Pacific koels in the house . . .

A male Pacific koel (right) feeding his mate a pandanus fruit, Christmas Day 2017, Casa da Ayre  

This summer has seen the migratory cuckoos appear in profusion, in much higher numbers than typical years.  The raucous shrieks and cries of Channel-billed cuckoos have been echoing throughout the neighbourhood for the last few weeks, and hawkish silhouettes of two or three pairs of large grey Channel-bills have become a familiar sight over-head.  The double-note of the Koels have kept pace, but they are much more secretive rarely choosing to appear in the open.  

We have a few mature Pandanus spp palms in the backyard, and they are fruiting at the moment.  They attract everything from fruit-bats to Blue-faced honey eaters.  A couple of days ago, a male Pacific koel appeared, screaming his "Koe-elllll" repeatedly, until the local Noisy miners and Magpie-larks teamed up to chase him away.  I was wondering where his secretive lady was, because he was being just so plain obvious and noisy,  clearly T R Y I N G  to goad the resident birds into chasing him, that there had to be a female nearby, just waiting for an opportunity to sneak into an unattended nest and deposit her deadly egg.  

Yesterday was Christmas day, and even the Koels decided to have a day of rest.  A male and female appeared in our backyard, and were quite relaxed.  The male spent quite a while feeding on the Pandanus spp fruit and fed the female numerous times with quite a flourish.  It seemed to be done with such exaggerated care and flourish, it had to be courtship or perhaps strengthening the pair-bond.  

Female Pacific koel, completely different to her rather spectacularly coloured mate.  

Male Pacific koel, enjoying the Pandanus sp fruits, Christmas Day 2017, Casa da Ayre