buff-banded rail

Also known less glamorously as Green Island chickens, they scurry around in the undergrowth, shuffling through leaves and vegetation looking for seeds and fruits,bugs, insects and even small lizards.

It must be hatching season at the moment as many of the adults had two or three little black, fluff ball chicks skittering around.
There is a helipad on the island and I noticed, when watching one family of bbrs, that as the shadow of the 'copter flew over, the female bird gathered her brood beneath her and spread her wings into a tent like shape above them.
So well camouflaged is she against the forest floor she became almost invisible.

Omniverous in feeding habits, they are also very partial to a chip..or three..and have become quite aggressive scavengers around the picnic tables and restaurant, where they will actually launch upwards onto the table and help themselves given half a chance.
Visitors are encouraged not to feed or interact with the birds, but where there is food and cameras being wielded it is a losing battle.


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