tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20203398080884391662024-03-20T09:39:21.889+11:00Apostlebird Abode: A chatty life in the OutbackUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2020339808088439166.post-61910295741918253552011-12-06T16:25:00.006+11:002011-12-06T16:46:07.612+11:00Preen party!<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Apostlebirds take preening to a whole new level, a whole new level of social fluffiness involving the preening of self and those of group members. If any behaviour (other than extreme chattiness) characterizes these birds, it is preening. Spend a few minutes with these birds and you will see them fluff themselves out and preen, preening the neck, face, back, chest and even bum of a fellow bird. Sometimes small groups of birds will sit and preen together, and often the whole group will engage in a group preen (late morning a popular time).</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxfywtWsUJjrVqGBmEGcU0rPC0NUJVCw4RFETPXkd-zRBBT3z5jlZIYZeDke5I8MdcV9InBuWPe4x7wv_bPnw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></p><p class="MsoNormal"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dx8iQZYdkSwQvUprQfdAQ5mdOV_N82ajGi0GO__kiwSRwPizCGG4m4nYrV-lRqxXruMiBBqs0TeqXHbu2pAOw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></p><div><br /></div><div>Apparently, these are not the only birds that do this “extreme preening”. A friend and colleague works with Arabian Babblers, and these are his birds engaged in their “morning dance”.</div><div><br /></div><div><iframe width="440" height="247" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/IdTyIjkvso0?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>talkstoanimalshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04053453615061078922noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2020339808088439166.post-24536982397027130542011-11-22T16:16:00.003+11:002011-12-06T15:53:28.054+11:00Birds bites bag with bread<div><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">The yearling kids are pretty bold. They know I have bread, and they know that it may be in the bag, and damn it, they want more now! And if they don’t see it they will get it themselves damn it! (Just for the record, I have a whole habituation process I go through involved cueing with a whistle and a scale, but face it, they are clever birds, they know I am not a threat, they know I bring bread treats, and they know that if they can not see me holding it, then it is either hidden in my hand (video to come later) or in my bag.</span></p></div><div><br /></div><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzhOyPtO8U2KCuUJeCoLWc3Ld6iX8s4oqybzgHXK3FabMJ6_Q3e2ZqwGuytjxJkK-zcbvBNXqNWAFLonud_xQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dw7pxWZsVs-qLTzQ-KrGPtJPwswi9-LvR5G1R-AClI7dZGx1JSnzvW7QpFk3qfvhLTnOpwuKfeOkz5epB-GHQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>talkstoanimalshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04053453615061078922noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2020339808088439166.post-79072522716772165702011-11-22T16:01:00.002+11:002011-11-22T16:05:25.308+11:00Field season finale<div style="text-align: justify;">Well, another field season has been completed, and in many ways it was very ,very different from the last season, but in one way it is the same. Once again, I am “rained” in on the day of my departure, and with all my gear crammed into my small 4WD, I am awaiting news from the traffic conditions report and once again eating too much sugar. This year, like the last, leaving the field was hastened by the need for meeting some sort of bureaucratic or logistic deadline, but unlike last year the recording conditions remain good enough to stay. However, in the absence of bird breeding, I must return to the city and start the man<span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-align: left; ">y joys of computer analysis and journal article writing.</span></div> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US">This morning, as the rain pelted from the sky, the Cottagers came to bid me farewell (or rather unbeknownst to them, they came for their last meal of bread). The bedraggled group came and foraged in the backyard picking off the misfortunate insects stuck in the mud, while a few of their members came and helped themselves to the rest of my bread. Being wet and probably somewhat cold, the group was not eager to hang around, but I was happy that a few of them stuck around in a small fuzzy clump on the veranda.</span> </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US">Leaving the field and returning to the city is always an adjust</span>ment for me. There is a certain charm to waking up with the birds (literally) and heading out in the light of dawn, and spending the best parts of the days outside. However, I always have difficulty taking a day “off” and to date, for all seven months of the total time that I have spent in the field, I have yet to take an entire day off where I am not popping out to see the birds, going through sound and video files or analyzing data. That does lend to some exhaustion, especially on arrival in the city at the end of the season, but that exhaustion usually corrects itself after a few days of sleep, watching movies with hubby, cooking, gardening and hugging my pet chickens. But I do miss the field and miss my birds.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US">This field season, like the last, has lent itself to a lot of great sto</span>ries to remain written and hopefully in the next few months I will get some of the stories out of my head and on to paper (or the computer screen for the most part).</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTpS281PwZt8xfI9vj07yfsAl00ZO2PNHZqLRR-hAgKIMQmrzQFXrXNhjNi-f2xOp925adBBUZ-Axa0b-PvnQ8FgaXb1bOdr8yodOp2OwhQsj0Vokc5dmz9S-ux396PMINxcEpVCulVfg/s320/DSCN0644.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5677681513443246674" style="text-align: justify;color: rgb(0, 0, 238); text-decoration: underline; display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></p>talkstoanimalshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04053453615061078922noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2020339808088439166.post-45166612134836652082011-11-13T14:56:00.004+11:002011-11-13T15:08:34.098+11:00Hard discoveries and goodbye to a darling bird<div><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Yesterday, I found out the painful way that apostlebirds will continue to do urgent alarm calls even after the threat is gone but a freshly dead group member remains on the ground.</span> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">My technician and I had been working in the creek with a few members of the Sweetbeak Clan when we heard the mobbing calls . The birds we were working with swiftly flew to the aid of the group while we lumbered behind like the slow ground bound beasts that we are. Unfortunately for us, we were furthered slowed by the water in the creek and the muddy, muddy steep banks. My technician forged through the water and up the muddy bank and I ran around the whole mess. But not quick enough, I arrived in time to see the birds urgent alarm calling and looking at the ground (naturally I thought it was a snake (not unlike the apostlebird - mulga snake interaction that I had seen earlier at the station).</span> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">The birds kept alarm clicking and staring at the ground (see video of the end of the interaction), and I gingerly stepped across the ground seeking the perpetrator. I was very paranoid as it could have been the world’s number two most venomous snake and clearly the birds were alarm calling while looking at something that I myself could not see. The last thing I wanted to do was tread on an angry snake. I refused to step into the bushes, and when I backed off, that is when I saw him and my heart dropped.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">It was Nowum, a little bird that was hatched some time this autumn, and at only 8 months old at most, he had weathered a dry hungry winter, evaded many, many hungry raptors feeding their own young through what was a busy elongated breeding season for birds, reptiles, goats, pigs and roos alike, and in the sad and often cruel way of nature, had succumbed to a rapid raptor attack.</span> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">The raptor had long gone, robbing me the chance to see the face of the cause of my loss, and thus identify the species responsible for Nowum’s death. Perhaps it was a she-raptor that would have fed her young, or maybe a young raptor searching for his next meal (more likely as the predator had failed to carry off his prize). I am sure that the predator was beautiful and had I been another type of biologist, I would have rejoiced at the majesty of the rapid attack.</span> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">But alas, I am not a raptor-ologist, and the apostlebirds are my pride and joy, so instead, I picked up Nowum and cradled his broken neck, stroked his beak, and looked up at the audience of family and group members. “I am so sorry, so, so sorry I was too late to help”. They alarm clicked softly and in my guilt and I was worried that they would think that it was me that had killed him, but they had seen the attack, mobbed the culprit and seen the release, albeit too late, of their child, sibling, family member and friend.</span> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">We (my technician and I) carried Nowum back to the rapidly growing nest and in the shadows of a large gum tree examined him for wounds. I found a large puncture near his heart, so then I knew it was a large raptor, larger than a hawk. And in a cruel twist of irony, we wrapped him in the bread bag, the bag that he would have died to get in. Poor bird finally got his wish. Nowum’s group was already back to business with nest building and begging for bread by the time we got back to our gear, and we returned to our work with heaviness in our hearts. But as the world never ceases to turn, and as the season and winds forever continue to change and the lives of these often fragile birds continues to unfold, we continued to work at unraveling their mysteries. Nowum, like all the birds that I have noticed had gone missing, found dead and eaten and dried by the unforgiving desert wind or seen limping away to never be seen again, will remain in my heart. Nowum, you will be missed, and thank you for giving me a little piece to the puzzle of apostlebird acoustics and antics. <br /></span></p></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5jyR_S_319-98fNn_v5dj2OvqXscEBHViJQq_BkRTg2yVCXMCBAGHUj4IoVC-ZuCDEIBJN0GG2IR_cK1ID7IHdquQ09GTdB8VaCDL8Y5l7Elens__XhgHQQUoCG3VVG9iajE92a4xIs8/s1600/nowM+small2.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 222px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5jyR_S_319-98fNn_v5dj2OvqXscEBHViJQq_BkRTg2yVCXMCBAGHUj4IoVC-ZuCDEIBJN0GG2IR_cK1ID7IHdquQ09GTdB8VaCDL8Y5l7Elens__XhgHQQUoCG3VVG9iajE92a4xIs8/s320/nowM+small2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5674325120667084146" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Nowum with a muddy beak from nest building</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8XNp9t6RW3SB82esBCYIxKxmQG9ZKZ-wKlLGDZdIpFNBuvTDm2ucc0WHS1lA1f1dqUUP5sv-gx2Jyn_ymBmW_N_sSTC088FwVi52djsQttVCG5DzQDYT6gSJjplRX9TRlvxs-tXaGVCk/s1600/nowM+small.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 198px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8XNp9t6RW3SB82esBCYIxKxmQG9ZKZ-wKlLGDZdIpFNBuvTDm2ucc0WHS1lA1f1dqUUP5sv-gx2Jyn_ymBmW_N_sSTC088FwVi52djsQttVCG5DzQDYT6gSJjplRX9TRlvxs-tXaGVCk/s320/nowM+small.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5674325121611367794" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Nowum joins his siblings for a treat of bread</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyZ6tnkzA6oNLq4IWnaHPbkbL20pfnLTM0ivJc6TxRYrJQ05qiSMOMPoAk4H_Kr0zNXKBltCTIgNizF2fGLjA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The group alarm clicks while looking down at Nowum (dead from attack)</div>talkstoanimalshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04053453615061078922noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2020339808088439166.post-62406016663252662662011-11-07T16:40:00.003+11:002011-11-08T16:57:43.829+11:00The Bird Dimension- another dimension in the field-time continuum (WARNING: field loopiness expected)<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">I think I am making progress towards understanding the bird dimension. This dimension is experienced by almost all bird field biologists, and exists alongside our own dimension. However, it is very ,very hard (and impossible in some cases) for humans to cross over into it, but if we are lucky, we are able to find the “portals” in which our birds pass to and fro. However, even if you are a bird, passing across the dimensions is not always within your control. In different parts of the world, there are different energies that govern dimension crossing. Here in the Outback, the main agent seems to be the wind. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span lang="EN-US">I first experienced this dimension during my first field season (spring1) last year while tracking birds not yet ready to commit their selves to breeding. I had tracked a group along side their feeding grounds and while I excused myself to a tree the birds had popped over a ridge and disappeared. I regarded this as inexperience dealing with birds that may have decided to go from chatty screech-mode to ninja mode (another topic for later discussion).<span> </span>However, once the birds had gone into breeding mode I did not experience sudden disappearances, which in a way makes sense as the forces of dimension crossing may be too strong for eggs and young birds to handle.</span> </span></p><span lang="EN-US"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">During my second season (autumn 1), many birds had moved away and the few groups that remained had many young newly fledged birds, so it was only until this current season (spring2) that I truly experienced the bird dimension. When I arrived two months ago, the groups that remained (fewer than in autumn) had young that had reached over 75% of the adult body mass. They were thus able to make crossings. The birds had also been satisfied with the number of young they had produced and to make up for the previous harsh dry years had bred straight through spring, summer, and early fall. The mouse plague that had swept across the land during the summer and autumn had eaten down many grass seeds and the weather had gone back to dryness. Although it was technically “breeding season”, the birds had no “breeding energy” to counteract the pull of the bird dimension.</span> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Of the seven groups that remained on the station grounds, the Littlebeak Clan was particularly susceptible to the wind. During still, sunny cloudless parts of the day, the group of five birds were nowhere to be seen, but as soon as the wind picked up they were swooped across the dimensions and delivered to our door, all very hungry from their journey and ever so chatty. It was a crying (literally in some cases) shame that attempts to record their talking yielded WAY too much wind (later discussion: “Why the wind hates me”). Other groups seemed to be susceptible to the wind push/pull system, although larger group sizes sometimes (but not necessarily) also helped resists the pull back into the bird dimension.</span> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Recently, my technician and I discovered the Cottagers making a run for an open portal, dragging along their reluctant teenagers. We had been looking for the Hopover Clan, who had long since decided after numerous nest building episodes that their summer hangout by the North Lake was not good for the current time, and had moved over a ridge into a dry creek bed. So, imagine our surprise when in that same creek bed we were greeted by the excited grunts and squeaks of the Cottager kids as they came down from their nap in the trees. Of course, being field biologist we embraced the opportunity to work with the birds in the creek bed, but the group had other ideas, which being apostlebirds, only became apparent after they had hopped on the scale and eaten our bread. The kids were still begging for more bread when the adults started their quorum behaviour and gathering in the trees oriented towards the portal. One by one they added their vote of “Shall we go? In this direction””In this direction. Let’s go” “Let’s go, right there”, and en masse, the adults flew down the creek. Some of the kids (the “good” kids) left immediately, leaving behind a few reluctant stragglers that while stuffing their beaks would glance down the creek with loud long “Eeeeee! Eeeeee! Eeee?” before flying off.</span> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">And up we got and followed like good little biologists, until we noticed them on an opposite hillside just in time to see them fly over OPEN FLAT land, with no trees, no cover and over a mad dash of about 250m to a small gully. We ran, and they moved again across OPEN land, and this time my tech and I split up, she running after birds, and me for the field car. She tracked them through three more hopovers and the last thing she saw before I arrived with the car was the group bee-lining it for the North Lake again across open land (but at least close enough near trees that should an aerial predator come, they could dash for cover).</span> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">We caught up with the group at the North Lake just in time to see them dash up one shore into the portal and behind a clump of trees, and although we thoroughly searched the tree clump, followed by a tour of the lake, three drainages and a second look in the clump and nearest drainage going back, we could not relocate the group. I bet you they were already in the next dimension looking at us through the one way dimension glass snickering the whole time.</span> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">The thing about bird dimensions (and I have also been told, fish dimensions) is that although the portal location stays the same, the timing does not, much to the effect that on some days the portal remains closed and on others the portal is in active use.<span> </span>For example,in apostlebirds, whole groups appear and disappear over a set of <span> </span>northern ridges. Exploration beyond the ridge leads to a convoluted hilly area, that although beautiful, is very deceptive. You can spend days there hiking up and down, up and down, up and down hills and around and around corners and not find the birds, even though the seem to pop in and out of that area.<span> </span>I once got up on the highest hill near the region and stared through binoculars looking for any sign of disturbances in the air, grass, trees, rocks, etc…. to see if I could make out the portal.</span> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">So, the mystery still remains of the field-time continuum. How many birds pass through it? For how long? Can they pop out at locations beyond the field station? When they pass through it is it like a teleportation device? (please, oh please, I would love to get the physics of that one). The birds hold the mystery, and I’m afraid that no amount of bread will buy me that information. Birds!</span></p></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivRlqnXGLuLhgPSRT1maKqG4ONwWPhq4gZXu98xPjlel4jPw8l0OeVsjlSfsYN_9HlVQeGfokieaElEX96V2rPNaK8iG_MF_WBTnAON8pdzVdTOzIK-cyfDUbcIchRH_goPg0c4PC4wU8/s320/FILE0019.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5672484306783410226" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span lang="EN-US">Watching us through the one way “bird dimension” window probably looks like this (one of left laughing at us).</span></span></p><p></p>talkstoanimalshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04053453615061078922noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2020339808088439166.post-20196059308792372772011-10-11T19:46:00.002+11:002011-10-11T19:50:05.237+11:00Snoozy birds<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNsUkoRiQa4A2Ch4PrZoQqCWbAMt5hs8M4fxBN0ekIhhGXOLnELItDSznA-Wkt7U3UNHi0daCbxo6sIGpD_PvTLChpTkwl7X9c6va85gCpCcwaidUNC83Q_5vwMex66l2i4Huly1Mj9S0/s1600/100_2854.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNsUkoRiQa4A2Ch4PrZoQqCWbAMt5hs8M4fxBN0ekIhhGXOLnELItDSznA-Wkt7U3UNHi0daCbxo6sIGpD_PvTLChpTkwl7X9c6va85gCpCcwaidUNC83Q_5vwMex66l2i4Huly1Mj9S0/s320/100_2854.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662153902602597186" /></a><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US">An expectant grey feathered face examines me and I wonder if he is aware that the perch in which he stands in the source of his coveted bread. This young one, like many of his siblings, is too young to be interested in the activities that occupy his mother and father, older adult siblings and unrelated “uncles” and “aunts” that are now so occupied with nest building. This leaves me in charge of occupying the nine young ones (aged 7-11 months old) which are in fact, not the focus of my current study. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span>Usually the young ones occupy themselves with looking for food, preening and play, but as the adults of the group are busy, they approach me with curiosity. They know me as food lady, beholder of the bread, and maybe at their age, they have not properly associated the bread with the ceremonial whistle, sit down and the kitchen scale on which they are asked to stand. Adults know better, and in the absence of the three cues, do not often bother themselves to come ask for food (except for a few sassy ones that try their luck with doleful eyes). </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US">But, as the sun ascends the sky, like birds of many varieties, the fledgling become snoozy and they head up into the protective branches of a gum tree to fluff up besides the adults for their daily afternoon snooze.</span></p>talkstoanimalshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04053453615061078922noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2020339808088439166.post-70951127353124483362011-10-11T19:40:00.004+11:002011-11-29T21:25:44.924+11:00Becoming a wild bird<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvoqcXIQHBM4TSr4zusDqkN0x9um4GHErHZJsG0ieiOUSrYLPrv6rjWqYyoHECGzbVY7xWTWeOHz8p67hUA0HOBM3AkpkdUV2f4NL1ESITn1i9FFjmwNqREkwn6PEe054BPUS0e4jGQv8/s1600/DSCN0675.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvoqcXIQHBM4TSr4zusDqkN0x9um4GHErHZJsG0ieiOUSrYLPrv6rjWqYyoHECGzbVY7xWTWeOHz8p67hUA0HOBM3AkpkdUV2f4NL1ESITn1i9FFjmwNqREkwn6PEe054BPUS0e4jGQv8/s320/DSCN0675.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662152361676553586" /></a><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US">There is something to be said about the camaraderie of having a bird sitting on your knee as you write notes. In reality, I tolerate it little from my birds as the last thing I want is 18 birds climbing all over me like a jungle gym while seeking out bread rewards. But on the rare occasion that it is a single bird that joins me and I am in a contemplative mood patiently awaiting for my focal bird to be ready to start the next step in my experiment, I welcome the feathered companionship. There are many joys to working so closely with social animals. Humans, ourselves being such social creatures, naturally tend towards social relationships (and in very specific forms for many of us), and having the proximity of sociality is pleasing. </span> </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US">As a field biologist, such study species also allows one’s mind to avoid approaching rapid loopiness within the field. I have friends and colleagues that have, in their long hikes, observations and solitude in the field have effectively learned how to melodiously (or rhythmically) play their cheeks, throats, knees and other body parts very well. Poems, broadway songs and jiggles have been written about study species, methods and experimental designs and once, in a particularly long hike with the marked absence of birds, I designed in my mind, an entire bellydance-tribal fusion interpretive dance based (of course) on a sound scape put together solely on apostlebird songs and other naturally occurring sounds within the Outback environment (yes, that is just how talkative the apostlebirds are). </span> </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US">The mind wandering towards an artistic interpretation of one’s research or research site is actually not a bad thing (albeit a bit crazy). It actually allows a researcher to shift perspectives and in the case of dance, think about what birdy body movements occur during birdy behaviour. I myself lacking wings and a large slightly green tinged tail would have to make use of a double layered veil, brown and grey tie-dyed silk on one side, and chiffon forest green on the other, to interpret the vast and variable movements associated with the apostlebird language and movements. The gentle way in which the softness of their downy chests rocks as they walk, balance and move across their terrain would never be brought to justice by my straighter bipedal form. Oh, to have the form of a bird, round in the chest and long in the tail, a delicate frame set on two quick little stilts (or many other forms of legs in the case of different species).</span> </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US">I was once asked why I did not study prettier birds, such as the bejeweled little birds that flit across a tropical jungle landscape or perhaps even the colourful parrots that dot the azure skies of the Outback, sitting high upon the branches of majestic gum trees. My initial response was that brains were better than beauty, and I liked to study clever, sassy birds. However, to me, the apostlebirds and crows are beautiful. In such close proximity to the apostlebirds, I can examine the way the brown and grey feathers blend together across a back that blend well into the dry earth. And how I love that when the sun catches their wings just right, it reflects back an olive green not unlike the green that streaks across the white and brown smooth bark of a gumtree. <span> </span>From the softness of the feathers on their head to their small broad beak that digs for both food and mud for nest building, they are beautiful.</span> </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US">But most importantly to me, is that they are interesting. These birds are communicators, constantly chatting and in constant movement, Even as I type this blog into my computer, I can listen to their night time negotiations (up in the roost tree), and as the sun sets behind the distant hills, I can enjoy both a magnificent view and an amusing acoustic backdrop.</span> </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US">The sociality the birds enjoy is both heartwarming and amusing and also not without tears.<span> </span>Furthermore, their bird psychology holds the workings of their minds just far enough away that most of their behaviour remains a mystery, a mystery that for solving will ensure that slowly, over time,<span> </span>will need to become a wild bird.</span></p> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language: EN-US;mso-bidi-language:AR-SA"> </span> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>talkstoanimalshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04053453615061078922noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2020339808088439166.post-85604873331603809062011-10-05T11:41:00.004+11:002011-10-05T11:56:03.334+11:00Play along the lakeside and interviews with birds<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US">The group favouring the lake (The Lakeland Clan) have also produced many young and among them in Wimyub, playful and bouncy. He likes to wrestle in play with his siblings, and when they are not interested, he will grab a stick or a stone and roll on his back wrestling it and pecking it. <span> </span>Play among these birds is far from rare, as in many other social animals.</span> </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US">When I was younger, growing up on the west coast of Canada, I used to take great pleasure in watching the crows entertain themselves above the local post office. As a small group they would hop back and forth among the rough top making quite a chatter, picking up stick, leaves and hopping about. They would gather said sticks, leaves and rubbish at the edge of the rough and with glee hop back and forth along side the edge of the rough, looking down, all the while making a variety of soft caws and crow clatters. It was amusing to watch, but by far the most amusement derived from what would occur when some unexpecting person, cat, or seagull would pass by under the edge of the roof, for they would be surprised by a small shower of sticks and rubbish falling from the sky. Upon looking up at the source of falling tree debris, they would be met with several pairs of beady eyes and a cacophony of corvid chatter. A would silently chuckle to myself and with each subsequent crow prank, games and chatter, I found myself feeling more and more endeared to these clever corvids.</span> </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US">It is then no surprise that I am so very endeared to the apostlebirds here at the station. They chatter constantly, preen each other, play, forage, jump about and cock their head to the side as they look up at me walking about with them. They are incredibly social, and in many ways remind me of the crows I grew up with, and they have the added advantage that being somewhat desert adapted (arid zone. actually) they have the downy insulated feathers that make them extra fluffy. Add that feature to the roundness that often characterizes birds that spend a big chunk of their lives on the ground, and here we have a round, fluffy, chatty crowlike bird! I do not know how I will ever forget these birds, and part of me knows that whatever direction I take after this PhD I take, a part of my heart will remain with these birds and bind me to them. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span>Playful in animals is especially endearing, as well as baffling to behaviouralists. To date, although many hypotheses to the adaptive function of play have been put forth, none has been proved* (that I know of, please feel free to email me any journal citations on this topic, as the sad truth to being a scientist is that you will never ever read up on all the topics you want because you are bogged down enough with reading the papers you need to justify your own research findings). It is hard to measure the effects that playing in birds have on survival and reproduction a so many, many behaviours may influence an animals success. But, what I can say is that playing is fascinating, cute and so, so very amusing when I am sitting in the field patiently waiting for my focal bird to come down and once again grace me with his/her presence so that I may ask him a series of short question that give me insight into a bigger question (In this particular case I am asking said bird, “Does the call from this particular individual interest you?” and “ how much do you care” and then “can you tell his call from the same call in another bird?”). </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US">In between my interviews, while my interviewee bird preened, snoozed or helped build the nest, I waited and watched the other birds. <span> </span>The adults would mostly preen, forage and examine and build nests (when it suited) and the fledglings would beg and chase the adults when they were hungry. When they were not hungry, a small group would always approach and look at me (imploring for bread treats), and because their attention spans are short, they would start to play nearby, which left me in the unique position of both birdy-sitter and observer. Oh, and play they did, with stick and stones, leaves and tree rubble, and pretty much anything within sight of the communal snooze tree, where the adults would sit and preen, keeping <span> </span>watchful eyes scanning the sky for aerial predators as well as on the ground for threats such as foxes and feral cats. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span><span lang="EN-US">Broken gum tree branches are especially fun and provide minutes of entertainment for both young and old (see video below). A bird would jump up and down, flipping the broken branch back and forth, back and forth until something else catches the birds eye. If that fails to entertain, a rock or stick will also provide as a “pecking bag”.</span> </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US">Eventually, my interviewee would once again start his/her seeking of food (which always brought him past my trusty english to apostlebirdese translator (aka “Mr. ten pound speaker”), and my observations of play sessions end, but only for the time being, as in the field another day awaits. This is apostlebird abode.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> Video s</o:p></span>till to come: Playing with the “pecking stone”</p><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzUVAQaHh3ToNZ_gOipCuKXg2xJdJEGB872x-W0UobcFkLH7IwF8xkht2-NJ5cvWWtKPL0mHoTaRgRpKm80' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyMM_DYGPt7MQwGw4yu6yfcpxnFB2J_Ydo-njlKs3-f7wVeckSTh-m881eZaeCDuysop7XKNW15WmFYvdoy' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2020339808088439166.post-37964656177930355042011-10-05T11:37:00.001+11:002011-10-05T11:40:43.913+11:00Return to the Outback<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWcVq4Xc0uxa5YCzkjdfNQvnKTH_aTFXNq55_o8H_NjfZP1GnOgKIKagu5K_b7fdRMsdpL3vtMzODIZUzxFOXZXuShdBcJXqVjRGM4k3EohAg5rkjeRyrERVBRNkRxhQ0jkVzpVhPp/s1600/100_2684.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWcVq4Xc0uxa5YCzkjdfNQvnKTH_aTFXNq55_o8H_NjfZP1GnOgKIKagu5K_b7fdRMsdpL3vtMzODIZUzxFOXZXuShdBcJXqVjRGM4k3EohAg5rkjeRyrERVBRNkRxhQ0jkVzpVhPp/s400/100_2684.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659801453089482306" /></a><br /><p class="MsoNormal">It is another year to my PhD, and thus another field season, and like last year, I find myself in the beautiful Australian Outback equipped with even more equipment, a field assistant and many hungry and eager apostlebirds. The spring here is still windy and cold most days and the insects have yet to arrive en masse. My birds remain light in mass and somewhat unconditioned for breeding, but last years breeding attempt was extremely fruitful for them and they have many young. Rumby, my sassy bird from last year has tempered with age and now she is not so boldly searching my bag, but rather politely waiting on the scale for her reward. I miss her playfulness but her own children carry her bold exploratory trait, and I enjoy seeing then trot towards me. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">The apostlebirds remain in their winter flocks, as in April of this year when I was here last. Except that instead of nine out of 15 social groups, I have ten groups amalgamated into roughly seven groups that flip over ridges, cross mud flats and toy with many, many different locations that for them, are probably not all that far apart, but for me and “Mr. Ten Pound Speaker” plus recording equipment, are not in fact, far apart.</span> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">My most stable group right now is the Hopover Clan, consisting of 7 adults and 7 young ones of various ages. Like most apostlebirds in our study population, they are tame enough to feed, weigh on kitchen scales, follow, record and now train to approach as single eager participants in my experiments designed to tease apart how apostlebirds view their own calls. However, Hopover Clan needs to entertain themselves somehow, and they like to play “Hopover-walk around” with me. The game goes like this. I arrive at their humble abode, and they dutifully come down, get on the scales and present their legs for examination of the colourful anklets that identify them. They get bread in reward. If they are not satisfied with the bird-human interaction, they hopover to the other side of the lake, and I then start my trek around the lake. When I finally catch up the birds, they dutifully come down and allow me to count them all. They eat some more bread, poo on my bag, and if they feel like it, they fly back to the other side of the lake. Or, they may take a little snooze in the trees, then hopover the lake.</span> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">The end result is a nice walk for me, some recordings and some experimental results, and poo on my bag. Welcome back to Apostlebird Abode.</span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2020339808088439166.post-4155716339164551862011-08-08T22:15:00.000+10:002011-08-08T22:40:19.152+10:00An introduction to cooperative breeding and why helpers help: Part 1: What is a cooperative breeder, and what does a helping bird do?
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font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style> <![endif]--><span style="font-weight: bold;">Disclaimer: </span>This series on "<span lang="EN-AU">An introduction to cooperative breeding and why helpers help" is in no way a review on all the hypotheses that exist or in no way attempts to review all literature and books on this topic.If you are interested in this area of research there are plenty of resources available. Further interest in apostlebird research can b</span><span lang="EN-AU">e found on my website at www.animal-acoustics.com.
<br />
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style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b style=""><span lang="EN-AU">An introduction to cooperative breeding and why helpers help: </span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b style=""><span lang="EN-AU">Part 1: What is a cooperative breeder, and what does a helping bird do?</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b style=""><span lang="EN-AU">
<br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b style=""><span lang="EN-AU"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcVHMRrdsqZAV9wt7yk4wPWVGme6HtzgUpdClADcG_QvhBJ_On4XnbjwVRta9ms1-_gpFiVRJbRqj_AbprQqiq4d49Uf4m8oDBi31HpcwW2z3WewTa-r3NAs6WnXreY6BYxZmLLwtA/s1600/apb+at+Mildura+%25287%2529.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcVHMRrdsqZAV9wt7yk4wPWVGme6HtzgUpdClADcG_QvhBJ_On4XnbjwVRta9ms1-_gpFiVRJbRqj_AbprQqiq4d49Uf4m8oDBi31HpcwW2z3WewTa-r3NAs6WnXreY6BYxZmLLwtA/s400/apb+at+Mildura+%25287%2529.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5638461324237634210" border="0" /></a></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /><b style=""><span lang="EN-AU"></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-AU">Apostlebirds have many common names, Lousy Jacks, Grey Jumpers, and Happy Families. They indeed look like happy families with all their preening, chatting and cuddling up together on a branch. But, why all this cooperation? </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-AU">In an earlier post, I told you about the drama I witnessed during the winter/ off breeding season and all the fighting, screeching and foot biting. Also, all the chasing of other groups, the scramble for bread and monopolization of access to the food lady- all this conflict! But despite all the fighting, year after year, since at least 2004 when this study was started (not by me, but by my adviser) these hardy birds breed cooperatively. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-AU">What is cooperative breeding, you ask? Well, it is when <span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span>adult birds help to raise offspring that are not their own. And help they do, with everything from the diligent building of cup shaped mud nests, to the hours and upon hours of protecting the eggs from the cold of the outback nights and the arid heat of the Australian sun, to the feeding of the every begging and hungry young. And then they help some more, as the growing birds in the nest need care beyond filling their gaping mouths. They need preening to clean the chalky sheaths of their newly emerging feathers, and parasites need to be picked away from their delicate baby skin and they even need their poo to be carried away ( and some cases eaten away!) so that they do not sit in an ever growing mound of partially digested food.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-AU">All these baby care task, and more, the helpers do. Helpers will even remain vigilant for predators that they will mob and chase away, if necessary. But why? Why all this effort in a land that can be so unforgiving, that can go from <span style=""> </span>tolerable to hot and dry with nary food (insects and seeds) in a blink of the eye? And to raise offspring that are not your own? Why not settle down and wait until you can have your own children?</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-AU">Well, first thing that comes to most people’s mind is that, well maybe you can’t have children on your own. Maybe waiting for a good season is too long, longer than your breeding life. Alright, so you need help? Who will help you? Maybe they themselves want to breed? That sounds like one big bird fight waiting to happen- and maybe it does, and maybe that is what all this conflict during the winter is about. Fight it out, beak to beak, who gets to bred. Well, somebirdy comes out a winner and<span style=""> </span>somebirdy has to help. But what keeps a bird from being a sore loser and birdy-ing off. That would be system collapse wouldn’t<span style=""> </span>it? Maybe the helpers get something then for helping.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-AU">Think of it this way. Maybe you are an older child, or maybe you have younger cousins. Remember being made to babysit when you were a teen?<span style=""> </span>Your parents may have paid you for it, but chances are it was “your responsibility” to help. Society expectation, maybe, but also as a “rent payment” . This is especially the case, if you are an adult and later visit with parents, aunts, friends with children, etc....
<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-AU">Some other adult keeps a roof over your heads the fridge stocked, shampoo in the bathroom, etc… and those are all resources in their territory and their house. So, maybe cooperative breeders, like the Apostlebirds, pay rent (Pay to stay- see the papers below for more info).<span style=""> </span>Apostlebird juveniles (younger than 1 year) stay at their parents place and continue to beg at adults for food, although they also look for food and feed themselves. When they get older, they will feed younger siblings and by the time they are an adult (~2 years) they start to help at the nest.<span style=""> </span>Younger adult birds will tend to stay at home and help mom and dad raise their younger siblings, until at some point, mainly the daughters leave home, while their brother stick around the territory where they were born, sometimes even after mom and dad are long gone.<span style=""> </span>Maybe a male will inherit breeding status and take over the home stead himself, in a few seemingly rare cases, he may leave himself, or maybe he just continues to help as an adult. 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mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style> <![endif]--> </m:defjc></m:rmargin></m:lmargin></m:dispdef></m:smallfrac></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b style=""><span lang="EN-AU">Next time, Part 2: When are you going to have kids? Why an adult bird may still be helping rather than having their own children.</span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /><span lang="EN-AU"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-AU">1-A few interesting papers on "Pay to Stay" here:
<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-AU">http://www.anu.edu.au/BoZo/kokko/Publ/Rent.pdf</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-AU">http://www.ericlwalters.org/koenig_walters2011.pdf</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-AU">http://people.bu.edu/msoren/McDonald.pdf</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-AU">http://www.life.umd.edu/faculty/wilkinson/BIOL608W/Sachs&Rubenstein07_BP.pdf
<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-AU">
<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-AU">
<br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-AU"> </span></p> 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Maniac (written last field season, aug 2010)<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:relyonvml/> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves/> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:donotpromoteqf/> <w:lidthemeother>EN-CA</w:LidThemeOther> <w:lidthemeasian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:lidthemecomplexscript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:splitpgbreakandparamark/> <w:dontvertaligncellwithsp/> <w:dontbreakconstrainedforcedtables/> <w:dontvertalignintxbx/> <w:word11kerningpairs/> <w:cachedcolbalance/> </w:Compatibility> <m:mathpr> 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Like watching their surroundings like cable network. I contemplate this while staring up at the bird sitting on her nest. She gives me a quick glance and decides that I am not worth watching and I don’t blame her. She continues to ignore me as I stare up at her through binoculars, pointing a microphone at her in the hopes of a nest vocalization.<span style=""> </span>The cold wind stings my face and I try to hide behind the fuzzy wind guard of my microphone. The bird, on the other hand, has tucked her face into the fuzziness of her chest feathers. Lucky bird.<span style=""> </span>There is really not much to watch as bird sits and I stand in the cold ear</span><span lang="EN-US">ly spring wind.<br /></span> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">My mind wanders to the thought of warmth. “A cup of tea, some cookies, a warm blanket. Mmmm. Maybe a couch, oh and a tv. What would I</span><span lang="EN-US"> watch out here?” Never mind that I have no tv or cable for that matter. “Well then, what would the bird watch?” Sheep Show. Kangaroo Kable. Biologist Bloopers. Emu Entertainment. Magpie Magee. Chicken Channel. <span style=""> </span>Artist Antics (yes, there are artists that use the field station as creative inspiration.)</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">I am snapped back to reality as the wind tries to steal my microphone. It is already 7 am and the wind has picked up enough to register 40% noise on my Marantz recorder. I sigh and glance up at bird. She has gone to sleep with her beak lost in the softness of her chest. I pack up my gear and head inside. If I am lucky, in a few hours, I will be a</span><span lang="EN-US">ble to go out again.<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT9XjUR9niZGQZVWpz5Wg85VEhegnXRI4lGA1JEFcQswD6JM7FFcWHv7M2WTtla7wF-0hdV7ZB9pd6x2tUwzDGuLkDTYzdhQbfmrZYWhJjgPZTmDAao0fTDmXeh1ac_Y-peK0eUH5b/s1600/100_2671.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT9XjUR9niZGQZVWpz5Wg85VEhegnXRI4lGA1JEFcQswD6JM7FFcWHv7M2WTtla7wF-0hdV7ZB9pd6x2tUwzDGuLkDTYzdhQbfmrZYWhJjgPZTmDAao0fTDmXeh1ac_Y-peK0eUH5b/s400/100_2671.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5632508608716355394" border="0" /></a></span><br /><span lang="EN-US"></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Later that day, the wind has died down, and I gleefully run out the door and head off down the creek to visit the Hills Clan. I am laden down with gear but I skip across the rocky ground. It had been a fairly wet summer, and here and there, along the creek are pools of water, and in some places the creek bed is coated with a layer of slippery mud. And there along the sides of the creek, I was reacquainted with some of the fundamental rules of fieldwork. 1) Recording equipment + tripod + gel batteries = heavy knapsack, 2) Large gap + muddy sides = suboptimal jumping conditions, and finally putting the two together, 3) Heavy equipment + suboptimal jumping conditions = crap landing + twisted knee.<br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">With my knee aching, I push forward towards the group. The weather is clear and I ache even more to see my group, and as I approach the pass that leads to their favorite hangout spot, I feel a sudden whoosh of air behind my head. It is Mr. Maniac, the resident rogue magpie. It is not actually him that is the maniac but I. That is, under the careful tutelage of my supervisor. The thing is, is that Magpies can actually be quite dangerous. No joke. In parts of Australia they have dive bombed cyclist causing head injuries and accidents. The large bird picks up a lot of speed and when they actually hit you, (and they aim for the head) it is like being hit with a lance. If you are lucky enough to remain standing (very very lucky) your head and neck will ache for days. Don’t even think about the eyes, it’s too much like Alfred Hitchcock’s “The birds”. So, to discourage the bird from dive bombing humans, I went maniac on him. I screamed nonsensical gibberish (no, I did not lecture him on my research), waved my arms and ran at the tree he had perched in. He hesitated for awhile, taking in the show and then flew off to the next tree. I followed, repeated the act and threw sticks at him, and with that he took off. The next time I encountered him, I repeated the act, and the time after that I simply yelled “Bird! Bird! Bird! (probably one of the most comment curses given by field biologists, especially when done with a shake of the fist) and he flew off. The whole act was rather cathartic, and when he moved away, I missed the chance to go off my rocker.<br /></span></p> 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Of course, begging like this is nothing new for birds, but what is cool is that I can sit here and watch them go back and forth and feed their young. If I give them bread, they will go back and forth between me and the nest feeding the bread young. But, this is not something I normally something I do as I prefer them to go about their natural birdy business.<br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Once while I was sat reclining in the long grass, with my neck craned up to pear high into the branches of <span style=""> </span>the tallest nest, I noticed that the usual fare being brought to the nestlings seemed to be changing. The adults at first had been bringing food gifts of grasshoppers, flies and other various black legs cramming out of their beaks, and suddenly it changed to …. White fluff? What? It looked soft going in, and then it occurred to me that it might me bread. 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lang="EN-AU">I like to watch chatty birds, I like to watch how they move and dance about with each other, but mostly I love the constant chatter. I want to know what they are talking about, what they say to each other and why it matters.<span style=""> </span>But as a scientist, I also wonder why? Why all the chatter? Do they exchange “gossip” on other birds. Do they say, Missus so and so had an argument with her sister, now they are not exchanging tips on where the best food is? </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU">Why talk, why communicate? Well, communication allows for the exchange of information, where the best food is, where everyone else is heading, when everyone else is ready to fly away, as well as anything else that matters to a bird.<span style=""> </span>You would expect this to be of great importance in birds that live together in a group- communication is paramount.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-AU">With the apostlebirds that I study, they chat and chat and chat. <b style="">Constantly. Lots of calls</b>. Calls while looking for food, calls while preening, calls before flying away, calls when they approach me, calls when they sit on nest,<span style=""> </span>calls when they switch nest duties, calls when they leave the nest, calls when they are scared, calls when they are alone, calls when moving newly fledged birds, calls when they approach a rival group, calls looking at me. <b style="">They never shut up</b>. What are they saying? Does this smooth out their social interactions?</span></p><p class="MsoNormal">Here's a little video clip of the birds in a calmer setting (so no initial excitement of food).</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /><span lang="EN-AU"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyuqfeqWoVN_Wdjmps_iyL64daAgRhKgTZM6NBHVjAOunyhbXtS2A4wN7KwUIsV0_na9YFtBgfVsZ-gm69HmQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></p> </m:defjc></m:rmargin></m:lmargin></m:dispdef></m:smallfrac>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2020339808088439166.post-89997005457097294422011-05-05T18:08:00.002+10:002011-05-20T16:57:11.249+10:00Birdies please come home.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" 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mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; text-align:justify; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style> <!--[endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;" align="left">The end of a beautiful day, and I am EXHAUSTED. The thing with field work is although you start the day fresh, you often end exhausted and the situation compounds over time with how many days since you have had a rest. If you are like me, you have a hard time taking a break. I would love to say because I like my birds so much (which I do) but it is probably partially owing to the fact that I have just a little over 3 years to get something substantial to make up my thesis. That is a lot of anxiety and worry to have over your head. But luckily, a lot of that goes away when I get out into the field.<br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;" align="left">Like today, day 4 of NO BIRDS. I am actually just here on a “winter season” quick data collection for 3.5 weeks, and it took me a couple days to find my birds, and for about 2 weeks after, I enjoyed finding 9 out of 15 of my social groups (plus a WHOLE LOT of fledgling that they busily produced in my absence). Then, after deciding I have recorded as many calls as each group would let me (without sucking up to the point that I get no natural behaviours and all the birds do is beg, beg, beg, climb all over bag and stealing food and then sit on a branch and poo and expect me to provide from them), I went in search of the rest of the groups. Big time. Like all over the station lands. All the way south of the lake along 2 ridges until the station border. And then up and down Picnic Creek and along the two south ridges. And then from Saloon Crossing up to the Fence. All around Freislich, again. And finally today, in the Hilux 4WD to ochre house and Sandy Creek. The station’s most isolated spot. And consequently the most beautiful (and unfortunately due to broken camera, no pictures to post)<br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;" align="left">Oh my god, gorgeous. The location is a refuge. The last year’s rain creates a lush vegetated valley, with creeks running out into the flatness of the outback in one direction and into some soft hills in the other direction. I see herons, kites, hawks, small birds. Not my birds. Surely the birds are taking winter refuge here. Please?<br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;" align="left">But no. And what also sucks is that I can’t force myself to walk more than 4 hours with my pack full of recording gear, extra gel batteries, water, emergency stuff, etc. I am so tired. I have been tired for a few days- it’s a lot of ground to cover. But realistically, I go through energy cycles and all the beauty in this world can not get me to drag myself farther. So, begrudgingly I accept that I better head back and I trek back the “fast” way, which consists of not following every bend of this sinuous creek. But the “as the crow flys” route has its merits, and as I head back over the rocky grass and thorny bush covered ground, I encounter several “ rest patches” made by kangaroos. These patches stand out among the grassiness of the vegetated land, because there are the ONLY patches of ground not covered in grass and scrubs. Kinda cool thinking about kangaroos resting there, and very tempting for me to rest in, being that most attempts to sit down resulted in burrs or thorns in my backside!<br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;" align="left">So, I end my day, a day of beauty but no birds, and hope that tomorrow brings me better luck, better rest, and maybe some recordings of some chatty birds.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;" align="left"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;" align="left"><br /></p> </w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:latentstyles></xml></m:defjc></m:rmargin></m:lmargin></m:dispdef></m:smallfrac></m:brkbinsub></m:brkbin></m:mathfont></m:mathpr></w:word11kerningpairs></w:dontvertalignintxbx></w:dontbreakconstrainedforcedtables></w:dontvertaligncellwithsp></w:splitpgbreakandparamark></w:dontgrowautofit></w:useasianbreakrules></w:wraptextwithpunct></w:snaptogridincell></w:breakwrappedtables></w:compatibility></w:donotpromoteqf></w:validateagainstschemas></w:punctuationkerning></w:trackformatting></w:trackmoves></w:worddocument></xml>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2020339808088439166.post-60333640635481486442011-04-29T16:41:00.000+10:002011-04-29T17:05:10.252+10:00Welcome to Mars<div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">I started writing when I started my PhD project. I had no intent on seeing this published until I was done my PhD, but others have convinced me that this super cool system (Apostlebirds) in the Outback (Fowlers Gap) should be shared with others, especially others that may not be so inclined to expose themselves continually to the hot, the dry, the fluctuating temperatures, the computer analyses, the degrees, the movement away from material luxury, etc, etc, that is part of the path towards becoming a wildlife biologist/ecologist who works in the field. But this is so worth it to me. 100 times over. I love this life, the birds, the challenge, the outdoors, and though I don't like to admit it- the computer stuff too, even the genetics (no thanks to undergrad genetics that SUCKED and was NOT taught in a welcoming manner), and thanks to people who actually show me what a powerful tool it can be.<br /><br />So, some of my posts (like this one) is from my first field season (Aug-Dec 2010).<br /><br />--------------------------<br /><br /><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves/> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:donotpromoteqf/> <w:lidthemeother>EN-CA</w:LidThemeOther> <w:lidthemeasian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:lidthemecomplexscript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> 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mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; text-align:justify; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span lang="EN-US">Welcome to Mars</span></b><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">The first time I saw Fowlers Gap, I saw little green men with strange laser guns. Well, not literally, but I might as well have, as the land was barren and red, dusty and dry.<span style=""> </span>Yet, I felt a strange sense of beauty as I watched the land pass from the Rover as we bumped along the dusty road. We pass a couple emus and they shy away as my heart jumps a notch towards excitement. The contrast of the bright blue sky against red soil is striking and the expanse of the heavens above is interrupted only by the circling of wedge tail eagles in quiet flight.<br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">The chatter of my car mates becomes a background hum as I stare through the dust clouded backseat window. I stare off towards the horizon, far,far away. I can imagine myself riding an emu off into the never never lands. No, that is not a good image, actually. I can now see myself being unceremoniously dumped off the emus back, stepped on, pecked, pecked again on the face, oh, here comes the spit and away they go. Whoo! Not good. I get up and turn circles, and hey, what a surprise 360 degree circle and everything looks the same to me, except that small bush on the horizon.<br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">I snap back to my reality and notice that the Rover has stopped and my advisor and his colleagues are pointing excitedly. I fall out of the car with binoculars and desperately try to see what they are looking at. “Yes yes, I see it”, I say as I focus my lenses at nothing, “beautiful, beautiful”<span style=""> </span>and suddenly there she is, a wedgetail perched on a dead tree, serene as the queen of the bush. We all stand around examining the land with nodding heads. I, myself am nodding at rocks, rocks, rocks. I wonder what everyone else is nodding at. And hope it does not have something to do with planning my initiation into academia.<span style=""> </span>Someone says “rather dusty”.<br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">We jump back into the car, and to make up for the settling of dust, we leave a cloud of red behind us. We wind through a few small hills, rocks and more rocks. I can’t help but notice the number of dry stream beds we cross. Many are marked as “Flood plain” and come equipped with a 2 meter tall flood marker. I instantly think of a yellow picture with a stylized picture of waves and a man with one arm waving for help. If I had not already been familiar with flash floods I would have thought the Aussie government was playing a grand joke on me, for there is not a drop of water to be seen.<br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style=""> </span>If I ever thought we had moved away from all form of water, I was wrong as we round the bend and lo and behold a lake. Or, at least a clustering of trees, trees, and bushes and I am told that this is “the Lake”. Later, in a scouting trip I discover that the lake is more of a pond which runs in fingerlets out along flood streams, and a haven for many species of birds, including some ducks and shorebirds.<br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">You can imagine my surprise when I returned four months later to assist with a field course. The arid zone had bloomed and what was once red dirt was now covered with many shrubs, bushes and a plague of locusts.<span style=""> </span>The birds were flying about eating their fill, and everywhere we stepped, we were greeted with a cloud of locusts fleeing are flattening foot.</span><br /></p></m:defjc></m:rmargin></m:lmargin></m:dispdef></m:smallfrac></div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqsOpfVRAdakrey3hxkohfeEu8XkmTCbztUK37OYn-jTCtO98CUHkF6aQOrduxQi4lvfSCb1q6eV33-FwrsKQUH5Url8QLHiIC5MajQ265UYkMDSnVayLXt0fYW3Z9YHMcvbuBKUI3/s1600/Martin+Fowlers+%25286%2529.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqsOpfVRAdakrey3hxkohfeEu8XkmTCbztUK37OYn-jTCtO98CUHkF6aQOrduxQi4lvfSCb1q6eV33-FwrsKQUH5Url8QLHiIC5MajQ265UYkMDSnVayLXt0fYW3Z9YHMcvbuBKUI3/s400/Martin+Fowlers+%25286%2529.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600892774485513026" border="0" /></a>My welcome to Fowlers Gap<br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXAFq2WF5ISQLe2YV1gQHT7bgBgV4GrGVjLTY4XZoJ8jc9HX-VEZSxRFnuzUMPyrz6WGtmu4XxbJ8z6IR9bzdLBpmi8Uo8ejuA_M-leNLMIxgkZZWIGOw9Ug1zCcmMYr7tf0_ADVbU/s1600/Fowler%2527s+gap+jan+%25285%2529.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXAFq2WF5ISQLe2YV1gQHT7bgBgV4GrGVjLTY4XZoJ8jc9HX-VEZSxRFnuzUMPyrz6WGtmu4XxbJ8z6IR9bzdLBpmi8Uo8ejuA_M-leNLMIxgkZZWIGOw9Ug1zCcmMYr7tf0_ADVbU/s400/Fowler%2527s+gap+jan+%25285%2529.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600892767420547586" border="0" /></a>Jan 2010- arid<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcsVDNZIjtnIiGi5XJd2klCr1pC3E1ATPYyRhrRqBxO9EZwT4Ed7StUzA2i9qLAOLpxkQprfObadyMZhkY7zUu4D-tYKtJQbytXHKoNq_pKUpV2Nv1c2bG9X1vBXxuuy9Wtg258vhq/s1600/Fowler%2527s+gap+jan+%25284%2529.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcsVDNZIjtnIiGi5XJd2klCr1pC3E1ATPYyRhrRqBxO9EZwT4Ed7StUzA2i9qLAOLpxkQprfObadyMZhkY7zUu4D-tYKtJQbytXHKoNq_pKUpV2Nv1c2bG9X1vBXxuuy9Wtg258vhq/s400/Fowler%2527s+gap+jan+%25284%2529.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600892763876515714" border="0" /></a>Jan 2010- Mars Scape<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2020339808088439166.post-15771468352453258122011-04-29T16:20:00.000+10:002011-04-29T16:31:54.312+10:00The Lakeland Winter Clan- 22 birds and a whole lot of trouble<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves/> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:donotpromoteqf/> <w:lidthemeother>EN-CA</w:LidThemeOther> <w:lidthemeasian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> 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{mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; text-align:justify; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;" align="left"><span lang="EN-US">I am enjoying a “day off” so to speak. Day off in that I am not in the field, but “day off” because I am in fact taking the time to do all the piddly things such</span><span lang="EN-US"> as e-mail updates to my supervisors, finishing arranging files and uploading them to a network,<span style=""> </span>clean gear, update data files and now a little time to write.<br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;" align="left"><span lang="EN-US">It is actually a fact that I would rather be in the field recording the birds, but I am so tired because a couple nights ago, the mice plague gang ran across my head, my pillow, and my bed all through the night. They were having a ball, that is until I got up and stole the snap traps from the kitchen, emptied out the mice occupying them and set them around by bed. So they themselves went to bed, taking care to not set the traps and left me bleary eyed at pre-dawn tramping across the outback to greet my apostlebirds</span><span lang="EN-US"> with bread for breakfast.<br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;" align="left"><span lang="EN-US">The Lakeland Clan were all too happy to see me, and came down to present their colour banded legs and all call at once in disharmony to the eight screeching fledglings. EIGHT extra hungry SCREECHY birds on sleep deprived headache. They are lucky they are so cute and fuzzy or I may have gotten angry and refused them more bread. But try as they might to make my head explode, their side cocked fuzzy heads with upward gaze was enough to keep my head intact. So feed them I did, until the constant cacophony of calls tamed</span><span lang="EN-US"><span style=""> </span>down to a string of calls, some overlapping, some single and clear, and then, and only then could I record some clear calls.<br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;" align="left"><span lang="EN-US">Throughout the day, the clan moved up and down the creek (but different sides, different feeding grounds). I was lucky that despite all the movement on a day where I may have liked some more stability that they chose scenic locations by the White shouldered kite and her fledgling. She is one gorgeous bird! And even though her profile soaring in the morning sky caused the apostlebirds to alarm call and dive for cover, she showed no interest in the apostlebirds themselves. She soared in circles, returning to her child, and as she approached the youngster, I could hear these high pitch pick calls</span><span lang="EN-US"> increasing in frequency. Pic……………….Pic………………….Pic………..…Pic………. Pic……..Pic…….Pic….Pic…Pic..Pic..Pic..Pic..PicPicPicPicPicPic. The call? Her call or her fledgling, I don’t know as they were high in trees, but it sounded cool. She also would do these food transfers in the arm and would dive up and down in the distant sky, which provided great entertainment while my otherwise chatty birds, with tummies full of bread and insects would sit preening in the sun.<br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;" align="left"><span lang="EN-US">The harmony of fluffy birds in the sun, beauty in the sky, azure horizon, red soil and marching ants was soon broken by the arrival of a Sparrowhawk. Woosh……….. into the apostlebird tree! Click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, and scatter in the trees. Picau picau picau, wings all over and jumping in branches and then the hawk is gone. I cou</span><span lang="EN-US">nt my birds. I can’t see them all. I start to feel a lump in my throat. Did I see her leave with a bird! Did I! Did I!<br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;" align="left"><span lang="EN-US">“Krich?”” Krich, Krich?” Here comes a few juveniles. “Da dee doo, Da Dee do”. A few adults . The Lakeland clan slowly emerge from the trees and gather in front of me. Where was their reward? Their bread? Surely, that feat of predator avoidance warranted more bread? Extra bread?<br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;" align="left"><span lang="EN-US">I count them all twice, three times, and yes, all birds are there. I breathe a sigh of relief, but the birds are impatient. Life is short, you eat, you chat and then a hawk comes, and they want to get to the eating part now. I catch a fledgling tugging on my recording bag, another fuzzy one examining my lunch box, and a few on the ground pecking at cru</span><span lang="EN-US">mbs. <span style=""> </span>“All right, all right, you crazy birds, have some more bread, but I want you to call for the mike”. I shouldn’t have asked, because they burst into a flurry of calls, fights, jumps and it is another 8 minutes before they settle down into steady calls and normal food seeking behaviour.<br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;" align="left"><span lang="EN-US">And that is basically how my days go. Happy chatty birds clamoring for food, settling down, followed by natural food seeking, then visits by small number of birds that I surreptitiously feed so they will stick around and call without the attention of more birds that would come and make a fuss and render all hope of single clear calls impossible. Then the group follows, I follow at a distance, and we repeat all over again, and again, and again. Always with more beauty of nature and apostlebird antics.<br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;" align="left"><span lang="EN-US">Now you can see why I take so little “days off”. No point. Day o</span><span lang="EN-US">ff are computer days, tired days to recuperate from physical tiredness and blisters. Days to write (yay), days to maybe bake some cookies (yum), do laundry ( no more stink), claen mouse poo off (actually that is everyday, twice a day) and visit with the Cottager Clan (the station apostlebird residents). Days to sometimes read a book , maybe. Aaahh</span><span lang="EN-US">… my birds await.</span><br /></p><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi83qPh_UXxH8pfSdaN05_PHcNsvLcQJHar2rld5KcU66adaKUsPLYu0pfvamkTjIYuLafHpF7g6VmpMMY9B0igOXZvSW4QeNlYreXw5LZcpuuVT1mAMctO-xRZbyanmBZfEhO47el0/s1600/100_2802.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi83qPh_UXxH8pfSdaN05_PHcNsvLcQJHar2rld5KcU66adaKUsPLYu0pfvamkTjIYuLafHpF7g6VmpMMY9B0igOXZvSW4QeNlYreXw5LZcpuuVT1mAMctO-xRZbyanmBZfEhO47el0/s400/100_2802.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600888279500707346" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Lakeland Clan fledglings<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGQ5fMejPMCR3O2fd98ZgPEa2HxynMukSoXGbnpxwWbIaquasEP5FBphaX5wx8acknKfnOymCAhtqK2rmdNMQJCYUxP4v-BLvASkr3ipw8HfF_Z2ADUkz9GvHr8xIU6-U5wwmuMZr7/s1600/100_2790.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGQ5fMejPMCR3O2fd98ZgPEa2HxynMukSoXGbnpxwWbIaquasEP5FBphaX5wx8acknKfnOymCAhtqK2rmdNMQJCYUxP4v-BLvASkr3ipw8HfF_Z2ADUkz9GvHr8xIU6-U5wwmuMZr7/s400/100_2790.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600889127172865602" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Hello? Does bread come from here too?<br /></div><br /><br /></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:lsdexception></w:latentstyles></xml>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2020339808088439166.post-14606993919993923092011-04-21T16:09:00.000+10:002011-04-21T18:58:08.913+10:00Introducing the ApostlebirdsFirst things first! The birds! These chatty birds are socially living cooperative breeders, which means that they live in social groups all year round, and when it comes to breeding, a single breeding pair mates and lays eggs, and then they, as well as numerous "helpers" raise the young. The helpers are often offspring of the breeding pair, but can also be unrelated. <br /><br />The breeding pair, as well as the helpers build the nest together. First they gather mud and build up a base,then they shape the cup and add in the grass and finally they line the nest with grass and feathers. But not without a whole lot of drama, discussions, screaming and the occasional fight. Building this nest seems to be a big deal and everybird want to contribute. Sometimes a bird is shoved aside whilst his beak is still full of mud, and sometimes he shoves back in. If he gets angry enough he will spill his mud Aesop's Fable style as he opens his beak to protest. Sometimes, somebirdy want to join the mud nest building festivities and is chased off, sometimes somebirdy leaves the whole scene and joins another group. It is an excitable time.<br /><br />When it comes to egg laying, the social group (breeding pair and helpers) appear to have settled down. Again, everybird helps incubate the nest, and care of the nest is so important that negotiations still occur at the nest. The conversation goes like this: "<span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">mm mmm mmm mmm mmmm</span>" " ee ee ee ee ee ee" "<span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">mee mee mee mee</span>" " da dee do, da dee do AA AA AA AA AA AA, AU AU AU EEUU EEUU"<br /><br />Rough transation: "<span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">get off, get off, get off, get off</span>" " mine mine mine mine"" <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">GET OFF, GET OFF, GET OFF</span>" " not happy, not happy, somebirdy taking over nest, where are you? where are you? (this is as the bird leaves the nest and flies to join the rest of the group).<br /><br />Sometimes, the bird on the nest wants to get off. Maybe he or she is hungry, or maybe has a sore bum, or maybe tired of watching the local entertainment (Biologist Bloopers, Emu Entertainment, Sheep Show or Krazy Kangaroos). He or she wants to leave, so she sends out a call for replacement. Because she is transmitting over a large distance and sometimes in windy conditions she is already calling very loud. So what is a bird to do if she really want to get off now rather that sending a more polite "will someone please"? Well, she can call "eeuu" (rough translation:soon good)," eeuee" ( want off now), "eeueeuu" (going to leave soon!). But again, the nest is so important that it is rare that I see a bird just up and leave the nest. But, I have listened (and recorded) many a bird calling " eeuee" bouts again and again.<br /><br />Then, one day, an egg hatches and out appears a baby! The next day another baby, and the next day a third, and sometimes more! Oh, babies the places you will go! (if you survive), so diligently our proud parents and their helpers feed, preen, warm and primp the babies, carrying away (or eating!) their poo, and day by day the chicks grow and grow and beg and beg and get very very fussed over! And throughout this chick care the birds continue to have their nest conversations. Yes, they still have this drive to screech and call and generally make a production of the swapping of nest duties. Doesn't seem so smart, does it? Yes, let's advertise the presence of the nest to potential predators? There must be a good reason for all this conversation.And let me emphasize to you that this chatty behaviour is not confined to the nest. No sir, not these birds. Chat chat chat, while foraging, chat chat chat, while preening, chat chat chat, while flying, CHAT CHAT CHAT DRAMA DRAMA DRAMA MAKEUP MAKEUP MAKEUP. Who needs soap operas when you have these birds? And this is where your truly, PhD student biologist comes in! So many chatty birds and conversations to fill my thesis, so much to understand.<br /><br />So now, I have given you a good overview of their chit chat. Have a look at the video once more and this time, oh can you see the possibilites! These birds will steal your hearts.<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwlL6tOtD-V2MZlLRIFJp3sG8n4ms0V8xL8SCvmfzmO3k4lSknkko0eVdy5FX2PZEcj5v7zew1svCTuk779ng' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2020339808088439166.post-58447309320097182872011-04-16T23:07:00.000+10:002011-04-16T23:08:01.640+10:00New Blog<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRJ_KG6oxi4NaRue7_9XVFMDnxRn46mXhepuPFcl9Ans0DXR9nFCC1jSjpkLBhMI0AEJtS3QR4nfuFVMgAcnESMNogFQK1ed7qLzq61JvvI9DH1Y2bQDHAElysPPrfTGlh9DqkLPVd/s1600/FILE0011.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRJ_KG6oxi4NaRue7_9XVFMDnxRn46mXhepuPFcl9Ans0DXR9nFCC1jSjpkLBhMI0AEJtS3QR4nfuFVMgAcnESMNogFQK1ed7qLzq61JvvI9DH1Y2bQDHAElysPPrfTGlh9DqkLPVd/s400/FILE0011.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596166882592064530" /></a><br />Well here it is. After a year and a half of working on these fantastic group of birds, I am creating a blog. This blog serves to tell you about some of the amazing, amusing, saddening, joyful things that happen to the apostlebirds living at my field site in the Australian Outback. My field site is in New South Wales, and I am a PhD student enjoying learning all about these birds while building skills to become what I hope will be considered a strong researcher. Included with these stories are my personal stories of becoming a field biologist. Please enjoy, and keep in mind that this blog is all about my reflections, my creative outputs and my not so scientific anthropomorphic musing. My science and my publications as they appear are on my personal website, which will be posted at a later date.<br /><br />So for now, let the chatty birds guide my stories!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0