I Don't Know If This Is The Same Kookaburra
Posted 26 October 2008 in Random Photographs by Catriona
He looks a little thinner or younger than the last one.
But he’s equally cute.
Of course, he’s also further away than the last one, so the photo isn’t as clear. But that’s kookaburras for you: selfish things.
Previously: Strange Conversations: Part Fifty-Five
Next: Inappropriate Quotation Marks
Share your thoughts [4]
1
Matthew Smith wrote at Oct 26, 09:53 am
It could be the same one or would likely know the the other one fairly intimately.
“Kookaburras are very territorial. Each group claims a permanent area. A group may contain a single mated pair or a family group consisting of one mated pair and one or more auxiliaries.” (http://www.gould.org.au/wildlifecams/info_page.asp?id=Kookaburra)
2
Catriona wrote at Oct 26, 10:32 am
Like magpies! I understand they’re fairly territorial, and the youngsters from a previous brood will hang around to raise their younger siblings. Something like that.
This one just looks . . . callower. Somehow.
3
Drew wrote at Oct 28, 12:19 pm
yes, they are a gregarious species, a mating pair’s initial offspring often hang around to help bring up their brothers and sisters from later broods. This must give them a significant breeding edge and possibly helps account for the fact that they don’t seem to bothered by the urbanisation of their environment.
4
Catriona wrote at Oct 28, 11:05 pm
I suppose neither kookaburras nor magpies seem particularly bothered by the urbanisation of their environment.
Helping raise younger siblings—would that also reduce the chances of mating with a sibling, with the consequent genetic risks? That might be another advantage for the species. Actually, how do birds manage not to mate with close relatives?
I’ve never seen a young kookaburra, or, at least, I’ve never seen a kookaburra that looked young. But I love to watch the magpie chicks once they’re absolutely enormous, following their parents around meeping helplessly for food. I’m sure the parents must be thinking, “Gregarious species. Oh, yes, brilliant idea, that was.”