Grub's up for young Great Bowerbird

Grub's up for juvenile Great Bowerbird (top), being fed, as usual by Mum (above).

As usual because the Old Man's too busy rejigging bower and its attractions.

And showing off not merely nape (nuchal) crest (not visible above) but adding to it with head colour. So he's far to busy to have anything to do with nests or raising young.

Perhaps in 5-6 years the juvenile, if male, will also be busy at a bower.

Great Bowerbird tucks into last of figs

Great Bowerbird about to swallow one of fast-diminishing sweet figs from fruitful and recently fruit-full tree at entry to Townsville Town Common Conservation Park early this morning.

Earlier in week of scattered showers and some (but not enough) heavy rain found Galah tucking into morning greens alongside road to the Common.

Brief chat today with pair of young Magpies, but above image came during a previous walk across dry section (looking in vain for button-quail).

Continuing efforts to sort Torresian Crows from Australian Ravens, caught crow at Pallarenda showing diagnostic purple sheen in morning sunlight on breast.

Another happy sunlit shot (though better would have been natural perch), Pheasant Coucal beside road through the Common.

And Red-tailed Black Cockatoo launches from low during another recent early morning outing.

One Bowerbird builds many questions

What's in a picture? 1000 words? Here's a Great Bowerbird (Ptilonorhynchus nuchalis) in Tyto 'obviously' selecting bower material. Er, perhaps not. Bird picked up scores of twigs for more than 10 minutes. Discarded all. Flew off and began seeking prey in paperbarks. So. Fastidiously choosy? Thinking of bower-building? Or nesting? Playing?

Some pictures may lead to 1000 words through 100 questions. Many more pictures and observations may yield answers.

No question about activity of this male Rufous-throated Honeyeater (Conopophila rufogularis). No surprise catching bird gathering nesting material near Tyto hide, They build cup nests in paperbarks (some of which ring the hide) often over water. Hard to see in upper foliage and further disguised by birds' secretive flight into one tree and through it into the nest tree.

Questions on young bowerbird

Seems Great Bowerbird (Ptilonorhynchus nuchalis) males start young. Here's an immature (note yellow gape) bird with an advanced structure near the Tyto carpark. Very active and noisy at his work today and yesterday, though yet to bring in much decoration.

Two initial thoughts occur: can such an obviously young bird attract females? will any mature male nearby attack the bird or bower? More to come, in time ...

Bowerbird bags Rhino

Few Great Bowerbirds (Chlamydera nuchalis) spend much time in Tyto. They prefer dry woodlands but are happy enough in rain-shadow North Queensland urban parks and gardens and even city riverbanks (Townsville).

Rhinoceros Beetles (Xylotrupes gideon) are more rainforest and moister woodland inhabitants. But they get around and are not unusual finds by night (alive) and day (dead or dying) in cities and suburbia right down the east coast to Sydney.

So today's male Rhino was a bit unlucky to be grabbed from a small patch of vine thicket by a visiting Great Bowerbird. The beetles are an imposing size (up to 40mm) and though harmless can take an amazingly secure grip on flesh or feathers using their spiny legs. They squeak defensively sometimes.
Heard no squeaks today but noticed the extreme care the bird showed in dealing with the beetle. Fast grab and fast, violent release. Another grab, another release. The beetle was given no time to catch hold of the bird.
Something had to give. Bits of beetle legs proved vulnerable. Unfortunately once the legs were devoured the bird no longer feared the beetle. Off it flew, beetle in bill, into the distance. I can only guess that more thrash and bash would eventually break down the Rhino.

Just can't imagine the bird eating that hard horn - even as an aphrodisiac. Only some humans are capable of such delusions!