Hi Muriel and all,
Good question. I visited Green Cape two years ago (on 31st March
2003) and at that time noted flocks of migrating Yellow-faced
wheeling around at the very tip of the cape before moving off along
the coastline to the north. At the time I wondered if they had flown
across Disaster Bay to arrive at this point although I didn't
actually see them flying over the water.
Perhaps they did follow the coastline for the entire length of the
peninsula. I wonder if a proportion of the population are programmed
to just follow the coast, with all its kinks and bumps, northwards.
Seems like this would add a lot of unnecessary distance to the
journey but perhaps it takes them through potentially good feeding
habitat. Or perhaps they're just taking the "scenic route". Ah, the
mysteries of bird migration.
Cheers,
Carol
P.S. Here in the Blue Mountains, the honeyeater migration didn't
start until 1st April this year, but have had a few good days since
then including last Sunday and Monday (when I had a couple of Scarlet
Honeyeaters moving through with the many Yellow-faced). Hardly any
White-naped as yet. As some of you know, the migrating flocks pass
directly over my home in Katoomba.
At 10:32 AM +1000 20/4/05, Muriel Brookield wrote:
Went to Green Cape on Sunday. Very windy. Was intrigued by the
arrival from 11.15 onwards of groups of migrating honeyeaters,
mainly Yellowfaced, about 20+ at a time, from the southern slope.
Why would they fly the length of the peninsula? Off to New Zealand?
No, they took shelter in the mediium sized bushes on the inland side
of the lighthouse. Then returned by the way they came (did they know
there was a peregrine falcon waiting on the northern slope?). Wind
was increasing.
Were they just visiting? Maybe young ones which had never seen a
lighthouse before?
Muriel
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