Just stepped outside to see what I suspected I heard — noisy miners mobbing one of their own. I’ve seen this frequesntly over the years.
I presume this is not confined only to this one species, though I’ve never seen it amongst other birds.
Why do they do it?
Cheers Gordon Cain Schofields, NW Sydney ===============================
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Hi Gordon, I’ve seen it regularly in New Holland Honeyeaters and Australian Magpies around my place. Both species live in groups, so I’d hypothesised that it was a case of mobbing ‘outsider’ individuals from other groups. A potential alternate hypothesis could be that it is a method of maintaining social hierarchy within the group – a way of keeping subordinates in their place if they get ideas above their station! Note though that these are just my theories….. Cheers,John
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