Owls - really WPHEs in the Melbourne area

["michael norris" <>]

Hi Steve and all

Banding studies at Braeside Park, SE Melbourne, have a low rate of 
recaptures, suggesting that many of the White-plumed Honeyeaters seen there 
are at least nomadic, if not migratory.
In the City of Bayside there is a notable peak in August (approx. 400 
records out of 3000) with that month having 20% of foreshore records.
Nesting in the foreshore is rare and, with 77% of records in the 6 months 
from March to August, it is a good indicator of movement.
May used to be the month when I looked forward to less common HEs (arriving 
in the foreshore (this included Yellow-tufted and Fuscous) but over the last 
10 years of drought, climate damage...  there has been a major decline with 
even WPHEs becoming scarce.  Singing Honeyeaters becoming more established 
is a minor compensation.
I would be very interested to know how much this local data is reflected in 
wider studies.
Michael Norris