Commenting on Noel Luff's thoughts about this northern sub-species one of the
defining behavioral differences is the fact that it doesn't come to ground. In
ten years of guiding the closest thing that I have noted to being in any way
terrestrial is "catching a few rays" atop a large termite mound a sunrise and
once bathing on a hot day.
Physically they are a much more contrasting in colour than depicted in
field guides. The birds west of the Mossman area having buff brows and wing
markings.
Why ever they were changed from "Black Treecreeper" is a good mystery to
this bird observer and should be reinstated as a rightful separate species.
Sadly around the Mitchell River Catchment their numbers appear to be in
decline. I believe that this decline is due to bush fires late in the "Dry"
particularly in the cases where they occur through the night where birds (and
other wildlife) would lose all orientation and sence of direction.
Del Richards, Fine Feather Tours, Mossman, NQ.
--------------------------------------------
Birding-Aus is on the Web at
www.birding-aus.org
birding-aus.blogspot.com
--------------------------------------------
To unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message:
'unsubscribe birding-aus' (no quotes, no Subject line)
to
|
