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Australian Hobbies huntingAlternate name(s): "Little Falcon", "White-fronted Falcon"; misnomer: "Duck-hawk*"  Aboriginal name(s): "wowo", "ngowerngo"Size: 30-32 cm (male), 34-35.5 cm (female); wing span 65-85 cm |
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What happens when two Australian Hobbies are in the area hunting? We have witnessed such an occasion in March 2011. One should know, as background knowledge, that little will happen in the bird world when Nankeen Kestrels are around. They are known to prefer mice, locusts and lizards. Only very small birds may feel threatened by them. But Australian Hobbies (and also Peregrine Falcons are much more powerful and also faster falcons.
The first signs of something extraordinary going on were various warning calls sounding and at the same time small birds dashing into cover. We saw two Little Friarbirds at full wing stretch, shooting into dense, low trees from underneath at break-neck speed. At the same time a Red-rumped Parrot sheltered in a cypress pine (see photo).
Red-rumped
Parrot hiding in dense growth
[Eulah Creek, NSW, March 2011]
What we found shortly afterwards were two Australian Hobbies using the highest branches of a half-dead ironbark eucalypt ontop of a hill as their perches to hunt from. They always faced into the wind, which was also the side of the steeper downhill slope.
Here the two feared raptors; they checked out the surrounding
landscape from the highest vantage point to be found and flew
attacks from there, using their elevated position to swoop
down on their prey
[Eulah Creek, NSW, March 2011]
Various bird species were trying to hustle the Australian Hobbies out of their territories.
The first half-hearted attempt was made by Australian Ravens. But the hobbies just flew a circle when being swooped and then settled back again, until the ravens eventually lost interest (they were not threatened by the hobbies anyway).
Australian Raven that has landed where just a moment ago an
Australian Hobby was sitting
[Eulah Creek, NSW, March 2011]
Next to have a go at the hobbies were a family clan of Noisy Miners. Although annoying, they could not dislodge the falcons. Noisy Miners are small enough to be potential prey for Australian Hobbies. They approached the raptors with caution. They stayed in or near cover and hopped along branches more than flying. They certainly avoided flying into open air space (one bird that did was the subject of an unsuccessful attack by one of the hobbies).
Noisy Miners
having a go at the hobbies
[Eulah Creek, NSW, March 2011]
Then a family clan of White-winged Choughs tried its luck.
White-winged
Choughs hustling the hobbies
[Eulah Creek, NSW, March 2011]
Success was achieved eventually, but it was short-lived and
the hobbies came back
[Eulah Creek, NSW, March 2011]
And finally Apostlebirds tried - and, where everybody else failed, they succeeded. They had earned their names as "Lousy Jacks" again.
Helped by its mates, this Apostlebird convinced the
hobbies that it was time to move on
[Eulah Creek, NSW, March 2011]
In the end the hobbies cleared out without having made a catch. No chance to get a photo of a successful hunt.
