The regular scheduled mist net which was carried out at the BBO recently was
very
quiet for the first hour or so with no birds in the nets. The reason for
this became
obvious when in quick succession three Brown Goshawks decided that the nets
were the way to go and at intervals of about twenty to twenty five minutes
hit the
nets in different locations.
This kept everyone busy for the next hour or so processing and during this
period another Brown Goshawk hit the net but managed to escape before it
could
be properly secured.
However a small thin and weedy Collared Sparrowhawk was not as quick and was
duly
caught and processed but not before causing quite a few identification
problems for the
banders and support crew present.
At first the bird was thought to be a Brown Goshawk, race didimus, as there
was a
slight beetling of the brows and the plumage is very similar to that of a
Brown Goshawk .
However the birds' long middle toes resulted in the Collared Sparrowhawk
verdict being returned.
During the time that the mist netting was being conducted there was a total
of seven Brown Goshawks sighted from the processing area.
Curious spectators seen watching at different times during the processing of
the Goshawks
were a male Red-headed Honeyeater, a Mistletoe Bird and some Brown and
Singing Honeyeaters, who
seemed to rather enjoy the predicament of the Brown Goshawks as they were
banded, sexed, measured and
weighed before being safely released.
While all this terrestial activity was in progress large flocks of Masked
Woodswallow could be heard and then seen
hawking for insects in the skies above. Many thousands of these birds have
been seen over the BBO during
April and May and it is unusual for them to be present in such numbers for
such a long period.
The netting and processing of a Great Bowerbird, three Peaceful Doves and a
Singing Honeyeater completed a mistnetting with a difference.
Phil Joy
P O Box 21
Broome
W A 6725
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