Another of our regular visitors during late spring and summer are a pair of currawongs. This pair have been visiting for a few years and I feed them with raw mince. This one is very brave takes meat from my hand. Even with this huge beak he is very gentle.
Sadly, last year their babies were killed off by channel billed cuckoos who left their eggs in the nest and this unfortunate pair were left raising two channel billed cuckoo babies. Hopefully the babies this year are currawongs.
I just love these birds and for those who haven't heard of them they are bigger than a magpie and smaller than a raven.
He did get extra meat after posing so beautifully for this photo and then he collected the rest to take home for his babies
So handsome. I find it very interesting he will eat from your hand. But after all it is mince.
I just looked them up, such a striking bird with the bit of white on wing and tail.
Isn't the bird world fascinating! It's a bit ironic that the Currawongs lost their babies to a cuckoo. We have seen them take other bird's babies from their nests... And the Channel Bills just have a free ride! You've caught his details so well - that hooked beak always looks a bit vicious.
@kjarn The beak does look dangerous doesn't it and I suppose it is most of the time. He is so gentle taking food from me though.
@pusspup They do have some bad habits but I suppose we all have to survive.
@robz Ha ha Maybe it is karma that channel bill cuckoos took their babies and left their own. I hate channel billed cuckoos they are such ugly birds.
I suppose we all eat something, and we just get our food from the supermarket. Currawongs can't do that, so they have to make the best of what is available. At least while I feed him, he isn't taking babies from other nests.
I just looked them up, such a striking bird with the bit of white on wing and tail.
@illinilass Thanks. I photograph this chap quite regularly when he visits
https://365project.org/onewing/2022/2023-05-24
@kjarn The beak does look dangerous doesn't it and I suppose it is most of the time. He is so gentle taking food from me though.
@pusspup They do have some bad habits but I suppose we all have to survive.
@robz Ha ha Maybe it is karma that channel bill cuckoos took their babies and left their own. I hate channel billed cuckoos they are such ugly birds.
I suppose we all eat something, and we just get our food from the supermarket. Currawongs can't do that, so they have to make the best of what is available. At least while I feed him, he isn't taking babies from other nests.