Waking with the rising sun beaming into the room, and a cloudless sky, I
thought "Don't worry about taking back the videos; this is the morning for
the quarterly (Spring) bird survey in Symonston."
And a splendid morning it proved for walking the slopes and the somewhat
soggy flats. It was as green as Ireland. I foresee a looming summer debate
about the management of growth in the near-urban reserves.
There were no Yellow-faced Honeyeaters on Callum Brae, but lots on the other
side of Mugga Lane (where I find small numbers throughout the year), along
with quite a few Brown-headed. Overall the only migrants I encountered,
setting aside the transient honeyeaters and Silvereyes, were Rufous
Whistlers, an oriole, and a small number of White-throated Gerygones -
perhaps 4 or 5 - calling loudly as they foraged in the regrowth.
I do not regard Mistletoebirds, DWSs or BFCSs as migrants, because I find
them regularly throughout the year. There are as many ideas about what a
'migrant' is as there are birdwatchers. When there is an agreed unambiguous
definition of 'migrant' I shall conform to it, but until then I shall feel
no squeamishness about applying my own.
As to breeding activity, I saw no sign that the year is exceptional: a lot
of squabbling over hollows, although the wood ducks seem to have selected
theirs; two pairs of Striated Pardalotes preferring the bank of an erosion
gully to tree cavities (perhaps we are in for some high winds); a pair of
kestrels copulating, and another pair chasing a kookaburra; and 5 choughs
all trying to sit on the one nest.
Geoffrey Dabb
email :
ph/fax : 02 6295 3449
*******************************************************************************************************
This is the email announcement and discussion list of the Canberra Ornithologists Group.
List-Post: <>
List-Help: <>
List-Unsubscribe: <>
List-Subscribe: <>
List archive: <http://bioacoustics.cse.unsw.edu.au/archives/html/canberrabirds>
List manager: David McDonald, phone (02) 6231 8904; email
<>
|
