The second Great Killawarra Regent Hunt was conducted over the long
weekend. Participants were Robyn & Steven Atkinson, Margaret
Cameron, Smathi Chong, Garry & Lisa Deyton, Richard Everett, David
Geering, Steve Seymour, Joy Tansey, Steven Tucker, Pat Ward, Tom
Wheller and Frances White. People came from as far afield as
Geelong, Melbourne, Wangaratta, Numurkah and Deniliquin. The Regents
fame has spread far and wide with one hardy person coming
(indirectly) from Malaysia.
The aim of the weekend was to, again, survey the forest, a major Mugga
Ironbark forest north of Wangaratta, north-east Victoria, to help
establish just how important this forest is for Regent Honeyeaters.
Unlike the 1st Regent Hunt in April and my trip there for the May national
survey the weather was not terribly kind to us. The Saturday started
very nicely but a fog rolled in mid-morning bringing with it colder
air. It remained heavily overcast all weekend with the rain starting
about 11.00AM Sunday. The rest of the weekend was cold (I can't over
emphasis COLD) and wet. There were, however, enough breaks in the
rain to get things done. The saving grace of the weekend was the
fire, which was moved under cover on the Sunday. There was no doubt
that this maintained the spirits of everyone there.
The flowering of the Mugga Ironbark is on the wane with perhaps only about
20% of trees now in flower. This meant that the number of friarbirds
had fallen considerably, although Noisy and Little Friarbirds were
still among the most common species in the forest.
Despite the cold and wet, we soldered on and saw some nice birds.
Highlights, as for the first "Hunt", were Swift Parrots, although the
number had fallen, and two pairs of Regent Honeyeater. Excellent
views were had by everyone of both species. Other highlights were
Stubble Quail, Peregrine Falcon, Diamond Firetail, Speckled Warbler,
Red-capped Robin and Hooded Robin.
Because of the amount of water lying around I thought that watching the
dams, which was so profitable in April, was not worth doing.
However, while watching a pair of Regents by one dam a third bird
came in and bathed - in freezing conditions!!! I think we can now
start to understand why they are so endangered in Victoria!!
Species seen in the Killawarra forest itself follow. A further six species
were seen just outside the forest. The next Great Killawarra Regent
Hunt will be conducted on the long weekend, 10-11 July, the second
national survey will be held 7-8 August and the final Killawarra
Regent Hunt in early September (dates to be confirmed). Further
details from me. Good weather has been booked.
David Geering
Regent Honeyeater Recovery Coordinator
Killawarra State Forest - 12/06 to 14/06/99
Australian Wood Duck
Collared Sparrowhawk
Peregrine Falcon
Common Bronzewing
Crested Pigeon
Peaceful Dove
Galah
Musk Lorikeet
Little Lorikeet
Swift Parrot
Eastern Rosella
Red-rumped Parrot
Laughing Kookaburra
White-throated Tree-creeper
Brown Tree-creeper
Superb Fairy-wren
Spotted Pardalote
Striated Pardalote
Speckled Warbler
Weebill
Brown Thornbill
Striated Thornbill
Yellow-rumped Thornbill
Buff-rumped Thornbill
Yellow Thornbill
Red Wattlebird
Noisy Friarbird
Little Friarbird
Noisy Miner
Regent Honeyeater
Yellow-faced Honeyeater
Yellow-tufted Honeyeater
Fuscous Honeyeater
White-plumed Honeyeater
Black-chinned Honeyeater
Brown-headed Honeyeater
White-naped Honeyeater
Jacky Winter
Scarlet Robin
Red-capped Robin
Hooded Robin
Eastern Yellow Robin
White-browed Babbler
Grey-crowned Babbler
Varied Sittella
Crested Shrike-tit
Golden Whistler
Grey Shrike-thrush
Magpie-lark
Grey Fantail
Willie Wagtail
Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike
Dusky Woodswallow
Australian Magpie
Pied Currawong
Australian Raven
White-winged Chough
Mistletoebird
Silvereye
Birds seen outside the forest:
Stubble Quail
Black Swan
Crested Pigeon
Red-rumped Parrot
Welcome Swallow
Tree Martin
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