g'Day all
Yesterday afternoon (19 November 2008), Pat and I observed at least two
Olive-backed Orioles in the stringybark/candlebark forest near an
abandoned water storage dam 41' 16.295"S 148'14.815"E off Reids Road
near St Helens, Tasmania. Weather conditions were overcast, misty and
calm from about 2.00 pm until a heavy rainstorm occurred about 5.00 pm.
While we were there, the birds were moving about the forest canopy
constantly and could be heard calling loudly from up to 1/2 km
downstream of us, at other times right above us and then later upstream
of our location by several hundred meters before calling again from 300m
downstream soon after. Unfortunately no camera today but were able to
record some calls on a mobile phone. At about 5.00 pm. a heavy
rainstorm quietened them. It is possible more than two birds are in the
area and also perhaps breeding but we are unable to follow them up as we
are travelling departing tomorrow.
Last year on the 5th October 2007, John and Shirley Tongue of Ulverstone
observed an Oriole in Northern Tasmania, see
http://bioacoustics.cse.unsw.edu.au/archives/html/birding-aus/2007-10/msg00158.html
. Within a few days of their discovery, Matt Webb of the Tasmanian
Swift Parrot recovery team also observed an Oriole near Grant's Lagoon
near Binalong Bay, Tasmania (Personal communication). This site is
less than 10 km from the latest site.
Bird movement is fascinating and unusual occurrences causes one to
ponder for an explanation.. Soothsayers will speculate "Climate Change"
but the reason is much more likely to be that more observers are looking
for birds using sophisticated eqipment for access, communication and
recording.
Regards
Ian May
St Helens, Tasmania
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