Having in recent times neglected my local waterways in favour of coastal
haunts my N/Y resolution was to get back in the water and see what's
happening up here. About 4 hrs paddling on each of Sunday & Monday morns
produced the following:
- Darters. Many nests, many young, but for the first time (that I am aware
of) there were active nests - 5 at least- on the Duntroon side of the river.
I wonder if this is the avian equivalent of urban sprawl as the population
explodes. Nesting activity observed at 2 of those nests: a male bird flew
to one carrying sticks which were passed to the female sitting with at least
3 downy young. She then placed these sticks on the outside of the young
ones as part of the nest structure. As the male flew off another male flew
in and the same process was repeated at nest no. 2. Male no.1 then returned
from the other side of the river with a second bundle and again the process
was repeated. In effect the adults appeared to be expanding the nest to
accommodate the growing chicks. Is anyone able to comment on this behaviour?
Incidentally, despite paddling several isolated waterways on our near south
coast, Canberra is the only place I have witnessed any Darter or Cormorant
nesting activity.
- Also on the Duntroon side of the river a smallish non-descript nest
occupied by an inquisitive chick. ID of White-faced Heron confirmed when I
returned on Monday to find an adult bird sitting on the nest, which didn't
appear to meet any of the criteria outlined in the Birds of the ACT Atlas:
"Their nests are large, untidy platforms of sticks, and are usually
constructed high in a eucalypt and are often some distance from water".
(Except possibly the sticks).
- Sunday's finale after returning to The Boathouse launching ramp was a
juvenile WB Sea Eagle being mobbed by Ravens and Masked Lapwings.
- Australian Shelducks(4) at the eastern end of East Basin, and Rufous
Night Herons (4) in Jerrabomberra Ck. Whistling Kite overhead. Also heard
the three syllable Little Grassbird call for about a minute, but couldn't
locate it.
- Also seen amongst approx 40 species were a pair of Sacred Kingfishers,
Red-browed finches, Y/F honeyeaters, & Dollarbird.
- Non-birding: Two water dragons (at least I think that's what they're
called) near Dairy Flat bridge, and what appeared to be a tiger snake
(stripes on sides) swimming in the channel which runs from Jerra Ck back
towards Duntroon.. Fortunately it didn't take a liking to our kayaks and
choose to exit the water on a small knoll before disappearing into some
reeds.
Almost forgot, Silver Gull seen on Saturday sitting on a nest on boat moored
in Orana Bay.
Cheers
Rod
Rod Mackay
Tel: 0407 456 330
*******************************************************************************************************
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
<>
|
