September ] 1974 KELLAM, Channel-billed Cuckoo in 201

Channel-billed Cuckoo in Central Victoria By JOHN W. KELLAM, , Victoria. The recording of any species of bird in an area many miles out­ side its normal range usually evokes a certain amount of scepticism. In September 1934, I made a sighting of a Channel-billed Cuckoo, Scythrops novaehollandiae, at Junortoun, five miles ( 8 km) east of Bendigo. It was identified by the size of the bird, size and shape of the bill, and the striking red patch around the eye. It was on the ground, at the base of a stringybark stump, and had, apparently, been feeding when confronted. It just stared at me for half a minute before flying away at less than tree-top height. The record subsequently appeared in The Birds of Victoria, by W. R. Wheeler, under the "Supplementary List" as "At least three reports need confirmation". It is doubtful if a new observation can confirm observations made up to 40 years ago, but I can now record another sighting of the Channel-billed Cuckoo within five miles (8 km) of the 1934 record. This observation, which is now accepted as an authoritative record by the President of the Bird Observers Club, and the Honorary Editor of the Australian Bird Watcher, following the completion of a "B.O.C. Unusual Sighting Record" form, including copies of photographs, adds the Channel-billed Cuckoo to the list of Victorian birds. Although the normal range of this species is accepted as the extreme northern parts of inland , to as far south, on the highlands and the coast, as Canberra and Sydney, it has been recorded as a rare visitor for , where two specimens were collected in 1867 and 1943 (M. S. R. Sharland, Tasmanian Birds). There are no records of the occurrence of the species for the southern parts of South , but H. T. Condon, in A Handlist of the Birds of , states that it is "Rare. A visitor to the north-east corner of the State (Cooper's Creek ar.d Diamantina River areas ". On March 22, 1974, and for the following 11 days, a Channel­ billed Cuckoo was seen by a number of observers in a suburban garden at Kennington, two miles (3.2 km) south-east of the Bendigo Post Office, approximately 100 miles (160 km) north­ west of Melbourne. The observations that were made during that period are detailed in the "B.O.C. Unusual Sighting Record" form, which is reproduced here in full, as it contains all the details of the sighting. B.O.C. UNUSUAL SIGHTING RECORD THE BIRD Species: Cuckoo, Channel-billed. Male, Female or Juvenile? Immature or juvenile- fully grown. Number seen: One. Were notes/ sketches made at the time of sighting. If so please copy them on the back of this paper. Yes. ~ '202 [ Bird KELLAM, Channel-billed Cuckoo in Victoria Watcher

How did you identify the bird at the time? Size of bill and shape; size of bird; stance; previous experience. SURROUNDINGS Where was the bird seen? Mamie Road, Kennington, two miles s-e ·of Bendigo Post Office. What kind of vegetation or terrain was it in? Small patches of open grasslands surrounded by tall forest of Ironbark, Yellow Box and Grey Box. BEHAVIOUR What was the bird doing while you watched? 1. Roosting (see .over); 2. Eating ripe fruits of garden fig-tree; 3. Sitting on electric cable, surveying fig-tree; 4. Much of the time patiently putting up with the attacks of Peewees, Grey Currawongs, Ravens, and White­ backed Magpies. SIGHTING CONDITIONS Time and date. 10 p.m. March 22, 1974 (see over). How was the weather? Fine, following rain previously. How good was the lighting? Torchlight at 10 p.m. thereafter mostly sunshine. How long was the bird in view? Quite a large number of hours over a period of 11 days. How far away was the bird? Nearest approach 15 to 18 feet. Any photographs taken? Yes, R. Watkins, J. Kellam and G. Hill colour slides, and Barry Cooper 8 mm movie. THE OBSERVERS Name: John W. Kellam. Address: 7 Patrick Street, Bendigo. Rob and Cynthia Watkins, Marnie Road, Kennington. Generally speaking, how long have you been reasonably good at field identification? 20-30 years or more. Have you ever seen this particular species before? Yes. If you have, (a) how often? Once. (b) where? 5 miles E-NE of present sighting. (c) how long ago? October 1934; about 40 years ago. OTHER OBSERVERS Was any other reasonably experienced observer with you? Yes. If so, please give names, addresses and if possible tell of their experi­ ence with this particular species. Plenty of space overleaf. John C. Ipsen, Lyal Glen; Hugh V. Milne, Rae Street, Bendigo; and more than eight others, being members of the Bird Observers Group, Bendigo Field Naturalists Club. ON REVERSE SIDE OF REPORT Notes taken at time of sighting. March 22, 9.20 p.m. Received a phone call from Rob Watkins The Channel-billed Cuckoo, when disturbed, flew to an electric cable, . 30 feet from roosting tree. Plate 43 Photo hy Rob Watkins

saying a cuckoo was in the area and would I come next morning and confirm his identification as a Channel-billed Cuckoo? He had been trying to raise me several times that afternoon. As I was leaving for Warrnambool at 6 a.m. next morning, I asked him to locate it roosting; said he would try. 9.45 p.m Phone call from Watkins saying he had located the bird. 10.00 p.m. Arrived at Marnie Road. Cuckoo was roosting in ironbark 30 feet above the ground, about 40 yards from fig-tree from which it had been feeding that afternoon. Even with only the light of a torch, I was quite satisfied that identification was correct. March 25, 9 a.m. Cloudy, but mostly sunny; viewing time 2t hours. Cuckoo being harassed by Ravens, Magpies, Grey Curra­ wongs, Peewees, Kookaburras, and Black-faced Cuckoo-Shrikes. No retaliation on the part of the Cuckoo- patiently enduring. Feeding on ripe figs at Bramley's residence. Movements slow and deliberate at all times while feeding. Grasps portion of fig in side of beak and shears off a beak-full. On being disturbed, flew to electric cable, 30 feet from tree; pieces of fig stuck to side of bill. Bird not very shy. Description: Much longer than Grey Currawong. Head, back of neck and throat: Slaty-grey; feathers on throat and back of neck longer than breast feathers; raised like hackles. Bird 204 SCHRADER, Raven Rescuing Young Bird [ Watcher

Breast and abdomen: Lighter grey, almost white, faintly barred, .especially on flanks. Wings: Darker, greyish-brown, patterned by curved rows of dark spots; tips of wings darker, almost black. Tail: Same colour as wings, white tip with broad dark band on upper side; under tail distinctly barred. Bill: Very broad and long, greyish. Legs and Feet: Slaty grey. Iris: Red when at angle to reflect the light. Eye surround: Streaked reddish veins in good light, but not dis­ tinctly red. At a distance the head, hind-neck, throat and abdomen appear to be white, and show a marked contrast with the much darker wings and tail. When perched the legs are almost horizontal, with the breast feathers resting on the perch. Photographs taken, perched on electric cable. March 26, 9 a.m. Visit again with J. Ipsen. The bird had perched the previous night in same position as on 22nd. Now being harassed by Peewees and Magpies, no retaliation. Rob Watkins stated that once while being attacked the bird gave a harsh croak, otherwise always silent. April 2. Bird left the area after cleaning up all the figs. Total stay 11 days. The date indicated that the bird was probably moving northward. The previous sighting of 1934 had a striking bright red eye­ :Surround: bird probably moving south. John W. Kellam. 8/ 4/ 1974.

Raven Rescuing Young Bird. While travelling by train near Kaleentha in western New South Wales, on August 24, 1973, I observed a Brown Falcon, Falco berigora, with a young bird in its claws, climbing into the air with a Raven, Corvus coronoides, in dose pursuit. The Raven slowly closed the gap between itself and the Brown Falcon, and when it was only about two feet ( 61 em) away the Falcon dropped the young bird, which fell about 30 m to the ground. The Raven followed the youngster down, trying to grasp it in the air without success, and when the young bird hit the ground it did not move. Landing on the ground the Raven walked over to the bird and moved it with its bill, but the youngster did not show any sign of life. The Raven then picked the young bird up in its claws and carried it back to its nest, which was situated in a large Mallee near the railway line. The dead or injured bird was a nestling Raven, still covered in black down, and would have been about a week old. It was cer­ tainly too young to leave the nest unaided, so it appeared that the Falcon must have taken the youngster from the nest. N. W. Schrader, Ivanhoe, New South Wales, II / 6/ ! 974