Ravens rip into red-meat repast

Australian Raven rips into dead rat on the mud beside fast-vanishing water at the Melaleuca lagoon viewing area in the Townsville Town Common Conservation Park yesterday (18/11/23). The relish for red meat repast contrasting with mostly disinterest in the scores of Barramundi that lately died gasping in the hot deoxygenated shallows. Eyes, yes. Otherwise, not interested. But of interest, two or three wild pig families foraging through the lagoon's bulrushes also turned their noses up at the fish, showing determined preference for rooting through the mud. And no Dingo tracks have been visible anywhere near dead fish.  

    

Some 'pals' from Pallarenda

Keep coming across one or two 'pals' at Pallarenda while checking on progress of breeding Tawny Frogmouths lately in the conservation park. First up, young Australian Raven, one of four immatures noising and nosing about the place today.

Immature Black-backed Magpie, one of three mostly sticking close to one or other of parents.

Alone, but happy to accept relatively close company of tailing photographers, Pacific Baza.

Not quite so confiding, Channel-billed Cuckoo making welcome descent tree tops and allowing briefest of clear views.

Not totally clear but impressive enough, Red-tailed Black Cockatoo landing on Casuarina near beach today.

Quieter today than full screechy overhead yesterday, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo.

Nothing to say from these two Tawny Frogmouths of course. Older image, taken before the two quit nest about 10 days ago to go walkabout in nest tree. Question is, why male back on nest in last three days. Could there be a new egg? Wait and see. 

Unsound crows found to wear ravens' gear

 
Those birders in the know
Who hear corvids and crow
Of ability to ID by call
Should take all due care
Or they may fail to hear
What's abundantly clear
Their unsound crows
Wear ravens' gear

Ravenous Raven catches House Gecko outdoors

Australian Raven catches up with Asian House Gecko in Townsville Common today. Bird began ripping at dead branch in tree near Payet Tower, followed fragments to ground and snatched gecko from the debris. Seconds later, gecko gone!

And just up the road Green Tree Frog's last croaks led to search through trees and find of Blue-winged Kookaburra with doomed prey.

Another recent catch in Common, Osprey carries Tilapia back to nest atop comms mast near Pellarenda.

Yesterday, Australian Raven rips at kill far too big for it to be at without the illicit help of night hunters, presumably with dogs and bayonet/s. Happy to see pig numbers cut, not so happy about illicit hunting.

Ravenous ravens hit road for alfresco antipesto

Australian Ravens love roadside picnics. They don't bother with baskets and blankets, preferring to drop the food down to the road and there dig into the alfresco antipesto. Ant nests are torn down and ripped apart.

But top of the wish list lately seems to be leaf spiders' nests, much harder to find being rarely more than three dangling leaves stuck together. Young spiders don't look very filling. And may make a run for it once the leaves are pulled apart. The ravens - all in final stages of nest prep - hunt for every last one.

And by the look of it in the Common this morning get grumpy when the food runs out.






 

You're telling birds to live in holes like this?

Think it's tough finding a home these days? Well picture a world where millions of prime sites are destroyed daily. So eight visiting Sulphur-crested Cockatoos get excited by burned-out trunk a self-respecting bird wouldn't have pooped in years ago.

Didn't take long for the raucous inspectors to recognise an unlivable hole and move on.

At almost same time five Red-tailed Black cockatoos show interest in Moreton Bay Ash just 40 metres away. A few tentative  nibbles at the bone-hard wood ends any hopes of enlarging holes. The five fly to top of another ash to crunch on nutritious nuts.

Close by, male Black-necked Stork, having found right site, makes way, sneakily, to northeast with another delivery of grass to line nest (usually wide platform).

Just up the road, Australian Raven selects somewhat scratchier lining for typical large messy bowl of twigs, near top of another big ash.

Making itself at home - but almost certainly not looking to nest - Northern Fantail goes quietly about its business.But not quietly enough. Gentle 'chuff chuff' gives it away. Not a common visitor to the Common, I'm told.

Getting on board without ducks

Great  times lately at Mungalla Station near Ingham trying for pictures of seldom seen ducks. Without success. But there are always compensations, including close encounter with Australasian Grebe (Tachybaptus novaehollandiae).

And here's a Pallid Cuckoo (Cacomantis pallidus) paying one of its infrequent visits to the area.

Sometimes a passing Brolga (Grus rubicunda) gets close enough to fill the frame.

Not so often seen up  this way, Australian Raven (Corvus coronoides). So-so image, but immature bird shows species' long throat hackles. 

The ducks stay on the list.