Channel-billed Cuckoos in Sydney

This morning I heard the sound I'd long been dreading - the first CBC in the Hunters Hill area. But it wasn't yet close; could have been across the river at Lane Cove. Wondering what saga will unfold with my Pied Currawong pair this year. This year their nesting is a little more advanced. In the year we moved here (2012) the CBCs must have raided the nest during the egg phase. The first we knew of it was a later raid, when I witnessed a CBC remove a newly hatched currawong. It was either killed quickly or when dropped to the ground (whereupon I examined it and buried it). I'll never forget the sound the female currawong made when she examined her nest. It sounded like a song of grief, although I later wondered whether it was victory. I quickly discovered two chicks remained. We had already started filming the nest-building and incubating, so we imagined a wonderful tale of survival (of two remaining currawong chicks). We were wrong.... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pLOQ4G09tGs

While I already knew about CBCs replacing currawong eggs with theirs, didn't know they could return to a nest raided in the past to remove a surviving currawong egg (now hatched). While the currawong chick would have looked different to the two CBC chicks, I still find it remarkable they removed the currawong and not their own (or those of another CBC).

In 2013 the currawong pair started nesting a bit earlier.  The first CBCs of the season arrived to find newly hatched currawongs.  (This time tthe nest was too awkwardly placed for filming. I could tell that the chicks were only about a day old from the adult's behaviour.) Upon hearing the commotion, I saw the CBCs murder (yes, possibly too emotive) at least two tiny chicks. I wondered if any survived and did the CBCs try laying in that nest? Too difficult to view. But shortly after that raid the currawongs abandoned that nest. I was stunned at the waste of it all. No success for either species. BUT what I didn't know at the time was that the currawongs would make a second attempt at nesting. Of course, the CBCs are now a fixture of spring, waiting for their opportunity. Despite the currawongs nesting much closer to humans (above the street and close to houses) - note that the CBCs seem to be wary of residents and people walking dogs - a successful raid must have happened when we were asleep or out. Another two CBCs are raised by this currawong pair. (After chats with neighbours it sounds like the currys are always dudded!)

Fast forward to 2014. I've been anxiously watching the female currawong incubating in a nest I can see from my study, just above my neighbour's house. Every day I listen out for CBCs and was relieved when the currawong pair started to dote on something that can only be currawong chicks (I've been home almost every day and every night for three weeks). So far the chicks are the most advanced (since I moved to this bush home) upon arrival of CBCs to the area. My estimate is 4-5 days old. Will they survive this time? When you think about it, killing the currawong chicks every year is rather short-sighted. Perhaps in the twists and turns of weather patterns (e.g. delaying arrival of CBCs) and other aspects of nature cycles, some years this currawong pair may succeed. I hope I see this soon. This currawong pair are a charismatic part of our street. Oh, another factor this year - a raven pair seems to have a very close or overlapping territory. While clashes have occurred between ravens and currawongs, any entry by a mutual enemy (CBCs) may be repelled with greater intensity?? I'll let you know what happens....