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Cyclone Larry aftermath

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Subject: Cyclone Larry aftermath
From: "Del Richards" <>
Date: Sat, 6 May 2006 21:48:32 +1000
    In the last few weeks there has been much bird movement in response to the 
food disruption caused be Cyclone Larry. The most obvious species affected 
would appear to be the rainforest honeyeaters and fruit-doves.
    With these species there seems to be more searching for food which probably 
comes from a general build up of individual species numbers. Food may also be 
interrupted by the fact that there has been negligible sunshine in FNQ for nine 
weeks.
    In Cairns, Port Douglas and Mossman palm fruit has been keenly sought after 
by Woompoo Fruit-Doves in residential areas where the species has not been 
noticed before.
    In recent days four Channel-billed Cuckoos fed on ficus benjamina fruit in 
the main street of Mossman, both unusual and very late in the season.
    How many species were lost and disoriented in recent weeks is impossible to 
know. A Brown Cuckoo-dove in a confused state flew into the Marreeba Savannah 
and Wetland facility about a week ago. This was well to the west of normal 
habitat.
    In Cairns fruit bats have taken to eating citrus fruit which would be 
considered unusual as a food resource.
    One of my personal highlights for the week was observing an immature 
Square-tailed Kite in Port Douglas, a first. They are generally very rare on 
the lowlands. Wether this species was in our area because of recent weather 
conditions  one can only speculate.

Del. Richards, Fine Feathers, Mossman, NQ.
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