Kingfishers calling

We have had a Sacred Kingfisher calling for many weeks now in the corner of a paddock where two very large old trees (a Candlebark and a Yellow Box) grow just 5 metres apart next to a windbreak planting of younger trees and shrubs. It occasionally comes down to some Swamp Gums beside a large dam.

Recently the kingfisher had some competition and there were three birds calling for much of the morning, generally separated by a distance of 200-300 metres. The “kek-kek-kek-kek” call we were hearing from the three birds is mainly given by the male during courtship or to advertise its territory. Our resident kingfisher still seems to be solitary so, while he successfully saw off the competition, he is yet to attract a mate.

Despite its name, the Sacred Kingfisher rarely eats fish. Its prey is varied but usually includes small reptiles, crustaceans and insects, and it can often be found in woodland some distance from water. It is however regularly sighted in the Yea Wetlands and there is a good chance to see one on World Wetlands Day, Tuesday 2nd February, when a guided “Walk with the Birds” will be held in the wetlands. Click on the flyer at right for full details.

The Sacred Kingfishers calls can be heard in a previous post, Colourful kingfishers.