Like Lawrie Conole I too have noticed the super abundant flights of the
Caper White butterfly at Ruffy (2 weeks ago) near Euroa n-e Victoria and as
far south as Yanakie and Mt Oberon (last w/e) on Wilsons Promontory - the
most southerly point of the Australian mainland. Painted Ladies were also
common but far out-numbered by the CWs.
Interestingly no birds were even vaguely interested in eating these
butterflies - although I did hear both Fan-tailed Cuckoos and
Shining-bronze Cuckoos nearby). I watched dozens feeding on an enormous
lavender bush in the Shallow Inlet caravan park west of Yanakie, Sth
Gippsland. Almost 40 species of birds wasn't bad for a disturbed coastal
environment I thought.
Martin O'Brien
Executive Scientific Officer
Scientific Advisory Committee
Threatened Species Program
Department of Natural Resources and Environment
4/250 Victoria Pde.,
East Melbourne, 3002
Victoria, AUSTRALIA
tel: +61 3 9412 4567
fax: +61 3 9412 4586
e-mail:
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