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As below I add my comments: From my book:
"Canberra Birds: A Report on the first 21 years
of the Garden Bird Survey". There is nothing to
suggest a decline in the status of this species from that.
White-throated Needletail Hirundapus caudacutus
Not a garden bird but certainly one of the highlights of late summer, as
flocks fly high (or sometimes even low) over any habitat in our region.
Typically but not exclusively seen before or after summer rainstorms. They occur
here later in the year than at coastal centres, maybe taking an inland route
back towards their Asian breeding location. Normally very few in November and
December, rising dramatically in January with a peak in March and almost none in
April. A few vagrants or even dubious observations in October and May. This
species is often hard to count, especially when in large flocks at a wide range
of altitudes. Counts tend to be broad estimates. Even so there is an
obvious difference in abundance between years. Numbers during the first two
years were double those of most other years with Year 3 by far the lowest. Of
the other years, numbers have fluctuated significantly, with Years 7, 8, 17
& 20 well above the others.
Graphs on page: 96, Rank: 53, A =
0.21465, F = 23.95%, W = 11.4, R = 1.137%, G = 18.87.
-----Original Message-----
From:
<>
To:
<>
Date:
Tuesday, 16 November 2004 10:01
Subject: [BIRDING-AUS] Re:
Swifts
Wonder what
the explanations are for the demise of needletail numbers
Has there been a serious decline in
Swift numbers?
I've certainly
seen Swift flocks in the hundreds (several of a thousand plus) in the Dubbo
area since moving here in 2000.
Cheers
David
Geering
Regent Honeyeater Recovery Coordinator
Department of
Environment & Conservation
P.O. Box 2111
Dubbo NSW
2830
Ph: 02 6883 5335 or Freecall 1800 621 056
Fax: 02 6884
9382
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