Signs of spring in Melbourne - and Song Thrush

[Lawrie Conole <>]

m("ozemail.com.au","menorris");">
wrote:
> About that Song Trush. Anthea said
> "Nice to know some have survived the drought. I am certain that their numbers
> have been locally reduced over the last few years." 

Mike, Anthea, et al.

No shortage of Song Thrushes north of the Yarra in Melbourne.  Both at Ascot
Vale where I was living last year and Northcote where I am this year, Song
Thrushes are doing very nicely thankyou.  In AV they just about outnumbered
Blackbirds, and are almost as abundant here.  I think of Song Thrush voice
as a typical Melbourne winter sound - which peters out in spring to be taken
over by Blackbirds.  "My" Song Thrushes have been singing from before dawn
well into the late morning for about the last 6-8 weeks - typically waking
me up each morning.  More singing again in the afternoon - here in competition
with the Grey Butcherbirds which have also been very vocal over the last
2 months.  If you need some Song Thrushes, you can have mine!!!!  

I think the relative rarity of Song Thrushes in Melbourne is a bit of a myth
- influenced by where most birders live (ie. south of the Yarra).  Song Thrushes
are widespread and variously uncommon - abundant in many of the older suburbs
north and west of the CBD, and some of the newer ones too.  As a youngster
I associated Song Thrushes in Melbourne and Geelong with the well established,
ultra-European suburbs - such as occur on and south of the Yarra - but only
because that was what birders and bird books held to be true.  My own experience
is that they're more abundant in suburbs such as Northcote, Ascot Vale, Pascoe
Vale South, etc. - less lush, more native gardens, etc. - apparently atypical!!??


L. 
>

-- 
=================================
Lawrie Conole
Senior Ecologist
Ornithology & Terrestrial Ecology

Ecology Australia Pty. Ltd.
Flora and Fauna Consultants
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