Hi Greg,
I live in the Gold Coast Hinterland. For the past 11 years flocks of Topknot Pigeons have visited every autumn to feed in the camphor laurel trees along Cedar Creek, today 1 saw a flock of 100+. They have been in the area now for about 6 weeks.
I have never observed any dead birds but have at times wondered whether the berries cause any harm. As well as the Topknots, large flocks of Scaly-breasted Lorikeets and Figbirds (more than 100 at times ), numerous Pied Currawongs and Black-faced Cuckoo-Shrikes seem to like a diet which includes these berries. The White-headed Pigeons arrive in numbers (I’ve had as many as 40) during late autumn and winter and seem to feed on the ground once the berries have dropped and shrivelled a bit, and they stay around for most of the winter feeding on these.
Also attracted as a result of the numbers of birds feeding on the berries are the raptors. Brown Goshawks, Grey Goshawks (which I’ve seen hunting along the creek in the early morning fog), White-bellied Sea-Eagles and Wedge-tailed Eagles all patrol the creekline.
Cheers,
Sandra Gallienne
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