At 13:50 09/04/2002 +1100, Carol Probets wrote:
Has anyone else on Birding-Aus observed such a gathering of martins? Is it
a regular event at certain locations?
I have seen 1,000 plus Tree Martins near Perth on a few occasions usually
in mid February. They were at Rottnest Island, and Pelican Point (near
University of WA). They seem to gather into a large flock in the late
afternoon, and they have gone the next morning.
I saw about 1,000 at Waychinicup (about 60km east of Albany) on the south
coast in January a few years ago. Again most had gone by the next morning.
While assisting a wader banding expedition on 80 Mile Beach in April
several years ago, I noticed a regular movement during the day of Tree
Martins heading north. Mostly in very small groups, but occasionally 20 or
30. We also saw a few flocks of Black-faced Cuckoo-shrikes and
White-winged Trillers (up to 30 birds) on Anna Plains Station. I knew that
the trillers migrated but I was surprised by the cuckoo-shrikes.
The Tree Martins usually arrived at the Argyle Diamond Mine in the north
east Kimberley in April, and left about August / September. The Fairy
Martins mostly arrived about October and left in February.
I have been surprised during the last few days by seeing a couple of groups
of 50 Tree Martins around Perth. Maybe these are the stragglers heading north.
___________________________________________________________________
Frank O'Connor Birding WA http://members.iinet.net.au/~foconnor
Phone : (08) 9386 5694 Email :
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