Scrubwrens in inner west Sydney

[Michael Tarburton <>]

 G’day Chris

It looks like both White-browed Scrubwrens and Superb Fairy-wrens will 
re-colonise areas they have been exterminated from - but it may take a long 
time .

I spent a couple of hundred hours studying these scrub wrens in Wurundjeri Walk 
in Melbourne 1989-1993 and found that they spent most time in the blackberries 
along the creek, and second-most time in the native Goodenia.  They spent most 
time in the thickets quietly feeding.  Council then took over the park and we 
started planting native shrubs and trees.  Council took note of my work for 
five years and then sprayed the blackberries (our work had taken us overseas) 
while the Superb Fairy-wrens were nesting in them.  We arrived back in 
Melbourne a few days later and saw a Fairy-wren at its nest - looking very 
conspicuous as the leaves shrivelled and fell off.  Both species disappeared.  
Fairy-wrens have been seen this year - but did not stay.  Scrub-wrens never 
seen again.  They would have to come from Blackburn Lake reserve about 2-3 km 
away.
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