Pacific Baza Aviceda subcristata
By: Michael Fox
You always know when a Pacific Baza Aviceda subcristata is around because all the other birds kick up a fuss although they don’t seem to be a direct threat, being more interested in stick insects.
The Pacific Baza’s favorite prey is large insects, particularly stick insects and mantids, and frogs. They sometimes eat fruit as well. Bazzas will move through the canopy, or perch and watch, then make short dives, with feet extended, to snatch prey from the foliage or from the air. Birds in Backyards
Three of these magnificent birds have been visiting various parts of Fox Gully over the past week. While I was watching one of the Bazas flew into the trees planted in the Zone 8 restoration then landed back on the same branch to eat something long and green. I was too far away to photograph but I suspect it was a stick insect.
Mount Gravatt Environment Group 
March 4, 2013 at 6:38 am
That’s great. What a lovely view of these gorgeous birds. For about 5 years, early in the 2000s, I had one that would visit my West End butterfly garden and take up residence for a few days. It would “dive” into my native mulberries, Pipturus argenteus, and come out eating something greenish, that I was not able to identify. Alongside 3 species of butterflies, this prolific plant is also used by Hedge Grasshoppers. I’ve not seen any stick insects that use this plant. Sadly these visits are now over. I haven’t seen the bird for some 4 or 5 years now.
That’s what you get when you don’t keep record of what you’re seeing – imprecise memories 😦
March 4, 2013 at 10:23 pm
Thanks Helen. It has taken a while but I finally got some good pics. I am normally photographing the Bazas right up in the tops of trees back-lit with bright sky so this was a real joy. Once we start rolling out Pollinator Links across the city we might find Bazas back in West End.
Mike