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for ppl who are interested in the day-to-day relationship I have with LB and his family. (All 2 of you 
).
(LB is a patriarch whose mate &daughter adopted me &whose life I later saved, spending months wildnursing him after his beak was broken off).
for ppl who are interested in the day-to-day relationship I have with LB and his family. (All 2 of you ).(LB is a patriarch whose mate &daughter adopted me &whose life I later saved, spending months wildnursing him after his beak was broken off).
I have a tendency to go quiet when something is bad &I donât have answers. I hadnât seen LB since I took this video on 19/12/20, when he was notably ravenous and a bit rough-looking. The kids turned up once, a couple of days later, w/o him. Then they disappeared too.
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A day or so after that I heard some raucous territorial calling on the far north west boundary, but it was so far, it could have been the neighbours.
I played over everything in my head: microbehaviours; old routines; visits leading up to the disappearance; weather; predator
A day or so after that I heard some raucous territorial calling on the far north west boundary, but it was so far, it could have been the neighbours.
I played over everything in my head: microbehaviours; old routines; visits leading up to the disappearance; weather; predator
3/activity that I knew of; raven behaviour. I worked and reworked theories around the current peculiar situation the family were in, combined with what I know about kooka behaviour in general.
I know that all the surrounding kooka world will know 4 is gone and LB is partnerless,
I know that all the surrounding kooka world will know 4 is gone and LB is partnerless,
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and thereâs only three burras protesting this territory. As an older bird, LB is less likely to have a new mate take the opportunity to move in, and other pairs or groups looking for space are going to know they have an advantage. The WBS eagle had spent a couple of days
and thereâs only three burras protesting this territory. As an older bird, LB is less likely to have a new mate take the opportunity to move in, and other pairs or groups looking for space are going to know they have an advantage. The WBS eagle had spent a couple of days
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hunting near my house, so it was likely he was also swinging by LBâs digs too. At least weather hadnât been bad enough to raise concerns.
I was going out there every day; varying times in case that helped; with and without the dog; agonising that it might be the end of an era.
hunting near my house, so it was likely he was also swinging by LBâs digs too. At least weather hadnât been bad enough to raise concerns.
I was going out there every day; varying times in case that helped; with and without the dog; agonising that it might be the end of an era.
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Four days ago, a weird thing happened. When I made my usual whistle, ravens gathered on the furthest perimeters of the clearing, high in the trees. After I made the kooka call, one raven began calling softly, chattering. When he stopped, I mimicked, and heâd reply.
Four days ago, a weird thing happened. When I made my usual whistle, ravens gathered on the furthest perimeters of the clearing, high in the trees. After I made the kooka call, one raven began calling softly, chattering. When he stopped, I mimicked, and heâd reply.
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It went on for ages, until he shouted loudly but calmly to the others - because they answered that one - and one by one they took flight and headed north west. Knowing about raven funerals, I read every bad thing into it. They know Iâm waiting for the kookasâŠ
It went on for ages, until he shouted loudly but calmly to the others - because they answered that one - and one by one they took flight and headed north west. Knowing about raven funerals, I read every bad thing into it. They know Iâm waiting for the kookasâŠ
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would they tell me if the kookas werenât coming? Theyâve relayed predator warnings to me before, and did that odd convoy after the fire, and they always do a flypast when they hear meâŠ
On each subsequent visit, the ravens answered me from up near the old cottages.
would they tell me if the kookas werenât coming? Theyâve relayed predator warnings to me before, and did that odd convoy after the fire, and they always do a flypast when they hear meâŠ
On each subsequent visit, the ravens answered me from up near the old cottages.
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Today, one came to the clearing and circled twice, âaaaaaarrrâing at me, but this didnât surprise me because more peculiar than that, three ravens had flown ahead of the ute along the dirt road from the old church. I said to Astro that it might be time I accept LBâs gone,
Today, one came to the clearing and circled twice, âaaaaaarrrâing at me, but this didnât surprise me because more peculiar than that, three ravens had flown ahead of the ute along the dirt road from the old church. I said to Astro that it might be time I accept LBâs gone,
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and because I know 100% that Gumbo and his little bro would still come to me, theyâd have to gone too.
I called and called. Astro whimpered from the ute.
As I walked back up to him, I decided on one last resort possibility, although it didnât make sense.
and because I know 100% that Gumbo and his little bro would still come to me, theyâd have to gone too.
I called and called. Astro whimpered from the ute.
As I walked back up to him, I decided on one last resort possibility, although it didnât make sense.
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After the big shift, when the trees were felled and their world got all messed up, they took refuge in one of their nest sites, the SW site. When they had a brood at that nest, LB insisted I meet them at the old neighbourâs empty house, next to the cottages.
After the big shift, when the trees were felled and their world got all messed up, they took refuge in one of their nest sites, the SW site. When they had a brood at that nest, LB insisted I meet them at the old neighbourâs empty house, next to the cottages.
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They would *not come to the clearing for any reason. But with no brood, and no food delivery happening, and not having used that location for AGES (a year? More?), I didnât hold out much (any) hope - I was just trying to avoid the accepting the worst.
They would *not come to the clearing for any reason. But with no brood, and no food delivery happening, and not having used that location for AGES (a year? More?), I didnât hold out much (any) hope - I was just trying to avoid the accepting the worst.
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Astro was very perturbed. Heâs never been part of that routine so pulling into the drive of a strange house was not in his comfort zone, but he was very good.
I stood at the entrance to the driveway and called with everything I had.
Far, far off in the distant SW,
Astro was very perturbed. Heâs never been part of that routine so pulling into the drive of a strange house was not in his comfort zone, but he was very good.
I stood at the entrance to the driveway and called with everything I had.
Far, far off in the distant SW,
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a querying answer came, and after a second call, it turned to a riotous celebration - so distant, I could barely hear it, but the set of Astroâs ears showed me I wasnât imagining it.
LB and Gumbo called to me the entire flight, before LB appeared in view
a querying answer came, and after a second call, it turned to a riotous celebration - so distant, I could barely hear it, but the set of Astroâs ears showed me I wasnât imagining it.
LB and Gumbo called to me the entire flight, before LB appeared in view
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and rocketed into my arms like a missile, before rapidly recovering himself and taking a position on the ground in front of me. Gumbo took up Wannyâs old spot on the powerlines above but wouldnât come closer (still possible itâs Combo, with behaviours learnt from Gumbo).
and rocketed into my arms like a missile, before rapidly recovering himself and taking a position on the ground in front of me. Gumbo took up Wannyâs old spot on the powerlines above but wouldnât come closer (still possible itâs Combo, with behaviours learnt from Gumbo).
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I sat down at LBâs level and we hooted between mouthfuls - he ate and ate - too preoccupied to bother moving to the old position behind the ute. Who knows what passing motorists thought of this strange scene.
After some time, LB, suddenly aware of how exposed he was,
I sat down at LBâs level and we hooted between mouthfuls - he ate and ate - too preoccupied to bother moving to the old position behind the ute. Who knows what passing motorists thought of this strange scene.
After some time, LB, suddenly aware of how exposed he was,
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flew into trees across the road, so I climbed the bank &went to the fence, where he sat on the fencepost beside me. I spread food in the paddock rough for Gumbo. Both birds were missing feathers, ruffled &messy, but LB has the same bright eyed cheekiness. One baby is missing.
flew into trees across the road, so I climbed the bank &went to the fence, where he sat on the fencepost beside me. I spread food in the paddock rough for Gumbo. Both birds were missing feathers, ruffled &messy, but LB has the same bright eyed cheekiness. One baby is missing.
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Over the years of knowing them, Iâve become resigned to how I can never fully know the nitty gritty of their day-to-day. I know a *lot about kookas and this family in particular, even secret kooka business, but I canât be there all the time.
Over the years of knowing them, Iâve become resigned to how I can never fully know the nitty gritty of their day-to-day. I know a *lot about kookas and this family in particular, even secret kooka business, but I canât be there all the time.
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The day will come when LB doesnât turn up anymore &I, his longest life-connection other than 4, will grieve that I didnât know it was the last time Iâd see him, and that I couldnât protect him. But thatâs kookalife; for LB, thatâs normal, so Iâll have to make peace with that.
The day will come when LB doesnât turn up anymore &I, his longest life-connection other than 4, will grieve that I didnât know it was the last time Iâd see him, and that I couldnât protect him. But thatâs kookalife; for LB, thatâs normal, so Iâll have to make peace with that.
NB: LB &fam donât meet or rely on me for food.
Iâve been in LBâs daily life for almost 4 years, &for the othersâ whole lives. I do not live in their territory now, but did when 4 &Stalky adopted me. Iâve never been a balcony-bird-feeder; Iâm an ex-zookeeper &animal behaviourist.
Iâve been in LBâs daily life for almost 4 years, &for the othersâ whole lives. I do not live in their territory now, but did when 4 &Stalky adopted me. Iâve never been a balcony-bird-feeder; Iâm an ex-zookeeper &animal behaviourist.
meet *me orâŠ
Almost 2 years ago exactly, mum, dad, &eldest daughter after successful breeding season post-systematic-relocation process within their territory after suffering destruction of their established home environment.
LB & 4 doted on each other, shown in displays of grooming &teasing.
LB & 4 doted on each other, shown in displays of grooming &teasing.
You can see LBâs beak isnât fully regrown, with an exaggerated overbite &incomplete upper mandible.
