Pied Currawongs

Pied Currawong

2007 Australian Capital Territory trip report #9

Some of the more common birds I observed during my recent visit to the Australian National Botanic Gardens in Canberra were Pied Currawongs. Along with the Australian Magpie they seemed to be spread throughout the gardens and surrounding forest area.

Many people come to visit the gardens every day. The resident magpies and currawongs have therefore become quite used to humans being around. It fact, both species are relatively tame and will come quite close, especially when food is at hand. I guess they get quite a few handouts from the garden visitors.

I am quite taken by that bright yellow eye. It seems to almost have a sinister feel to it. In fact, seeing that eye staring at me, if I were a little child eating an icecream I would be very worried about that huge beak!

Pied Currawong