Crazy Curlews

The Buch Stone-curlew or Bush Thick-knee, Burhinus grallarius, are common birds in the Australia tropics. They are known for their  wailing, almost human-like calls heard at night. Often several birds join in a chorus. For the initiated, the first experience hearing this can be confronting.

During the day the birds stand around or squat under trees, often within metres of human activities. The species used to be common all over Australia except in the arid centre. Introduced foxes and cats have reduced their numbers. In the northern tropics foxes do not occur and feral cats are often the dinners of local pythons.

The birds feed at night on insects, lizards and small mammals. They breed from July to January. They build no nest but cobble together a few stones under a tree and lay up to 3 eggs. In Cairns hotel foyers are ideal nesting sites as are the shaded, plantings around school and university buildings.

During the recent drought temperatures in far north Queensland reached into the high 30's (Centigrade) but that did not deter the birds. Here a pair had been nesting on the property for more than 15 years. So when it was time to do their thing, they did it despite the heat.

 This female is not sick or dead but it "incubating" an egg. The temperature of the ground would have been much higher than the 35C of the air. She maintained this position for days.

The egg did not survive. It must have been hard-boiled! But the female survived. (There was ample water within a few metres of her "nest".

Peter Shanahan has agreed to share some of his curlew photos taken in his driveway.

The "Broken wing"scenario

Two excited birds are more effective than one!

The "nest"!

A mother and chick in the shade during the day.