I saw a couple of Kookaburras digging away at a clay bank. I suppose they were trying to excavate a nesting site, although it didnt seem a very sensible location right at the waters edge and easy access for all sorts of predators. Maybe they were looking for food - i have seen others digging quite deep into leaf litter and getting fat grubs, but Im not sure what food they would find in clay.One only did a bit of digging and then gave up, the other one was more persistent and got quite dirty digging and needed a bath and a shake to get dry afterwards. In the end sanity prevailed and they both gave up on the project.
Later the same afternoon I saw a different pair digging away at a termite mound in a tree, after a bit they too decided it was not suitable and went off in searching elsewhere.
Nice shots WD, certainly looks like they've been hard at work
Brilliant photos
I don't think they were trying to build a nest in the embankment. I have never seen a Kookaburra nesting on the ground, unless there weren't any trees in the area? They usually nest in hollows in large trees. But I stand to be corrected?
They are very persistant in digging up food though.
M-L
Maybe they saw something go into the hole that was edible?
Sometimes the beaks on Kookaburra's look like they need a bit of TLC, you can see why now.
I also read recently that the name is thought to be a loanword from Wiradjuri guuguubarra, a word that sounds like the bird's call.
Samford Valley Qld.
Thanks for the comments.
Was in a forest area where there are plenty of other nesting sites - just seemed peculiar that they were so persistent digging into that clay.
great photos there, they certainly looked determined there
kerry