ODIMBAR (One Day I Might Be A Raptor) was not here on 5 April 2017, but had set up his court by 14 April. From behaviour we have considered that he is newly adult-fledged, but he could be an older bird who has shifted his court. It is autumn and the courting that dominates reporting on bowerbirds is not due till spring.

As we begin this blog on 16 April 2017, we already have our hearts in our mouths, concerned that this new family member outside our suburban bedroom window will survive the competition and that his court may thrive. His day is busy: hunting, building, learning, asserting, defending, charming, singing, raucous caucusing and dancing.

And the evidence before us, of daily life, is much more complex than what one usually reads or views on Youtube, of isolated males building bowers in spring to try to entice picky females with whom their relations are fleeting. It's not like that at all here.

Sunday, July 9, 2017

Dawn Patrol

Bowerbirds are not unusual among birds in working long days. The night is especially hard for very small birds, whose surface to weight ratio is high and who need food quickly in the morning. Bowerbirds a bit more endurance.

This is just a 46 second movie, 6am infrared black and white by camera, to show the completion of a morning check of the bower, with sounds of other birds, especially currawongs... and then Mr O flies vertically up to his treetop lookout.


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