The Butcher

I like the butcher birds and I try to ignore the fact that they can do nasty things to baby birds of other species. That's nature I guess. I find them cheeky, with a keen eye and having very quick and accurate swooping skills. In the last place I was at, I tried to whistle back to one close by and I must have been reasonably successful because we kept up a "conversation"  for about ten minutes (until my wife came out and told me I had gone loopy).

This cyclist can second the comment about swooping skills .... they give a bit of a yodelling call first and attack with a steep dive, and are very persistent! When i hear that call i know whats coming and keep my head down and pedal.

They are gorgeous, and yes their song is very distinctive. I too have had one visit several times bathing in the bird bath and catching lots of paper wasps in my garden.( I must post some photos) . Gee you would think that has gotta hurt catching wasps and eating them. I think my guy is a loner though and young, hopefully ( cross fingers ) he finds a mate and brings her into the garden also.

BUTCHER BIRDS. Since returning from an overseas trip mid-December until end of January this year we have been appreciating the songs of group of Butcher Birds. Back then I used to just say, “thank you for your song”, or “what a lovely song thank you, can you sing some more” One day it struck me to offer some food scraps, rind from our breakfast bacon, a piece of sausage that had leapt from my plate to the floor, which I sliced up first. The birds’ excited chatter was rewarding and this became a regular thing with Delia & me saving fatty, gristle off cuts, etc. We found the birds attending daily, singing wonderful songs and chattering. We couldn’t keep up the supply of meat scraps, so we placed spoonfuls of minced beef on the sill and watched these disappear. One particular bird was gamer than the others we were being visited by a group of four at this stage. I named the game one “Cheeky” because it would fly onto the window sill and stay waiting for a handout. While some birds would swoop and take the mince on the run, flying to the ground or out of sight to eat, one always stayed on the bough of the shrub outside only eating when we left the windows area. This one we referred to as “Shy”

Of course the Bbs demands grew, four birds visiting in the morning, became three or four times a day of four birds visiting. I bought mince especially to feed them. By late March Cheeky was taking the scraps from my extended finger while sitting on the sill. Usually gently, but once or twice the beak caught my finger. The others also began to become more at ease with my being, in the window frame so to speak, or in this case, write.

By June the visits started as soon as I went into the kitchen, as if the Bbs were within sight of the windows and awaiting my arrival for pre breakfast coffee time. My wife if there earlier, would ignore them, but to her amusement, I’d feed them before drinking my coffee.

Now we notice that the feedings have become less a reward for the beautiful songs and more of free feeds. I’m hoping that it is because the visitors are feeding Bb partners who are making nesting preparations or sitting on eggs.

Eagerly, I searched for sites to learn more about the Butcher bird habits and found BIBY. As this information isn’t in any forum articles that I would ask forum members what they know and share what has become a multiple, daily ritual.

We have two TAWNY FROGMOUTHS, if interested in these, please seek this posting out later today or tomorrow, in BIBY and enjoy. Looking forward to member’s experiences and comments.

Delia & Fredrick…

Wednesday, July 30th, 2014