I came across a small group (c.12) of Superbs as I was walking back
down from Mt Painter in Cook yesterday afternoon. They were just south
of Redfern St in the trees in the reserve that runs down from Cook
towards Macquarie Oval. It was a bit hard to tell with them flying
around all the time, but the proportions of adults to juveniles were
more or less consistent with what others have reported. I counted 2
definite adult males, 2 adult females and at least 3 dependent (i.e.
begging) juveniles, though there were probably more. They seemed to be
in transit rather than feeding on anything.
Anyway, that prompted me to wonder whether there might be more Superbs
up in the Nature Park along Hawker ridge, so I went for a quick look
around today and didn't see any. But it was worth the trip as I got my
first good look at a Gray Currawong, as well as a Jacky Winter family
with 2 dependent young (saw an adult feed one of them a caterpillar),
and a pair of Southern Whitefaces, which I haven't seen in Canberra up
until now.
Back to the Superbs though... Does anyone have any theories as to what
is drawing them to the narrow band that spans Macquarie Oval and the
Belconnen car parks? A particular combination of food, perhaps? They
seem to be eating seeds on the Oval and lerps in the car parks. Is
there something about the carpark eucalypts that makes them more
attractive?
John Brannan
The Superb congregation
is still frequenting the area
between the Belconnen fruit market carpark, the DIMIA carpark and
Belconnen
Mall upper carparks. I counted 37 Superbs in the fruit market trees at
8am this
morning, and while they were moving about a lot, there appeared to be
roughly 25%
male, 25% female and 50% juveniles – the last named nearly all begging
furiously and being fed. Masses more in the further trees. The adult
birds were
working over the backs of the gum leaves, presumably in search of
lerps. And
Rod’s comment about them using Silver Birch was borne out in my
neighbour’s
garden also this am. How much longer will we enjoy this bonanza, I
wonder? Rosemary,
are they still at Mt Rogers? b
--
36 Challinor Cres., Florey, Canberra ACT 2615, Australia
Ph.: (+612) 6258 6038 Fax: (+612) 6258 6238
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