I live in St Ives and along with neighbours being awoken up to 3 times a night for the last couple of weeks by a flock of several birds which are in the tops of high gum trees nearby. I have seen them during the day - they are fairly thin, body about 40cm long, greyish, long legs and beak - look like water birds. But the noise! One starts up then the others join the chorus - they sound like geese on steroids. I've lived in Sydney 56 years and never heard nor seen them before - they're driving us mad!
Anyone know what they are, whether they'll move on (or stop the nightly cacophony) or how to get rid of them?
I think a channel billed cuckoo, but maybe not because they don't have long legs, but it sounds like them anyway. I'm sure some suggestions will come through but earplugs or something like that could work.
LOL yes there will be plenty I am sure Amateur but the earplugs are the only ones that will be effective and legal !!!
Inigo they will leave and head north again after the summer..sorry but you may be stuck with them till then.
Sunshine Coast Queensland
What great timing - I just did a video interview for news.com.au on Channel-billed Cuckoos.
ingio - look up the fact sheet on the BIBY website and listen to the call :)
Hi inigo,
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The other one that comes to mind is the Bush Stone Curlew or Bush Thick Knee. They're mostly ground birds though, and I'd be surprised to see them up trees.
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Here a couple of links, one with a call on it:
http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/surveys/BushStone-curlewCommunitySurvey.htm
http://birdsinbackyards.net/species/Burhinus-grallarius
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Cheers
Tim
Brisbane
Could be White-faced Heron nesting? Though I would be surprised to hear them nesting in suburbia. WFH croak and carry on like a bunch of geese too I guess. Try googling (what a wonderful new English word this is!) the calls of White-faced Heron. It's quite guttural and croaky. I guess. I wish I could imitate for you live. ;)
White-faced Heron was my first thought,but I didn't want to say it,(could be wrong!).Remember, I have one,(or more?) in my garden every year. They do have a very loud, croaky call.
M-L