Regrettably both Eurasian Starlings and House Sparrows remain
abundant on the outer fringes of Higgins and Holt despite ever
increasing numbers of Common Mynas.
There are 3 groups of House Sparrows viewable from our dwelling
alone, each of about 10-12 birds. The precise numbers are difficult
to determine. Some days they are remarkably shy and on others they
perch on the power lines in numbers. There are another 3 groups in
the GBS area. I suspect Coral's suggestion that the degree of
gentrification has something to do with this. There a lot of
aviaries and chooks in these parts. Perennial bird feeders also
seem to hold permanent flocks of House Sparrows.
Starlings breed prolifically in the paddocks to west and reveal
themselves in their true numbers when raptor comes circling overhead.
Red-rumped Parrots breed in the same real estate and have bred
prolifically in the last several seasons.
Common Mynas are on the increase to the point of my despair but to
date there have be no declines in other populations. Perhaps there
is some inertia in this but it seems that the not too healthy trees
in the paddocks provide an abundance of nesting cavities.
What is interesting/entertaining is the fact that Australian Hobbies
seem to have targeted the local Myna population and Collared
Sparrowhawks the Starlings.
Milburn
--
The Milburns
42 Bundey Street
Higgins
ACT 2615
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