I was in Bendigo today, undertaking a targeted survey for Swift Parrots when,
surprise surprise, I found 48 of them in State Forest just south of Kangaroo
Gully Road, Kangaroo Flat. The birds were feeding in intenseley-flowering Red
Ironbarks Eucalyptus tricarpa in the company of smaller honeyaters (mainly
Fuscous, Yellow-tufted and White-naped) and Silvereyes. Larger honeyeaters
such as Noisy Friarbirds and Red Wattlebirds conspicuously were absent from the
area in which the birds were foraging, despite both species being abundant in
the Bendigo area at the moment.
There has been a paucity of Swift Parrot records this winter from the Bendigo
area, so it pleasing to locate so many birds. I would be interested to hear
from anyone who has seen the species in and around Bendigo this year, together
with information on the number of birds involved.
Dan.
Daniel Gilmore
Zoologist
Biosis Research Pty Ltd
322 Bay Street
Port Melbourne 3207
Ph: (03) 9646 9499
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