November 1949 The Queensland Naturalist 
15 
THE GATHERING TOGETHER OF NON- 
MIGRATORY BIRDS 
By J. E. YOUNG 
Herewith are some observations on “The Gather- 
ing Together of Non-Migratory Birds,” but by this I 
do not refer to those which usually go in flocks or fam- 
ilies such as parrots, finches, etc. 
I have noticed over a number of years that there 
is a number of other species which I have seen assembled 
in groups, but so far as I could see, with no particular 
object, but to feed quietly together. 
1. The earliest that I remember noticing was some 
twenty or more years ago. when I saw a ‘‘flock’ of 
peaceful doves (Gcopelia placida ) feeding quietly about 
20 yards from my residence in the street at Gracevillc in 
which I still live. Bank Road. There must have been 
two dozen or more. 
They were in close formation and could not have 
covered a space of more than 12-15 feet. Up to the 
present time, I have never seen more than one pair and 
two young together. 
I think I should here add. that a pair of the same 
doves recently reared a pair of young in a Queensland 
Nut Tree about 30 yards away. 
As soon as they could well fly. they hunted 
the young away, laid again in the same nest and reared 
a second pair, which were also consistently hunted off 
and a third pair of eggs laid, hatched and reared. 
2. A flock of perhaps two dozen Pratincole or 
‘‘Swallow Plover,” was seen by my companion and self, 
on September 27th, 1937. when driving through to 
North Queensland. The locality was near “Tangorin. 
between Muttaburra and Hughenden. They were 
quietly feeding in an adjoining paddock in thick forma- 
tion. 
3. The Brolga, Antigone rubicunda. A fair-sized 
flock of these was seen feeding near the road, I think 
south of Townsville, in low country, amongst timber, 
when my wife and I were returning from North Queens- 
land (by car). 
4. The White Headed Stilt, listed as nomadic and 
rare we also saw in several dozens, in a flock on the 
