Aussie Finch Forum

Well this is new ...
Bloody Kurrawong trying to get food from under the suspended by hanging onto the wire floor .
Very concerned about the Musk Lorikeet casually walking around feeding in case Kurrawong took a foot off .
Add to this 2 Butcherbirds waiting patiently I guess for leftovers .

Not impressed at all.

Deb,
I don't care what you do but keep this bird away. They are just a giant version of a butcherbird. Same family (I think) We have them here in Sydney, Pied Currawongs (with a "C"). Have seen them extract Indian Myans and Starling chicks from under eaves from their nests and dead set hunt down baby doves. My advice, buy a slug gun, take aim and do what you can to keep them away. I know you won't like this advice but honestly, butcherbirds are like silvereyes (Zosterops) compared to these things. Will sit on the cage for hours with the big yellow eye and wreek havoc. They are not a bird of prey but the hook on the end of the beak is a dead set killer. If they don't get the birds through the wire their size will scare the life out of the birds (literally!). Good luck.

Exactly as Matho says get rid of it even if you trap it and drive it 100klms away


this is an extract from Burkes back yard website (hope this allowable if not moderator can remove)
Pied Currawongs feed on a variety of foods including small lizards, insects, caterpillars and berries. They also take a large number of small and young birds, especially around urban areas where suitable cover is scarce. Larger prey, up to the size of a young possum, is also taken, and birds will occasionally hunt as a group. Prey may be stored in a 'larder' (hung on a hook or in a tree fork or crevice) and either eaten straight away or, in the case of larger prey, over a period of time.

A cage will be set up early in the morning ...as much as I hate to do it this thing must go .

It had no fear of humans , as we approached it simply went to the other side of the suspended until we moved away and then moved back in for the kill.

The worse part is my silly Musk Lorikeet was going up to the wire to check it out .

The next suspended has young about to fledge also, a layer of t tree on the ground might act as a buffer between the Currawong and the youngins feet .

Deb,
Sorry to hear this, but if the problem isn't removed it will think your avairies are just the "do drop in cafe" when they want a feed. They are fearless and pay no attention to humans but the funny thing is they don't display aggression like magies or butcherbirds. I used to collect birds eggs as a youngster (up to 25!) and of all the larger birds currawongs had no spine at all compared to magpies/butcherbirds/bluejays. Most defensive per size were Jacky Winters! The unfortunate side of this situation is that these things are a native bird and therefore protected. Anyhoo I think of you were protecting your domestic pets from a real threat you would be covered. I any case who is gonna tell anybody if it has to go down that path? They do live in family groups so be prepared if you catch one there may be a few onlookers and hopefully they get the idea that Deb's is not the new drive in Macca's. Good luck

If I'm correct the carrawong is a native raven, very smart bird indeed just like the normal crow. They show signs of great intelligence for a bird. Yes I would indeed try anything you can to deter these birds away from your aviery as this will end in tears. Once the carrawong works out how to get your birds they will attempt to get them all. I do like watching them in the wild but not a good bird to have hanging around a home with small animals/pets.

Dogs can be trained to go for them. My Jack Russell has been trained to bark like crazy at them and she does not bark at much. To small a dog to actually get them, but effective in warning me to go chuck rocks. For their entertainment only of course.
LML

djb78 wrote:If I'm correct the carrawong is a native raven, very smart bird indeed just like the normal crow. They show signs of great intelligence for a bird. Yes I would indeed try anything you can to deter these birds away from your aviery as this will end in tears. Once the carrawong works out how to get your birds they will attempt to get them all. I do like watching them in the wild but not a good bird to have hanging around a home with small animals/pets.

Sorry, you're wrong .

The currawong belong to family Artamidae which includes maggies, butcher birds and ... wait for it .. woodswallows .

Oh, and in case anyone is wondering, their name comes from the Greek word artamos meaning literally "butcher" or "murderer"...

Deb, they hunt in packs, move it on if you can but expect more to already know about MacDebs. Better to just try and keep them away if possible, you could be in for a losing battle one trap at a time .

Ok perhaps some bird netting is in order as well .

It hasn't been back today but then I'm not sitting outside 24/7 watching either .

Where do all the Currawongs go in Summer? Many parts of eastern Australia seem to get higher concentrations of them in Winter & outside of this period they are only occasionally seen around the north coast of NSW and the New England area at least. Do others in other areas get them in numbers in the warmer months?