An interesting question

Mark,

I wish your friend was right but I think the converse is true. At places like the sewerage ponds and Kellys Swamp, the numbers of Starlings are in the highest concentrations I have observed in many years. Michael Wright and I had a look at the Jerrabomberra grasslands on Saturday morning (were we trespassing again?) and starling were present in very high numbers too.

 

While not in the region, I was visiting my parents at their property in Orange two weeks ago and again I was taken aback by the large numbers of Starlings.

Cheers

Alastair

 

____________________________

Alastair Smith

Manager

Cargo Controls

Australian Customs Service

 

Phone: 02 6275 6367

Mob:   0439 737 658

Fax:    02 6275 5745

 

-----Original Message-----
From: [
Sent: Monday, 18 April 2005 09:55
To:
Subject: [canberrabirds] An interesting question

 

Good morning all, 

 

This is not one of my quirky queries or attempts at being controvertial. Last Friday a former work colleague rang me with the following question – “where are all the starlings….?” He lives in Queanbeyan and has noted the almost complete lack of starlings on the powerlines around his house. He also commented that he used to see flocks of thousands around the Mugga Lane tip but has not seen “any” over recent years although he has noticed the White Ibis in big numbers. I have also noticed a dramatic drop in numbers of starlings around both work and at home in Kaleen although lately I have had a few small flocks (+/_ 5 - 10 birds) landing in the trees around home.

 

I have put the drop in numbers down to two things. Firstly the prolonged drought locally which has probably made the ground too hard for the birds to forage (and therefore have a very poor success rate when they try to breed) and, in the urban area and surrounding fringe, competition from the other “flying rat”, the Common Myna, again for food resources and for nest sites.

 

Anybody got any ideas or do they disagree with the observation and, if so, why?

 

Cheers,

 

Mark

 

 

************************************************************************
IMPORTANT:

* This transmission is intended for the use of the addressee only and might contain sensitive or legally privileged information. If you are NOT the intended recipient, you are notified that any use or dissemination of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you receive this transmission in error, please notify the author immediately by telephone and delete all copies of this transmission together with any attachments.

* The Australian Customs Service DOES NOT AUTHORISE the recipient to further disclose this email or its contents without permission of the originator.

* Unsolicited commercial emails MUST NOT be forwarded to the originator of this transmission unless prior consent has been given.


***********************************************************************