This evening when the rains cleared the flying ants were swarming and the local birds enjoyed the opportunity with Dollarbirds, Little Wattlebirds, a Grey Butcherbird, a Black Faced Cuckooshrike, Noisy Miners and a Spangled Drongo all hawking for the flying ants.
However they were also joined by Satin Bowerbirds and Figbirds who seemed to be making the most of the change of diet. The Bowerbirds weren’t the most agile of hawkers however they seemed to know what they were doing. This is the second time I have seen them feeding on flying ants. I haven’t got access to HANZAB and was wondering if flying ants are recorded as part of the Figbirds and Bowerbird diet?
Tim
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The tree appears to be a Red Kamala Mallotus philippensis and the insects look like Honey Bees to me. HANZAB states that Figbirds will feed aerially on insects but Satin Bowerbirds were observed to sally or glean from leaves, branches etc. but aerial feeding is not mentioned.
Greg Clancy Ecologist Coutts Crossing NSW
I have seen Regent Bowerbirds sitting in the top of a large tree catching flying insects west of Kemspey.
I have an image here: http://www.pbase.com/davidstowe/regent_bowerbird
Not flying ants but along the same lines. If anyone can confirm if they are bees and also the tree i’d really appreciate it!
Cheers Dave
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