The flower provides the food source and the birds repay them by taking pollen from one flower to the next facilitating cross pollination. Birds also help control weeds and insects.
So this week it's the birds that visit the garden.
Of the dozen or so species of cuckoos that occur in Australia, the Channel-billed Cuckoo is the largest. Being a cuckoo, it lays its eggs in the nest of another bird, and being a large cuckoo, it must lay its eggs in the nest of another large bird. The species usually chosen as foster parents are Pied Currawongs, Australian Magpies, crows and ravens. They show up in northern and eastern Australia in the months leading into summer ever year to breed, before flying back to New Guinea and Indonesia around February and March.
Around us they are a magpie’s worst nightmare. The chicks are raucous and keep the poor magpie mums busy. https://www.sydneyoutback.com.au/blog/worlds-largest-parasitic-cuckoo/
I have to admit I really hate these birds. We had a pair of currawongs a few years ago here who were feeding two channel bill cuckoos and they really had their work cut out. The chicks were so vicious too.
@onewing I know Babs - the magpie parent of this one was definitely exasperated and exhausted - it's a shame because they are impressive looking birds.
March 11th, 2022
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