Hello all,
Black-faced Cuckoo-shrikes are around Townsville NQ
all year, usually in non-breeding flocks during winter, as are Bee-eaters
and Drongos.whether these are the same birds all year round or if they are
from southern Australia and our summer birds go to PNG is anyone's guess.
The only study of birds and migration across Torres
Strait (Emu 83 Draffan et al) reports that nomadic flocks of both
adults and immatures are present during the dry season on all major islands.
Flock sizes are generally 20-30. Although large numbers arrive in PNG during the
dry season their numerical importance is confused by local movements. As large
movements have not been observed in the Strait, birds reaching PNG must cross
the Coral Sea or at a high altitude.
Cheers
Jo
Wieneke
