Dependant Dollarbird...

["Philip Veerman" <>]

Hi Terry,

 

That too is a very early record and is curiously similar to the early breeding noted for Australian Hobbies, this week. Similar in that these two species have historically been exceedingly predictable in the timings of their arrivals and breeding....

 

From the GBS Report:

 

Dollarbird Eurystomus orientalis

A summer breeding migrant that presents an interesting contrast to the Rainbow Bee-eater. This may be because this species stays more within the suburban areas, as it uses tree hollows to breed. It is noisy and conspicuous and individuals appear to have favourite spots to perch, on dead tree tops or power poles. Its monthly pattern is among the most consistent of species with a single peak each year in January or February (though in Year 16, its second lowest year, it peaked in December). When all years are pooled there are the first few birds in October, then rising smoothly to a single peak in January, then declining smoothly to the last few birds in March. It was most common in Years 1 & 2, also Years 3 to 10 had higher levels than Years 11 to 21. This suggests a strong decline. Interesting that Year 12 had the lowest by far and this is also the only year of absence of the Rainbow Bee-eater.

Breeding records have also declined (11 in the first 9 years, compared with 7 in the last 12 years). No GBS nest records, only dependent young from late December peaking in January and the last in early March.
Graphs on page: 96, Rank: 46, Breeding Rank: 33, A = 0.05978, F = 33.45%, W = 22.7, R = 3.657%, G = 1.63.