As regular CFZ-watchers will know, for some time Corinna has been doing a column for Animals & Men and a regular segment on On The Track... particularly about out-of-place birds and rare vagrants. There seem to be more and more bird stories from all over the world hitting the news these days so, to make room for them all - and to give them all equal and worthy coverage - she has set up this new blog to cover all things feathery and Fortean.

Friday, 13 May 2016

Experts called in to deal with pee wees terrorising people in Brisbane's Queen Street Mall


By Jessica Hinchliffe and Terri Begley
Posted Mon at 3:07am

Experts hope bird watching and a bit of patience will remove pee wees causing havoc to visitors and city workers in Brisbane's Queen Street Mall.

Since Easter pee wees have been approaching people eating and drinking on benches within the busy CBD mall.

Brisbane City Council has contracted bird and reptile experts to catch and relocate the problem creatures.

Grallina cyanoleuca Female.jpgBird expert Lana Fields said the pee wees were getting too close to the public, and roped-off areas, signs and a bird trap had been installed in a program to move them on.

"Due to the eating areas in the mall the birds have adapted to taking food off plates and are comfortable being around people," she said.
"There's been a couple of occasions where the public have come in contact with the birds and they are getting too close."

Despite one bird being caught and relocated at Easter, the problem remained.

"We thought that would be the solution, but it appears her [the pee wee's] daughters and partner have carried on her tradition," Ms Fields said.

"There's a lot of standing around and a lot of waiting but I can hear them as they announce their arrival.

"It took me eight hours to catch that first bird."

Understanding bird psychology
Ms Fields said the pee wees were wary and cautious of the snap trap erected in the mall area.
"It's bird psychology and it has taught me a lot about patience," she said.

"You have to know their behaviour, how they're going to react, what they're going to do and their interaction with other people and birds.

"You have to think like a pee wee."

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