Shovel-billed Kingfisher

Shovel-billed Kingfisher, near Kiunga 9th August 2006

On 9th August 2006 I had the good fortune to find a female Shovel-billed Kingfisher with food in her bill. After some searching the nest site was found. It is located about 25-30m up in a rotten old tree. There are a few holes in the tree indicating perhaps that the tree has been in use for a few years. By standing a little way back I was able to watch her visit the nest on 3 occasions from 0715- 0930 on 10th August 2006. Each time she came to the nest area the sound of her wings was audible, and she would perch up for a couple of minutes before making 15 second visit to the nest. I saw at least 2 young; I estimated that they were 1 week old as the body feathers were still in pin. After each feed the babies would position their rear end towards the nest old and excrete out of the nest. The food items were thought to be large grubs, as you can see from the photos. Below the tree there was a covering of wood chippings indicating that the nest hole had been dug recently. During my search for the nest hole I discovered what I believe to be feeding areas around another tree stump close to the nest area, an area of soil had been disturbed recently.