Two of our migratory birds, are the Channel billed Cuckoo and the Koel.
Both these birds leave our shores about March and head to the islands to the north and further afield. In late August or early September, when Spring is in the air and it is breeding time for these birds, they arrive back in Australia in numbers. Tracking these birds is an annual task and needs the help of as many observers as possible.
Both birds may be known by their nicknames of’ ‘Storm Bird’ and ‘Rain Bird’ as their arrival is said to herald in the beginning of the forthcoming wet season. .
The larger of the two, the Channel billed Cuckoo pictured, is about 60cm in length but it is probably the least likely of the two, to be seen.
One striking feature of this grey coloured bird is the large bill that it has. It is more often seen being chased by crows, magpies and similar sized birds endeavouring to chase it away from its nest as it uses the nest of these birds to lay its egg in the nest and letting the foster parents raise it.
The Koel chooses the nests of smaller birds like the peewee and the figbird for its eggs. The male Koel is black with a red eye while the female is mainly black on the head and a mixture of brown colours in flecks and bars. Unfortunately its monotonous and mournful calls, one sounding like the repetition of a cooee, consistantly day and night, can often drive people to distraction.
However we will have the pleasure of their company from September till the following March.
