Hello Julian. I'd actually put this one aside to let someone more
qualified than I answer, but Janette's timely comment made me realise
that perhaps we all do that too often.
By taking the plunge now, I'm not for a moment suggesting that I'm the
best one to do this, but as on other occasions perhaps if I start off
with a couple of basic suggestions, then others can come in with more
useful stuff.
Firstly, don't despair! The first months are the hardest, when
everything is new and there are no reference points. But you're already
making progress - you've recognised your bird as a thornbill and a
while ago you couldn't have done that; give yourself credit. For a
while, a flock of birds is just that - a homogeneous mass. But as you
persevere with the commoner ones everywhere you go, you'll find that
you can automatically 'screen out' the Silvereyes, White-plumed HEs,
Yellow-rumped Thornbills etc and focus on the less familiar ones. (Then
go back and enjoy the ones you initially screened out!) You'll find
yourself knowing if something is 'different'.
There's no quick fix I'm afraid - in fact there's no substitute at all
for lots of practice. Get familiar with your field guides (and if I
may, I'd suggest both a 'national' guide and the McComas Taylor's "FG
to the Birds of the ACT", published by the ACT Nat Parks Assoc - that
filters out for you the things that are only in Kakadu or Tassie, so
you're not spending time wondering if it's one of them!). Go through
them and through them, until you know what to expect and where to look
in the book. In particular, try to get a feel for different groups - as
you're obviously already doing!
Listen too - and if you don't recognise a call, always follow it up. We
remember both call and bird better that way.
Don't try to do it all on your own. COG is full of knowledgeable and
generous birdos who are happy to share their knowledge. Go on all the
excursions you can and announce yourself as a tyro and people will look
out for you. We were all there once!
Thornbills - all the above apply, and I'd challenge any of my
colleagues to say that they don't sometimes have to spend a while on
one before they're (reasonably!) confident of what they're looking at.
Get in the habit initially of a little check list. You've recognised
eye colour as important - spot on!; is it alone/a pair, or a flock?;
mostly on ground or in foliage?; streaked anywhere? on the forehead?
scalloped on forehead? eyebrow? and of course contrasting rump colour?
(And I have more than once (or twice!) seen yellow rumps initially
which, in different light didn't look so yellow after all... Some
Buffies are brighter than others! Or their bums are anyway...)
OK, more than enough from me - over to someone else.
On the behaviour etc; I am very reluctant to say this, being very
scrupulous about anything resembling advertising on this list. However
this does seem pertinent in the context. I teach a course called
'Understanding Birds' which just may be of use. If anyone's interested,
please contact me off line.
And just one final suggestion - don't let anything overwhelm your
simple pleasure in the birds themselves.
happy birding
Ian
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Ian Fraser, m("pcug.org.au","ianf");">
Environment Tours; Vertego Environmental Wordsmithing
GPO Box 3268, Canberra, ACT 2601
ph: 61 2 6249 1560 fax: 61 2 6247 3227
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