I just witnessed the funniest thing.
I was outside enjoying a cup of coffee and watching my friends play when the neighborhood swallows started their warning calls, flying over head. I know this to mean the butcher bird is in the vicinity. All birds in my yard scattered and grew silent. There was a crimson Rosella in the tree waiting patiently, then I saw him. The butcher bird was on a branch in the same tree. I've always had a great respect for this bird so I waited as well. After what seemed an eternity, the Rosella lost his patience and attacked the butcher bird from behind. He responded promptly by flying away. Rosella happy, he flew down to the ground and continued foraging. I couldn't help but laugh, I've never witnessed the like! He was very proud of himself!
Take care,
TrudyC
That is a very nice story Trudy.
I'd love to see some photos of the Butcherbird. Do they come to your place often?I only see them very rarely, sometimes the young, but never regularly.
I have never seen a Rosella attack or chase other birds either, they are mostly chased off by the King Parrots at my place.So that would have been a funny sight.
M-L
Hi there M-L,
Our pied butcher bird is very illusive. As mentioned he is tagged by the swallows, so he doesn't hang around long, but I'll see what I can find. He has been here with his wife and fledgling. They may have a bad reputation, but they do have a sweet song! :)
Take care,
TrudyC
Regards
TrudyC
aka RedBrowedFinch
Last year, I watched a Pale-Headed Rosella chasing / harassing a noisy miner who was sitting in his/her tree. It seemed quite outraged that it was trespassing. (once the noisy miner left, it sat around quite happily)
I love watching this type of confrontation the rainbow Lorrikeets have moved in to the old orchard next door making a racket the resident Crimson Rosella was happily feeding on one of the half eaten apples when 3 Rainbows flew right up to him the front one flapped its wings and screached the Rosella just looked at him for a while then pecked him right on the face all 3 started scraeching and flew to another tree the Rosella stood there for a little while then went back to his apple ignoring the 20 or so rainbows all screaching their heads off.
Hi there Sparrow,
Now that's an oddity in my area. No one messes with the lorikeets here (we have rainbow ones too). When they land, they rule the roost (so-to-speak). I guess here, it's very rare to find a lorikeet on it's own - where as the rosellas (crimson & eastern) are sometimes lonely, so it's hard for them to fend for themselves.
That's why I was so stunned this Crimson Rosella attacked the Butcher Bird! He must have thought "Right, I'm not waiting any longer for your antics!"
Wish I'd have had a video camera to capture it!
Take Care,
TrudyC
Regards
TrudyC
aka RedBrowedFinch
These things always seem to happen when you least expect it ,yes the rainbows here arrive in February and just take over the Rossellas are here all year round and normally fly away but I guess he had just had enough ,I was sitting on the back decking having breakfast I laughed so hard coffee came out of my nose ,my wife asked what happend and I could only point.
The only ones the rainbows don't mess with are the Red Wattle Birds I think they know better.