Help protect our Choughs
Choughs are breeding in the bush behind Eastslopes. Many long term residents are familiar with these amusing birds. The White-winged chough (Corcorax melanorhamphos) is a black bird with white wing feathers visible when in flight. On first sight they may be mistaken for a raven or currawong. They live in family groups of up to 10.
The numbers of Choughs in the Cove are difficult to confirm, I have counted 13 around the nest area, one group of 7 appear to be there consistently and another group of 6 visitors were ween yesterday. I am a little suspicious as choughs are known to kidnap chicks to raise or perhaps this is a form of forced adoption to improve their chances of survival. They are very communal birds.
The Choughs have been given a low conservation priority by the Department of Enivronment and Planning as they are declining in numbers across south eastern Australia. They are vulnerable to the destruction of habitat and being prey to introduced animals.
Choughs are a clumping bird that work together in their group to keep warm, raise young, find food and protect the clan. They build a very strong nest from mud that lasts for a number of months. Sometimes two females lay up to 7 in one next, usually 2-3 eggs each.
They only breed once a year so this is their only chance to raise their chicks. However they tend to be slow to respond at times to danger. The young do not fly well for up to 28 days after leaving the nest and therefore vulnerable prey for cats and dogs.
The advice on how we can help from the NSW Department of Environment website appears to be common sense.
- Do not let your dog wander into native bushland where it may kill choughs and other widlife.
- If you live near bushland, consider installing a cat run to stop the cat hunting outside your property and killing the choughs and other wildlife.
- Retain fallen timber, native grasses and herbs in bushland on your property or on bushcare sites as feeding habitat for the chough.
