A Koel for Noel
A secretive bird out in the open
The call of the Pacific or Eastern Koel is the earworm of summer.
Two of these ruby-eyed cuckoos have set up house in the garden. From the dense foliage of a Lilly pilly tree, the female makes sorties to other birds’ nests, returning to leafy cover before the nest owners spot her. Sometimes she is too slow. At least once a day, either the female (or her glossy black paramour) fly past the house with a peeved honeyeater close behind. Blue-faced Honeyeaters and Magpie-larks are the most aggressive, but Hornbill Friarbirds will also yell their disapproval. I have yet to see the Australasian Figbirds join in, although I am sure they have opinions.
So it was a surprise to see a female koel sunning herself in the garden yesterday. Sunbathing is not unusual behaviour, but a cuckoo is always taking a chance when out in the open. This one only had to put up with me and my camera. No yelling. No judgments.
Koels are migratory, departing for New Guinea at the start of the dry season and returning at the start of the wet.
