RFI Hooded Robin in Victoria (Aust.)

["Philip Veerman" <>]

Hello Martin,

 

We have done lots of work on this one, in Canberra, where it is one of several declining woodland species that we are concerned about and monitored as part of our woodland survey. I will pass on your request for you. We have had the same concerns and the species was COG's "bird of the year" several years ago. With a little bit of luck they can be found on an average day's bird watching around ACT (if you go to known spots) but I don't personally have any useful info on Victoria populations. I can tell you from the GBS data in Canberra that they don't cope well with suburban spread. Although as it doesn't occur much in gardens the GBS doesn't tell us much, but you are welcome to use this extract from my "Canberra Birds: A Report on the first 21 years of the Garden Bird Survey."

Hooded Robin Melanodryas cucullata

A species of dry eucalypt woodland where it is uncommon. There has been local study of this species, summarised by Graham (1995). It is marginal in suburban habitat. It also appears to be sensitive to disturbance. There have been cases where these relatively sedentary birds that were living in woodland, left the areas when the suburban development approached their home ranges. Occurrence pattern shows its sedentary habit. From a November minimum increasing to an March peak then declining. Regular GBS occurrences of this species are restricted to outer areas such as Site 246, that commenced in Year 13, hence the rise in abundance from then. The few other observations are incidentals.
Graphs on page: 100, Rank: 130, A = 0.00263, F = 1.34%, W = 3.7, R = 0.152%, G = 1.73.

Philip