ASPECTS OF BREEDING OF THE PIED CURRAWONG Strepera graculina AT WOLLONGONG, NEW SOUTH WALES
| Posted: |
21/07/2021 |
| Author(s): |
K. A. Wood |
Sample data were obtained during 223 hours of observation at seven nests of the Pied Currawong
Strepera
graculina in various breeding stages. At least 13 eggs hatched, of which only six nestlings (46%) fledged. In
general, females built nests in 11-13 days and incubated the eggs for 73 per cent of daylight hours . In the nestbuilding
and incubating stage, males provided females with much of their food requirements and solicitation
displays were common. In the nestling stage, females brooded the young during the day for reducing periods of
time until they were about 15 days old and continued to brood them at night until they were 30 days old. The
rate at which adults carried food to the nest varied widely between nests from 2.4 visits/hour at a nest with one
(or two) nestlings to 11.1 visits/hour at another nest with four nestlings (mean feeding rate = 3.6 visits/hour).
Both parents defended an area of about half a hectare (40 m radius) around the nest and foraged within a
breeding home range of 12-16 hectares . Dependent juveniles remained in their breeding home range for about
eight weeks after fledging. One family was seen 850 metres from their nest 14 weeks after the young fledged
and the juveniles were still partly dependent. The syllabised call currah-currah-currong was clearly the most
frequent phrase uttered by both parents.
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