Birding-Aus Digest, Vol 75, Issue 4

By Birding-Aus, on January 5th, 2020

Re rejected red bird bath from Bunnings; Take it back for a refund plus ten percent.

Seriously, try putting a rock in the red bird bath to speed up the approval process.

We have just survived the hottest day in the world here in Mulgoa, near Penrith, waiting for the fire which has yet to reach us, listening in horror to the Armageddon destroying almost unimaginable areas Of Australia, from Tasmania, Kangaroo Island, much of Victoria, NSW, South Australia, the Nullabor. (“No trees”) across Qld NT and the Kimberley.
Our birds were panting, some with drooping wings, drinking from multiple bowls of water around the house. The Bar-shouldered doves, which first appeared when the climate started heating up about ten years ago, were as active as ever, seem unaffected. The Yellow faced Honeyeaters looked terrible, sitting dishevelled and desperate on the rim of the water bowls.
The Southerly cooled everything down dramatically, blew in considerable smoke, but allowed a good night’s sleep without air conditioning. Adjacent areas had a blackout.
After an early morning appearance today the birds have vanished as the temperature climbs again, today forecast to the mid thirties.

Not Good.

Michael
Sent from my iPhone

> On 5 Jan 2020, at 4:00 am, birding-aus-request@birding-aus.org wrote:
>
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> than “Re: Contents of Birding-Aus digest…”
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>
> Today’s Topics:
>
> 1. Re: Chough eye colour (Philip Veerman)
> 2. Re: Chough eye color (Steve Read)
> 3. correction: Chough’s eye colors are just fine, still red, no
> worries (Steve Johnson)
> 4. Re: Topknot Pigeons in Greenwich, Lane Cove (Kate Ravich)
> 5. Re: Topknot Pigeons in Greenwich, Lane Cove (Kate Ravich)
> 6. Bird baths. (drdeath@picknowl.com.au)
> 7. Re: Bird baths. (Martin Butterfield)
> 8. Re: Bird baths. (Penny Brockman)
> 9. Re: Bird baths. (Chris King)
> 10. Re: Bird baths. (Mike Owen)
> 11. Re: Bird baths. (Stephen Ambrose)
> 12. Re: Bird baths. (Anthea Fleming)
>
>
> ———————————————————————-
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Fri, 3 Jan 2020 21:30:20 +1100
> From: “Philip Veerman” < pveerman@pcug.org.au>
> To: “‘Sonja Ross'” < sonja.ross7@gmail.com>, “‘Steve Johnson'”
> < stevejohnson2@verizon.net>
> Cc: < birding-aus@birding-aus.org>
> Subject: Re: [Birding-Aus] Chough eye colour
> Message-ID: < 002701d5c220$cea9e380$6bfdaa80$@org.au>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=”utf-8″
>
> Yes. The photo is one Chough in foreground with an adult (white eye) and a juvenile (dark eye) Raven behind. Not sure which species of Raven, probably Little Raven. Our Choughs are quite different to the choughs of Europe which are corvids (crows). Our choughs are quite different to ravens. Notice the quite different shape (including the bill). It is not really true that the white in the wings is only visible in flight. Yes the fully closed wings hide the white but they have many displays with open wings.
>
>
>
> Philip
>
>
>
> From: Birding-Aus [birding-aus@birding-aus.org> wrote:
>
> Hello birders,
>
> Looking through our photos, I found one with interesting contrast between the birds’ eye colors.
>
>
>
> See the second photo for Chough at this checklist:
>
>
>
> ebird.org/checklist/S61460739
>
>
>
> Two birds there, I assume immatures, appear to have dark eyes. The one facing the camera seems to have white eyes, not red. Is that unusual?
>
>
>
> I have read that Choughs’ eyes can engorge with blood during displays and interactions. Perhaps this individual is exceptionally serene?
>
>
>
> Thanks for any thoughts you may have —
>
>
>
> good birding,
>
> Steve Johnson
>
> returned now to the United States, no longer seeing all those wonderful birds Down Under
>
>
>
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>
> Message: 2
> Date: Fri, 3 Jan 2020 18:27:17 +1100
> From: “Steve Read” < steve.read123@gmail.com>
> To: “‘Steve Johnson'” < stevejohnson2@verizon.net>
> Cc: < birding-aus@birding-aus.org>
> Subject: Re: [Birding-Aus] Chough eye color
> Message-ID: < 003201d5c207$3bf3a300$b3dae900$@gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=”utf-8″
>
> Steve ? any possibility that bird with white eyes is an adult Little Raven?
>
>
>
> As I understand it, adult White-winged Choughs have red eyes, with the eyes of younger birds starting brown and transitioning with age through orange to red.
>
>
>
> Steve
>
>
>
> From: Birding-Aus < birding-aus-bounces@birding-aus.org> On Behalf Of Steve Johnson via Birding-Aus
> Sent: Friday, 3 January 2020 10:19 AM
> To: birding-aus@birding-aus.org
> Subject: [Birding-Aus] Chough eye color
>
>
>
> Hello birders,
>
> Looking through our photos, I found one with interesting contrast between the birds’ eye colors.
>
>
>
> See the second photo for Chough at this checklist:
>
>
>
> ebird.org/checklist/S61460739
>
>
>
> Two birds there, I assume immatures, appear to have dark eyes. The one facing the camera seems to have white eyes, not red. Is that unusual?
>
>
>
> I have read that Choughs’ eyes can engorge with blood during displays and interactions. Perhaps this individual is exceptionally serene?
>
>
>
> Thanks for any thoughts you may have —
>
>
>
> good birding,
>
> Steve Johnson
>
> returned now to the United States, no longer seeing all those wonderful birds Down Under
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Virus-free. www.avg.com
>
>
>
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> Message: 3
> Date: Fri, 3 Jan 2020 15:03:29 +0000 (UTC)
> From: Steve Johnson < stevejohnson2@verizon.net>
> To: birding-aus@birding-aus.org
> Subject: [Birding-Aus] correction: Chough’s eye colors are just fine,
> still red, no worries
> Message-ID: < 1899734953.6319073.1578063809247@mail.yahoo.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=”utf-8″
>
> p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; line-height: 15.0px; font: 13.3px Arial; color: #000000; -webkit-text-stroke: #000000}p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; line-height: 15.0px; font: 13.3px Arial; color: #000000; -webkit-text-stroke: #000000; min-height: 15.0px}p.p3 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; line-height: 15.0px; font: 13.3px Arial; color: #3573e7; -webkit-text-stroke: #0000ff}p.p4 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; line-height: 15.0px; font: 13.3px Arial; color: #000000; -webkit-text-stroke: #000000; background-color: #ffffff}p.p5 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; line-height: 15.0px; font: 13.3px Arial; color: #000000; -webkit-text-stroke: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; min-height: 15.0px}span.s1 {font-kerning: none}span.s2 {font: 13.3px Arial; font-kerning: none; background-color: #ffffff}span.s3 {font: 13.3px Arial; font-kerning: none}span.s4 {text-decoration: underline ; font-kerning: none; background-color: #ffffff}span.s5 {text-decoration: underline
> ; font-kerning: none}
> Hello Birders,
>
>
>
>
> Well this was a humbling experience.? Much thanks to?Steve Read, Sonja Ross, Jenny Stiles, and Philip Veerman, who patiently and politely pointed out that the other two birds in this photo were in fact Little Ravens, not Choughs.
>
>
>
>
> The one White-winged Chough here (in the foreground) has a visibly red eye.? This photo was taken at the Serendip Sanctuary, quite a productive location for finding many bird species, a bit south of the Western Waste Treatment Plant near Werribee, Victoria.
>
>
>
>
> In fact I did already know the difference between these species’ bills etc.? What I learned here primarily was to pay a bit of attention to what is in front of my eyes (study the photo for more than 5 seconds, Steve!!), and ask the obvious question (“Are these the same species”) before considering less likely things like eye color variation.
>
>
>
>
> Thanks again folks for the continuing education – I do appreciate the help.
>
> — Steve
>
> (Virginia, USA)
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> (excerpts from my earlier post below — –)
>
>
>
>
> See the second photo for Chough at this checklist:
>
> ebird.org/checklist/S61460739
>
>
> Two birds there, I assume immatures, appear to have dark eyes.? The one facing the camera seems to have white eyes, not red.? Is that unusual?
>
>
>
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> ——————————
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> Message: 4
> Date: Sat, 4 Jan 2020 11:24:10 +1100
> From: Kate Ravich < kate.ravich@bigpond.com>
> To: Chris Charles < licole@ozemail.com.au>
> Cc: Birding-Aus@birding-aus.org
> Subject: Re: [Birding-Aus] Topknot Pigeons in Greenwich, Lane Cove
> Message-ID: < 316316AA-4DDB-4043-A141-7696A7FFC78A@bigpond.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8
>
> Thanks Chris. Interesting. I can?t feed these guys either, but I?m thinking that feeding the usuals, may leave a bit more food for the refugees. Great to hear that you have seen them before though. It doesn?t make my sighting seem so ?desperate!?
>
> Cheers
>
> Kate
>
>
>> On 3 Jan 2020, at 8:46 pm, Chris Charles < licole@ozemail.com.au> wrote:
>>
>> We had them a few Km?s north of you at Chatswood about 3 weeks ago Kate. They cleaned up the Fruit on a Bangalow? Palm over 2 days.
>> We always have water out which has added greatly to the yard list over the years. I havent previously, but am inclined to feed now but not sure that I can provide for the specialists like Topnknots.
>> Chris Charles
>> www.licole.com.au
>> unsplash.com/@licole
>> Sent from my iPhone
>>
>>> On 3 Jan 2020, at 4:59 pm, Kate Ravich < kate.ravich@bigpond.com> wrote:
>>>
>>> ?I?ve never seen this before. About 20 Topknot pigeons flew over my garden a couple of days ago and now 3 have been in it, looking about. Refugees from the bush fires no doubt. I think its time we actively promoted not only putting water out but also responsible feeding over this unprecedented disaster time. Even if only the local residents respond, that will help to take pressure off the natural food supplies that remain.
>>> Kate
>>>
>>>
>>>

>>>
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>
>
>
>
> ——————————
>
> Message: 5
> Date: Sat, 4 Jan 2020 11:26:32 +1100
> From: Kate Ravich < kate.ravich@bigpond.com>
> To: Andy Burton < abbt@mac.com>
> Cc: birding aus < birding-aus@birding-aus.org>
> Subject: Re: [Birding-Aus] Topknot Pigeons in Greenwich, Lane Cove
> Message-ID: < DD18D1F7-6F5A-4004-873A-FC696DDE47E1@bigpond.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8
>
> Thanks Andy. Interesting. Really pleased you have seen them before as it doesn?t make my experience seem so unusual and so ?desperate.? I have starting putting out food though. Not for Topknots specifically as I doubt they would take it, but in the hopes it may relieve the pressure on what natural food is available. Fingers X.
>
> Cheers
>
> Kate
>
>
>> On 3 Jan 2020, at 9:06 pm, Andy Burton < abbt@mac.com> wrote:
>>
>> Hi Kate, although not commonly seen in northern Sydney, they are certainly regular travellers along the coast and have been for many years. I live in Roseville on the other side of the valley from Chris Charles and they have been regulars over the past few years. They have been here for the past couple of weeks and like Chris?s birds have been feeding on fruits of Bangalow Palms, although I presume not exclusively so. I expect them to stay in the area for a while longer yet. They are also present on the Warringah Peninsula atm, but I’m not sure how many. Other interesting sightings in Blue Gum Creek recently include a regular Square-tailed Kite, regular Hobby, Scarlet Honeyeaters which are unusual here and a single sighting of a Peregrine, although they are seen here occasionally. The Powerful Owl and Boobook have been calling and a Satin Bowerbird was an unusual visitor, although I suspect that Chris sees them regularly across the Valley.
>>
>> Whilst your birds might be refugees from the bushfires, that would not normally have been the case in northern Sydney.
>>
>> A nice record, especially in your garden ?
>>
>> Andy
>>
>>> On 3 Jan 2020, at 5:53 pm, Kate Ravich < kate.ravich@bigpond.com> wrote:
>>>
>>> I?ve never seen this before. About 20 Topknot pigeons flew over my garden a couple of days ago and now 3 have been in it, looking about. Refugees from the bush fires no doubt. I think its time we actively promoted not only putting water out but also responsible feeding over this unprecedented disaster time. Even if only the local residents respond, that will help to take pressure off the natural food supplies that remain.
>>> Kate
>>>
>>>
>>>

>>
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> Message: 8
> Date: Sat, 4 Jan 2020 17:08:05 +1100
> From: Penny Brockman < penny@pennydb.org>
> To: birding-aus@birding-aus.org
> Subject: Re: [Birding-Aus] Bird baths.
> Message-ID: < 012d7708-62c1-823a-53ee-7d282f69a6f4@pennydb.org>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=”utf-8″; Format=”flowed”
>
> Dear birders
>
> Yes, slippery glazed insides to bird baths are a killer.?? Birds need a
> rough surface so that their claws have traction. I think people buy them
> because they look pretty or are easier to clean.? I have 2 terracotta
> with no glaze and a rough high fired one that retains water better – the
> terracottas tend to dry out too quickly as they are slightly porous. All
> need a good scrub every now and again to guard against disease.? And
> sometimes daily total fresh water due to the local Torresian Crows that
> like to drop in chunks of bread to soften, which makes the water stale,
> but I’ve seen a red wattlebird taking bits so not totally horrible.
>
> Keep the water up, our birds are suffering horribly in this present
> heat, fires and smoke. Today in Gloucester it is nearly 45c.
>
>
>> On 4/01/2020 3:57 PM, Martin Butterfield wrote:
>> We had a red ceramic one and it was very popular. I’d suggest new is the
>> problem.
>>
>> Martin Butterfield
>> franmart.blogspot.com.au/
>>
>>
>>> On Sat, 4 Jan 2020 at 15:55, < drdeath@picknowl.com.au> wrote:
>>>
>>> A friend was persuaded by his wife to replace their old concrete bird bath
>>> so he went to Bunnings and bought
>>> a red ceramic one but the birds won’t go anywhere near it.
>>> Would it be the colour, that it is ceramic (slippery) or just that it is
>>> new?
>>> David Robertson
>>> Adelaide
>>>
>>>
>>>

>>>
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>>>
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>>>
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>>>
>>
>>

>>
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> Message: 9
> Date: Sat, 4 Jan 2020 18:01:21 +1100
> From: Chris King < chrisk58@gmail.com>
> To: Martin Butterfield < martinflab@gmail.com>
> Cc: drdeath@picknowl.com.au, birding-aus NEW
> < birding-aus@birding-aus.org>
> Subject: Re: [Birding-Aus] Bird baths.
> Message-ID:
> < CAHHdsTNFcyR1WRvt1qp-AUk=YTV5udYW6Wm1GOxEb2i99y-Xow@mail.gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=”utf-8″
>
> I too had a red ceramic bird bath from Bunnings. It is slightly glossy but
> the little birds loved it when it was near protective shrubbery.
>
> On Sat, 4 Jan. 2020, 3:59 pm Martin Butterfield, < martinflab@gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
>> We had a red ceramic one and it was very popular. I’d suggest new is the
>> problem.
>>
>> Martin Butterfield
>> franmart.blogspot.com.au/
>>
>>
>>> On Sat, 4 Jan 2020 at 15:55, < drdeath@picknowl.com.au> wrote:
>>>
>>> A friend was persuaded by his wife to replace their old concrete bird
>>> bath so he went to Bunnings and bought
>>> a red ceramic one but the birds won’t go anywhere near it.
>>> Would it be the colour, that it is ceramic (slippery) or just that it is
>>> new?
>>> David Robertson
>>> Adelaide
>>>
>>>
>>>

>>>
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>>>
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>>

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>
>
>
> ——————————
>
> Message: 11
> Date: Sat, 4 Jan 2020 16:34:03 +1100
> From: “Stephen Ambrose” < stephen@ambecol.com.au>
> To: “‘Martin Butterfield'” < martinflab@gmail.com>,
> < drdeath@picknowl.com.au>
> Cc: “‘birding-aus NEW'” < birding-aus@birding-aus.org>
> Subject: Re: [Birding-Aus] Bird baths.
> Message-ID: < 000901d5c2c0$93cc8060$bb658120$@ambecol.com.au>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=”utf-8″
>
> I suspect Martin is right, but it could also be that if the birds are expected to perch on the ceramic rim before dipping into the water, then it could be too hot if not in the shade.
>
>
>
> Stephen Ambrose
>
> Ryde NSW
>
>
>
> From: Birding-Aus < birding-aus-bounces@birding-aus.org> On Behalf Of Martin Butterfield
> Sent: 4 January 2020 3:58 PM
> To: drdeath@picknowl.com.au
> Cc: birding-aus NEW < birding-aus@birding-aus.org>
> Subject: Re: [Birding-Aus] Bird baths.
>
>
>
> We had a red ceramic one and it was very popular. I’d suggest new is the problem.
>
>
>
> Martin Butterfield
>
> franmart.blogspot.com.au/
>
>
>
>
>
> On Sat, 4 Jan 2020 at 15:55, < drdeath@picknowl.com.au drdeath@picknowl.com.au> > wrote:
>
> A friend was persuaded by his wife to replace their old concrete bird bath so he went to Bunnings and bought
> a red ceramic one but the birds won’t go anywhere near it.
> Would it be the colour, that it is ceramic (slippery) or just that it is new?
> David Robertson
> Adelaide
>
>
>

>
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> Message: 12
> Date: Sat, 4 Jan 2020 18:27:19 +1100
> From: Anthea Fleming < flambeau@labyrinth.net.au>
> To: birding-aus@birding-aus.org
> Subject: Re: [Birding-Aus] Bird baths.
> Message-ID: < a86d98d8-dbd5-b96c-16ea-8c3fac78eea7@labyrinth.net.au>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=”utf-8″; Format=”flowed”
>
> We have a? number of well-used bird-baths, mostly terra cotta.? Each has
> a couple of smallish rough rocks, or a stick, to make sure birds and
> other fauna can climb out.? Occasionally other people re-fill the baths
> and take out the ‘untidy’ rocks or stick, so they have to be replaced.
> Presence of nearby vegetation is very important, so birds can check
> surroundings before diving in.
> Anthea Fleming
>
>
>> On 4/01/2020 3:57 pm, Martin Butterfield wrote:
>> We had a red ceramic one and it was very popular.? I’d suggest new is
>> the problem.
>>
>> Martin Butterfield
>> franmart.blogspot.com.au/
>>
>>
>> On Sat, 4 Jan 2020 at 15:55, < drdeath@picknowl.com.au
>> drdeath@picknowl.com.au>> wrote:
>>
>> A friend was persuaded by his wife to replace their old concrete
>> bird bath so he went to Bunnings and bought
>> a red ceramic one but the birds won’t go anywhere near it.
>> Would it be the colour, that it is ceramic (slippery) or just that
>> it is new?
>> David Robertson
>> Adelaide
>>
>>
>>

>>
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>>
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>>
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