. Can't report on the youngsters because all were quickly returned to the bush.

Wasn't after dead Turtles either. But came upon this one initially being ripped into by pair of White-bellied Sea-eagles (their favourite food, I think). My sudden appearance led to killers fleeing and secondary feeders, pair of Australian Ravens, dropping in.

They, in turn, were driven off by immature pair of sea-eagles, which, in their turn, gave way to this immature Wedge-tailed Eagle. The eagle tried to fly off with turtle, dropped it deep in paragrass, .and all ended up missing out. Chances are pigs or dogs sniffed it out later.

As with sea-eagles, Brown Falcon likes to sit and wait for prey (big insects, small reptiles preferred) to appear.

It didn't take kindly to Collared Sparrowhawk collar its crossbar. Odd row ensued. Falcon drove Sparrowhawk to tree. Irked, Sparrowhawk took on much bigger aggressor. But lost out after bit of to and fro in tree and above.

Another loser, today near Bald Rock in the Town Common, Brahminy Kite. Three kites about the place, but no match for 14 Australian Ravens.

In all, saw four ravens take mantids (probably Brown Praying Mantis) from melaleucas within 10 minutes, one doubly successfully with two in bill at same time. Showing off, that is!

Shoving off rather than showing off, Yellow-spotted Monitor close by today decided to swim for it on my approach. Didn't reckon on departing tide. Played dead. Allowed itself to be stroked, picked up and when released swam off sedately. Luckier than the turtle.

Black and white - and read and reread

Suffering from info overload? Just want things in black and white? Simple and easy, right? Well, yes and no. Recent portrait of Australian Raven comes full of subtle detail.

Nothing too subtle about early morning Spangled Drongo. Not much detail either. But while stark image is enough to identify Drongo beyond doubt, the Raven isn't so easy. Is the bill really bigger than a Torresian Crow's? Are those throat hackles longer? Can you see naked skin strip?

Much safe ground with Magpie Lark. Black face and throat identify bird as male (white face and throat for females). Easy to remember? Forget the difference for a few months and it's back to the reference books to make sure.

Is that barring on Varied Triller's breast? Yes, but it's too fine to be a female. Pity we can't see rufous underbelly. Black and white (and soft lilac-grey rump) don't tell enough of the story.

Add a touch more colour. Two Sulphur-crested Cockatoos fascinated yet again by old hollow hulk in the Town Common today. ID easy. But how to tell male from female? Catch birds and stare into their eyes. Their irises tell the story. Can't escape the need for more and more info, can we? 

Black beauty, black chin, black head, black beast

Sunny days, blue skies, black beauty, black chin, black head, black beast.

Red-tailed Black Cockatoos limn limb.

Black-chinned Honeyeater gobbles grub.

Australian Raven shackles hackles.

Feral boar commands Common today.                     (Other pix: various sites)