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.

Tuesday, October 3, 2017

New bower nearby, film by Matt Kaarma, up close.

The action has shifted about 100 metres from the scenes previously recorded at http://odimbar.blogspot.com/  .... As is normal, blue materials and appropriate construction materials - 'spittle sticks' - have been hastened away. This collation of movie clips by my neighbour Matt Kaarma, professional photographer, with close-up scenes around the new bower. Spectacular impressions of the birds.

The crowd at the bower seems to include not only the mature blue-black male and green female, but also a darker green bird who is doing the bower-minding work too, until shoo-ed off by the black male. I think a male at point of changing plumage. And you will see this bird steal a blue object – we have no idea where that was taken.

Back at my place, of course we are not well organised, we have seen a darker green bird dancing for a lighter green bird at the site of the old bower, now without anything blue on the ground at all. But familiar geography and probably pheromones.

Another unrecorded thing, observed twice: we have a bird bath. Green bird arrives, has a drink, turns 180 degrees, there is movement of anal sphincter, the bird turns and drinks again. We saw no poo. We suspect a dose of pheromone to the water...

In this movie compilation, Matt has added a romantic soundtrack sung by Rebecca Pidgeon.